Digital Citizenship, Safety, and Wellness

This site provides resources on digital citizenship for educators, parents and students. Digital citizenship is the knowledge and skills necessary to use technology safely and responsibly. It encompasses a wide range of topics, including internet safety, cyberbullying, copyright, privacy and responsible use of technology.

Key Definitions

  • Digital Citizenship: the responsible use of technology in the digital world
  • Digital Wellness: the ability to use technology in a way that is healthy and balanced
  • Digital Safety: the practice of using technology in a way that protects yourself from harm; i.e., being aware of the potential risks of online activity such as cyberbullying, online predators, malware and the need to protect personal information and privacy
  • Information Literacy: the ability to find, evaluate, use and create information effectively; may include media literacy and news literacy

 

 

Educators

This collection of resources and courses provides teachers with the tools they need to help their students develop the digital citizenship competencies they need to be safe, responsible and ethical users of technology.

Courses

Teaching Digital Citizenship
In this course, participants will learn what digital citizenship is, how to teach students to be responsible digital citizens and how to talk with students openly about cyberbullying and other potential pitfalls of social media. Participants will learn how to model digital citizenship and develop tools and lessons to use with students of all ages.
Digital Empowerment
In this course, participants will learn the four indicators of the ISTE standard on Digital Citizenship: promoting positive interactions, understanding the influence of digital literacy and media fluency, protecting intellectual rights and property and safeguarding personal data/privacy. Participants will be learning how to guide and empower students in the digital world.
Developing Digital Detectives
Today’s complex information landscape requires learners of all ages to be information sleuths who actively pursue clues to credibility by examining information through multiple lenses. Participants will have access to the book "Developing Digital Detectives" , engage in discussions and implement lessons within their classrooms.
AI Course
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has made a remarkable entry into education, leaving educators with a mix of emotions. In this course, participants will explore different types of AI and how they’re used, ethical questions about AI in education, how AI changes teaching and learning, and how to design activities and assessments with AI in mind. By the end of the course, participants will be equipped with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions about how AI does or doesn’t fit into their teaching practice.
ETEP
Educators completing the UEN Educational Technology Endorsement Program (ETEP) will gain the skills and knowledge needed to use technology effectively to enhance student learning. The ETEP is grounded in the Utah Effective Teaching Standards and Utah's Educational Technology Competencies.

Resources

Be Internet Awesome
Be Internet Awesome teaches kids the fundamentals of digital citizenship and safety so they can explore the online world with confidence.
NetSafe Utah
NetSafe Utah provides online videos and resources for kids, teens, parents and educators, including Internet Safety information.
Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media provides free lessons and activities for educators to prepare students for success in a connected world.
Southwest Education Development Center's DigCit Resources
Explore interactive lessons for K-12 classrooms from the Southwest Education Development Center (SEDC).
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
NCMEC provides safety and prevention resources for families and child-serving professionals.
Nearpod - Digital Citizenship
Prepare students with knowledge and skills to use technology effectively, safely and appropriately.
News Literacy Project
The News Literacy Project is a national movement to advance the practice of news literacy throughout American society.
BrainPop
BrainPOP offers topics that guide students in what it means to be careful, considerate and aware digital citizens.
Civic Online Reasoning - Stanford
The Civic Online Reasoning (COR) curriculum provides free lessons and assessments for teaching students to evaluate online information that affects them, their communities and the world.
Open AI - Safety
Access information on artificial intelligence (AI) systems.
University of Utah CTE AI Generative Tools
The University of Utah’s Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) offers strategies and resources to increase deep learning and reduce the risk of academic misconduct related to the use of AI.
KQED Teach
Provided free of charge, these self-paced online courses on media literacy include step-by-step videos and hands-on activities.
eMedia Digital Teaching and Learning Hub
Find curated resources and tools to assist districts, schools, administrators and teachers in the effective use of technology to improve teaching and learning.
eMedia Library Media hub
Access high-quality, peer-reviewed teaching resources aligned to the Utah Library Media standards, including content to help develop students’ ability to find and use information to support their academic learning and personal development.
StoryMaker
Sign up for free access to resources designed to help students build media literacy, curiosity and civic engagement. StoryMaker was developed by PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs to build the next generation of media creators.

 

Parents

Parents can use these resources and talk with their students about digital citizenship to help them develop the skills needed to thrive in our technology-connected world.

Be Internet Awesome
Be Internet Awesome teaches kids the fundamentals of digital citizenship and safety so they can explore the online world with confidence.
NetSafeUtah
NetSafe Utah provides online videos and resources for kids, teens, parents and educators, including Internet Safety information.
Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media provides free lessons and activities for educators to prepare students for success in a connected world.
News Literacy Project
The News Literacy Project is a national movement to advance the practice of news literacy throughout American society.
News Literacy Project - Checkology
Checkology is a free-to-use platform with engaging, authoritative lessons on subjects like news media bias, misinformation, conspiratorial thinking and more.
SafeUT
SafeUT is an easy, accessible and active way to help children take action in their own life or the life of a friend.
Utah Office of the Attorney General - for Parents
Find a list of resources for parents provided by the Attorney General.

 

Students

This collection of resources provides students with engaging, interactive tools to develop the skills needed to thrive in our connected world. Topics include:

  • Digital safety: How to stay safe online, including how to avoid cyberbullying, online predators, and malware
  • Digital privacy: How to protect your personal information online
  • Digital identity: How to create a positive and responsible digital identity
  • Information literacy: How to find, evaluate, and use information effectively
  • Media literacy: How to critically analyze and interpret information presented through media
  • Copyright and fair use: How to use copyrighted material legally and ethically
Be Internet Awesome: Interland
Embark on a quest to become a confident explorer of the internet with an online game that makes learning about digital safety and citizenship interactive and fun.
NetSafe Utah
NetSafe Utah provides online videos and resources for kids, teens, parents and educators, including Internet Safety information.
News Literacy Project
The News Literacy Project is a national movement to advance the practice of news literacy throughout American society.
NetSmartz Kids
With resources such as videos, games, downloadable activities, and presentations, NetSmartz entertains while it educates.
BrainPop
BrainPOP offers topics that guide students in what it means to be careful, considerate, and aware digital citizens.
SafeUT
The SafeUT app is there when you need someone to talk to, but you're not sure who to turn to.
StoryMaker (media literacy)
Learn how to tell powerful stories with tutorials on media production and media literacy. Sign up for a free account for this platform from PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs.

 

About

These resources were curated in partnership with Utah’s Digital Wellness, Citizenship and Safe Technologies Commission.