What is digital citizenship?
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain what digital citizenship and digital democracy mean.
Key learning points
- Digital citizenship means using technology safely, ethically and with respect for rights and responsibilities.
- Being an active digital citizen means engaging with public issues to make a positive difference.
- Digital democracy is using online tools to support key democratic functions like voting and participation.
- Digital technologies are making democracy more accessible, but challenges like security and access remain.
Keywords
Citizen / citizenship - a person who belongs to a country and has certain rights as they either live in the country, or were born in the country; it is also a legal status given to people
Democracy - a system of government in which citizens vote in regular, fair elections for representatives who then make laws and decisions on their behalf
Social media - websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or participate in social networking
Common misconception
Digital citizenship just means knowing how to use technology.
Digital citizenship includes understanding how to behave responsibly online, respect others, protect your privacy, think critically about information, and participate in digital spaces in ethical and constructive ways.
Teacher tip
Encourage pupils to critically evaluate both the benefits and challenges of digital democracy, considering real-world examples like Estonia and the UK. This will help them understand how technology can impact democratic participation both positively and negatively.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match each term to the correct definition.
a system where people have the power to vote and make decisions
the group in charge of running the country
the place where laws are made, including both houses
a king or queen who acts as the Head of State
Q2.Who can vote in a UK general election?
Q3.In a democracy, people have the right to for their leaders.
Q4.Which of the following are not part of Parliament?
Q5.Which one of these statements is true about the monarchy in the UK?
Q6.Voting in elections is both a right and a for UK citizens.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match each term to its correct definition.
making critical use of information technology responsibly
using technology to support political participation
websites & applications that enable users to create and share content
Q2.Complete this sentence: Being an digital citizen means engaging with public issues to make a positive difference.
Q3.Which of these is an example of digital democracy?
Q4.Technology is changing democracy by making it easier for people to in decision-making.
Q5.How are digital technologies affecting democracy?
Q6.Which of the following best describes digital citizenship?
To help you plan your 9 citizenship lesson on: What is digital citizenship?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 citizenship lesson on: What is digital citizenship?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 citizenship lessons from the Can digital democracy increase political participation? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.