Foster Respectful Online Behaviour

Coaches should help coachees display digital citizenship and encourage balance in life in use of technology.

Digital citizenship can be taught in ICT lessons but it also requires a cross-curricular approach for anyone using technology in lessons. Coaches can help educators understand what digital citizenship is, and how it might be displayed in the classroom.

Coaches try to educate teachers on how, when and why to incorporate technology, but there is the flip side to this when technology is not the best option. Teachers should then try and educate their pupils on how, when, why, and why not to use technology too. The correct balance is achieved when the correct tools are chosen for the job. Schools can help pupils by providing a range of resources and opportunities so that pupils can discover for themselves the best choices.

Rewarding good choices can support this, whether it is with cardboard certificates, metal trophies or whether it is with the Praise function in Teams, or by rewarding behaviours using apps like ClassDojo or bespoke apps made using Power Apps.

Resources like MInecraft Education can help provide a safe platform for digital collaboration where pupils can learn to be respectful online.

ISTE explains that coaches should ‘partner with educators, leaders, students and families in creating civil, inclusive and humane online interactions and communications, such as standing up for others online and being empathetic and aware of others’ perspectives and experiences and foster a healthy balance in their use of technology.’