What are the best ways to use educational policy to promote digital literacy and citizenship?

1 Define digital literacy and citizenship

Digital literacy and citizenship are not just about using technology, but also about understanding, creating, and participating in digital environments and cultures. Digital literacy involves the ability to access, evaluate, communicate, and produce information using various digital tools and platforms. Digital citizenship involves the awareness, responsibility, and ethics of being a member of online communities and networks. Both digital literacy and citizenship require critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

2 Align policy with standards and frameworks

One of the best ways to use policy to promote digital literacy and citizenship is to align it with existing standards and frameworks that define the competencies and outcomes expected from students and educators. For example, the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) provides a set of standards for students, educators, leaders, coaches, and computer science educators that cover aspects such as empowered learner, digital citizen, knowledge constructor, innovative designer, computational thinker, creative communicator, and global collaborator. Aligning policy with these standards can help ensure consistency, quality, and accountability in digital literacy and citizenship education.

3 Support professional development and capacity building

Another way to use policy to promote digital literacy and citizenship is to support the professional development and capacity building of educators and leaders who are responsible for implementing and evaluating digital literacy and citizenship initiatives. This can include providing funding, resources, training, mentoring, and recognition for educators and leaders who demonstrate effective practices and innovation in digital literacy and citizenship education. Additionally, policy can support the creation and sharing of best practices, research, and evidence among educators and leaders to foster a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration.

4 Integrate digital literacy and citizenship across the curriculum

A third way to use policy to promote digital literacy and citizenship is to integrate them across the curriculum and not treat them as separate or isolated subjects. This can involve embedding digital literacy and citizenship concepts, skills, and activities in different disciplines and domains, such as language arts, math, science, social studies, art, music, and physical education. Moreover, policy can encourage the use of project-based, inquiry-based, and interdisciplinary approaches that allow students to apply their digital literacy and citizenship skills to authentic and meaningful problems and contexts.

5 Engage stakeholders and partners

A fourth way to use policy to promote digital literacy and citizenship is to engage stakeholders and partners who can contribute to the development, implementation, and evaluation of digital literacy and citizenship initiatives. These can include students, parents, teachers, administrators, librarians, counselors, community members, industry representatives, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and media outlets. Policy can facilitate the involvement and input of these stakeholders and partners through various channels, such as surveys, forums, committees, networks, events, and campaigns.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?