TEACHING DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP TO YOUNG DIGITAL NATIVES IN ZAMBIA.

Each day our country Zambia is becoming increasingly digital and both young and old people are using more and more technology devices at home, place of work, schools etc. But, are they prepared to be good digital citizens? Just as teachers from both formal and informal schools teach learners the rules of society, it is imperative that young people in Zambia are taught the rules of the digital world, and how to be safe, productive and responsible with technology.

It is critical that as a country we address digital citizenship, because of the following reasons:

v  Young people are generally proficient at basic usage of technology, but they are not necessarily critical users and many of them do not have the skills to be safe and responsible online. Young people are being exposed to online risks if we assume that they are tech-savvy.

v  Young people are starting to use the Internet at an early age, and they’re using it regularly. If we wait and ignore to address digital citizenship among young people now, we will risk.

v  If we want students to be lifelong learners, they should see learning as something that can happen at any time, but by keeping technology out of the classroom, we send the message that school is separate from “real life.” Incorporating digital worlds and digital citizenship into the curriculum helps bridge the gap between school and home.

v  Communities need to prepare students to be successful in our digital world; teaching digital citizenship allows young people to develop the skills and competencies that they will need to be safe, responsible, and productive members of our current and future society.