Digital Citizenship

"Susan Bearden has written a definitive work on the most salient issue facing contemporary education. Her approaches towards explaining Digital Citizenship and offering impactful action for all members of a school community are invaluable. Schools at every step in the Digital Citizenship journey should read this book and implement its recommendations." -- Matt Harris, Chair of the Board of Directors "Susan Bearden has provided a concise handbook on a topic that every educator should be learning about, that of Digital Citizenship. This guide offers for busy professional educator a focused understanding on a topic that many still have little knowledge. She has explained complex topics in a way that is easy to comprehend while still providing the necessary information. Additionally, Susan has provided real-world examples to help offer a roadmap for educators to follow or to issues to take notice. In a time of educational change and increased use of technology in the classroom, Susan has created a tool to assist educators at all levels." -- Mike Ribble, Author of Digital Citizenship in Schools. "Educators, parents, and children are doing their best to navigate education technology in this Renaissance of technology and communication. Susan Bearden starts by acknowledging that many adults have as much to learn about the online world as students do. Her suggestions for how to model positive digital citizenship, backed up by examples from real schools across the country, are actionable and realistic for any busy school leader. In an era of intense debate, Bearden doesn't shy away from CIPPA, COPPA, FERPA, or the student data privacy discussion that is ongoing at the national level. This book is essential for educators, parents, and policy-makers." -- Kerry Gallagher, Author & Digital Learning Specialist "Susan Bearden has written an important, articulate book packed with practical wisdom about helping everyone navigate the opportunities and anxieties of the connected world. While she is focused on helping students, she understands that their education requires the education of all of us: parents, administrators, community members. In clear, poignant terms she spells out what each of us needs to do to become an inspired, responsible digital citizenship so we can create the kinds of communities we want. This is a must read book for anyone wanting to know how to address our concerns about our online lives, while focusing on all the good that the networking world has to offer." -- Jason Ohler, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Educational Technology and Virtual Learning "Why do all of us - teachers, parents, school leaders, and the members of the community - need to learn and support our kids learning about Digital Citizenship? Susan Bearden's book is a wonderful primer on the subject. As Susan writes: "Digital citizenship education is not solely 'the school's responsibility' or 'the parent's responsibility,' but is instead a community responsibility." All of us together are smarter than any of us alone. This point is underscored in my favourite line from the book: "Every step we take to educate the village helps all adults in the school community be better role models for our students." It's a short, but very thorough, good read." -- Darren Kuropatwa, Director of Learning "In order for schools to successfully integrate technology, they must create a culture of digital citizenship. Susan understands that it 'takes a village' with teachers, students, administrators, and parents working together to create that culture. She offers a comprehensive guide with practical advice, strategies, resources, and lessons learned. Considering Susan's school received a Digital Citizenship Certification by Common Sense Education, she knows first-hand what works. And ultimately, the goal is for everyone - not just students - to think critically, behave safely, participate responsibly, and harness the potential the digital world has to offer." -- Kelly Mendoza, Ph.D., Director of Professional Development "As of now there are about 20 books in the Corwin Connected Educator Series, a seemingly ever-growing set of titles masterminded by Peter DeWitt and Corwin Press. Each book is short enough to be read in one sitting, which makes the collection ideal for book studies and professional development, both during the summer and throughout the school year. Also, each paperback is authored by one or two educators who speak (and blog, tweet, etc.) with a credible voice in the world of connected education. Some of the topics include: Flipped leadership Tools for connecting educators, parents, and communities Blogging for educators Best practices for establishing a makerspace Tools to connect and empower teachers Finally, all of the authors are active on social media, and they regularly present at local conferences, which helps in bringing to life the contents of these books." -- Ross Cooper, Supervisor of Instructional Practice K-12