Digital Citizenship Week: Spotlight on Digital Citizenship in the College
Last week, the focus has been on Digital Citizenship, an area of our lives that is constantly evolving. Every year, Dulwich College Beijing dedicates a week to celebrate and promote Digital Citizenship (DC) across the College. This initiative is aligned with our comprehensive DC curriculum, aiming to embed the core values of digital citizenship in our students from a young age. It's imperative in this digital age that our children are well-equipped with the knowledge and understanding to navigate the digital world, both responsibly and safely. Through various activities, discussions, and interactive sessions, our students get a chance to delve deeper into the realms of digital responsibility, online safety, internet etiquette, and much more. As we reflect on the week gone by, it's clear that our annual DC Week is a cornerstone in helping our students to be Worldwise and for the digital challenges they face now and in the future.
Yosef Karasik, our Director of EdTech and Innovation, shared more about how we celebrated Digital Citizenship Week across the College:
DUCKS: Meet Digital Citizen Dilon
Our youngest learners had a delightful experience as they were introduced to Digital Citizen Dilon through a fun and engaging video. DC Dilon shared important yet simple tips on how to be responsible digital citizens. With age-appropriate language and colourful animations, the message of being safe and respectful online was beautifully conveyed to our DUCKS students, laying a solid foundation for their digital journey ahead. We hope that our students will embody DC Dilon when they are using technology.
Junior School: Digital Citizenship - Activating Digital Superheroes
It was a week filled with creativity and learning in the Junior School. Year 3 students put on their imaginative caps and designed their very own Digital Heroes, embodying the qualities of a responsible digital citizen. Year 4 took on daily challenges on Flip, reflecting on various DC areas, which spurred insightful discussions. Year 5 honed their information literacy skills, becoming super searchers online, and learning the art of discerning reliable from unreliable information. Lastly, Year 6 delved into the workings of our school network, understanding how it acts as a shield, filtering content and blocking harmful websites, and ensuring their online safety.
Last week was a celebration of Digital Citizenship (DC) but its important to note that we embed DC throughout our curriculum and ensure that our students grow as responsible digital citizens.
Senior School: Phishing for Trouble
During the Senior School chapter of our Digital Citizenship Week, students faced a slippery opponent - a real-time phishing email test, geared to assess how easily they might take the bait when faced with potential online deception. This wasn't just a stern lecture on cyber safety; it was a lively exploration into the murky waters of phishing.
Phishing is where cybercriminals disguise themselves as trustworthy folks, usually via email, to snatch up your usernames, passwords, or even credit card details. In a digital realm where a click could lead to a cascade of troubles, understanding the nefarious art of phishing is crucial.
As part of the exercise, students should spot the usual suspects of phishing emails, like spelling blunders, requests for personal info, unexpected attachments, or links, and email addresses that look like they’ve been scrambled and reassembled.
Moreover, students should learn the action plan if they stumble upon a phishing attempt: don’t take the bait by responding, keep your personal treasure chest of information locked up, and report the sneaky email to the school’s tech wizards or the right authorities within the castle walls. They should also get into the habit of changing their passwords as often as they change their socks (hopefully, often!), and employ multi-factor authentication to keep their online kingdoms well-fortified.
The phishing email exercise served as a sobering reminder of the importance of exercising caution with what is clicked and opened online. Through this practical exercise, the intention is to equip our young digital citizens with the knowledge and discernment necessary to identify and steer clear of online threats, ensuring a safer digital experience ahead. It underscores our continued commitment to fostering a culture of informed and responsible digital citizenship among our students, preparing them to navigate the digital realm securely and intelligently.
