Richard Culatta, Linda Burch, Sophia Mendoza

Richard Culatta (ISTE/EdSurge), Linda Burch (Common Sense Media), and Sophia Mendoza (Los Angeles Unified School District) explore Rethinking Digital Citizenship: Empowering Kids to Harness the Good Stuff and Combat the Truly Toxic at ASU+GSV Summit 2021.In a year that saw a global pandemic, a national reckoning on racial injustice, a polarizing election, and a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, digital citizenship skills have never been more important. Digital citizenship is no longer just about online safety: students and teachers are tackling thorny issues like online hate speech, misinformation, and how young people’s digital lives impact their mental health, well-being, and relationships. How does digital citizenship education need to evolve to help students build the skills they need to navigate an ever-changing and increasingly complex digital world?In this session, we’ll dive into the new topics and challenges facing kids online. We’ll share insights into new tools and strategies that educators have employed to build critical skills. And finally, we’ll identify the critical role we all play - parents, educators, policymakers, and edtech leaders - in ensuring all students can grow to be healthy, responsible, and engaged digital citizens.