Establishing and maintaining a successful DLC where citizens understand, observe, and are inclined to willingly support and ultimately benefit from Digital Rights and Responsibilities takes planning. Knowing the word ethics and being able to apply the concept of ethical behavior is something that all human beings struggle with from time to time. The digital environment is often perceived as an anonymous platform and digital misbehavior is often perceived to be victimless

Knowing the word ethics and being able to apply the concept of ethical behavior is something that all human beings struggle with from time to time. The digital environment is often perceived as an anonymous platform. Digital misbehavior is often perceived to be victimless.

Developing an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) is paramount in the process of defining what is deemed acceptable behavior from users of any electronic system being utilized in a digital learning environment. As an educator, the AUP is the first line of defense when it comes to keeping students safe and teaching them to respect themselves and others online.

An AUP should address personal safety and intellectual property in its scope and should comply with E-rate requirements. This E-rate toolkit from Common Sense Media is a great one. I especially like the family toolkit option for connecting families to the conversation of Digital Citizenship.

The enforcement of the AUP falls on the commitment of the entire learning community and is only as strong as the commitment to enforce it.