Character Traits Audio and Video Recording

This is an investigation of the following character traits associated with an exemplary digital citizen: respect, connect and protect. These character traits are necessary for students and teachers to foster a positive learning environment in the online community.  The essay describes the traits and provides additional information on their use in an online classroom.

Respect is defined as due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others. Connect means join together so as to provide access and communication. Protect means to aim to preserve.

Students may forget that they need to extend these three character traits for their fellow classmates and teacher because they don’t see everyone as they would in a traditional classroom. There is a sense of anonymity. Here are some basic guidelines for showing respect, connect, and protect in the online classroom environment. The following character traits were discussed in an article on Common Sense Media.

1. Communicate Appropriately with one another. You would not text or message a teacher the same way as you would a fellow peer.
2. Keep personal information private. Information about where you live and personal details should not be shared online.
3. Give credit. It is important to provide credit for where you got the information. Make sure you cite it. Footnotes and bibliography.
4. Make sure if someone is bully or being disrespectful that you stand up for what is right. Also, make sure to report inappropriate behavior.
5. Family Rules. If your family prefers you not visit certain websites, respect their wishes.
6. Think before you post or write something. Is it something positive, will it hurt someone else?

A social contract is a great way to start a discussion of what respect means to the participants in the online environment. I’ve used this in my classroom and find that it works to benefit everyone and define what our expectations are from one another in regards to behavior.

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1 “What should I teach my kid about safe online behavior?” Common Sense Media. Accessed on Nov. 17. 2019. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/cyberbullying/what-should-i-teach-my-kid-about-safe-online-behavior

2 Photograph provided by Lex Photography. https://www.pexels.com/photo/magic-keyboard-1109543/