<aside> 💡 Digital citizenship is the ability to safely and responsibly access digital technologies, as well as being an active and respectful member of society, both online and offline. (Source: FutureLearn).

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<aside> 💡 Cybersecurity is the art of protecting networks, devices, and data from unauthorized access or criminal use and the practice of ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information (Source: Cyber Security and Infrastructure Agency, CISA.gov)

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Digital Citizenship and Cybersecurity Guidelines

Please see the guidelines below to ensure that you are in line with the School’s policy regarding Digital Citizenship and Cybersecurity.

  1. Treat others with respect at all times - whether it is a SoH peer, a learning facilitator, a mentor or someone you are chatting with via a virtual platform. Respect their language, culture, religion and values.

  2. Be empathetic - it can be hard to decipher tone in written communication. A rule of thumb could be the API rule, which stands for ‘Assume Positive Intention’ (source. Founder of Wordpress). In other words, assume that the intention is good and do not try to read between the lines to find a negative connotation to the text.

  3. Be respectful and considerate during live sessions. This includes such aspects as:

    1. Avoid interrupting someone when they are speaking
    2. Do not share your screen unnecessarily
    3. Avoid drawing on the screen (if you have not been invited to do so)
    4. Keep your camera on as much as possible (as outlined in the learner guide)

  4. Be mindful of your digital footprint - whatever you post online stays online... What can people find out about you online? What images of you can they find? What personal information could they discover?

  5. Always evaluate the accuracy of information you receive or you read online - there is a lot of fake news and misinformation on the internet. You should always double or triple check the information you receive and try to use reliable sources.

  6. Maintain a healthy balance between spending time on screen and spending time in the physical world - too much screen time can lead to unhealthy habits, such as being inactive for long lengths of time, sore eyes and headaches (see Health & Safety Policy).

  7. Avoid copying other people’s work. This includes text, videos and images.

    1. Text - if you want to use information that you have found online, you should always cite it correctly (see this link for guidance on how to reference an online source correctly). Failing to do so may be considered as plagiarism. Please see the Code of Conduct for Learners which includes the Policy on Academic Integrity, for examples of plagiarism.
    2. Videos - if you are sharing a video from the internet, be sure to cite it correctly (see above link). If you are sharing a personal video, you should always have permission from anyone who is in the video before posting it online.
    3. Images - Same as for videos. For online images, be sure to give credit to the photographer, if you know the source, or cite the website where you found the image. If you are sharing a personal image or photo, be sure to have permission from the relevant person or people in the photo before posting.

    N.B. There are many online galleries of images that can be used freely with no need to reference the photographer, such as Unsplash and Pixabay

  8. Use social media responsibly - always think before you post anything on social media:

    1. Avoid posting personal information on social media and never state where you are.
    2. Do not engage in online arguments with strangers - it is a waste of your time and you are unlikely to change anyone’s opinion via an online chat.
    3. Avoid overuse of social media. Be mindful of how much time you are spending on social media and aim for a balance between your time online and offline.
    4. Maintain responsible use of social media when and if you are promoting good practices at SoH, showcasing personal results and forming professional networks. Learners must refrain from negative gossip or unsubstantiated criticism that disparages the reputation of SoH, its employees, or fellow learners on any form of social media.

  9. Never engage in any form of cyber bullying - this includes spreading rumors, trolling, sharing altered or photoshoped images online, threatening or harassing another person via a digital means. Cyberbullying can seriously affect a person’s wellbeing and in some instances is considered a crime.

  10. Protect yourself against online abuse - this includes the following (some ideas have already been mentioned above):

    1. Take care what you download
    2. Practice safe browsing
    3. Use privacy settings
    4. Don’t allow tracking
    5. Limit posting of personal information
    6. Use strong Passwords
    7. Be careful who you meet online
    8. Post with Discretion
    9. Cover your webcam
    10. Screenshot - Block - Report
    11. Don’t respond or react - think first

<aside> 💡 See the following video (Permission for use from to Matt Hains, a technology teacher in South Africa) to uncover more information about all of the above.

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