Digital Citizenship for Cyber Smart Students: A Framework for Schools in Pakistan

Article Information

Title: Digital Citizenship for Cyber Smart Students: A Framework for Schools in Pakistan

Authors: Mehwish Raza, Syed Abdul Waheed, Nadia Gilani

Journal: Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences (PJSS)

HEC Recognition History

Category	From	To
Y	2024-10-01	2025-12-31
Y	2023-07-01	2024-09-30
Y	2022-07-01	2023-06-30
Y	2021-07-01	2022-06-30
Y	2020-07-01	2021-06-30
Y	1900-01-01	2005-06-30

Publisher: Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan

Country: Pakistan

Year: 2023

Volume: 43

Issue: 1

Language: English

Keywords: PakistanSecondary schoolsCyber SafetyDigital Citizenship

Abstract

The rapid permeation of technology has made it imperative for school leaders and policy planners to translate digital maturity in the online space and to prepare responsible and cybersafe digital citizens. As cyber safety in Pakistan is legally gaining traction, schools bear more responsibility for harnessing digital citizenship among young people. The notion of Digital Citizenship is still at its infancy stage in Pakistan and this paper attempts to fill the existing gap by providing a review of literature to synthesize the concept of Digital Citizenship and its application into school curriculum. The current research contextualizes Ribble’s Digital Citizenship Framework (2015) and proposes four over-arching themes for schools in Pakistan to strengthen cyber civility and digital safety skills among students. The study presents a concept analysis for Digital Citizenship Educational Frameworks, the initial search was conducted via a range of databases under the keywords Digital Citizenship, secondary schools, and cyber etiquettes. A total of fifty-nine frameworks were retrieved, of which ten met the inclusion criteria based on relevance to the context. The literature surveyed, asserts that schools need robust policies and Digital Citizenship curriculum to promote a safer society for adolescents. The paper also presents recommendations to integrate the proposed guidelines into school curriculum.

Disclaimer: The following sections are produced through an intensive multi-stage analytical pipeline developed by DefinePK, utilizing advanced natural-language processing, domain-specific knowledge models, and automated cross-referencing systems. Despite the rigor and computational effort involved, the generated summary may still contain inaccuracies or incomplete interpretations. Users are strongly advised to verify all critical information against the original paper and its authoritative sources.

Research Objective

To synthesize the concept of Digital Citizenship and its application into school curriculum for schools in Pakistan, proposing a framework to strengthen cyber civility and digital safety skills among students.

Methodology

Concept analysis of extant literature, drawing from multiple databases (SSRN, ERIC, Google Scholar) from 2010 to 2020, using keywords such as "Digital Citizenship," "secondary schools," and "cyber etiquettes." Fifty-nine frameworks were initially retrieved and narrowed down to ten based on relevance, language, digital infrastructure, and integration within school curriculum. The study contextualizes Ribble's Digital Citizenship Framework (2015).

Methodology Flowchart

                        graph TD;
    A["Literature Search SSRN, ERIC, Google Scholar"] --> B["Keyword Identification: Digital Citizenship, etc."];
    B --> C["Initial Framework Retrieval"59""];
    C --> D["Framework Iteration and Selection 10"];
    D --> E["Contextualization with Ribble's Framework 2015"];
    E --> F["Concept Analysis and Synthesis"];
    F --> G["Development of S-4 Framework"];
    G --> H["Recommendations for Schools"];

Discussion

The rapid permeation of technology necessitates preparing responsible and cybersafe digital citizens. Pakistan is in its infancy regarding Digital Citizenship education, with a growing need for national standards and school-based programs. The study highlights the importance of contextualizing digital citizenship education to address local societal issues and cultural references. Teachers require appropriate skills and knowledge to instill these values effectively.

Key Findings

The concept of Digital Citizenship is a user-centered approach encompassing cyber ethics, participation expectations, rights and responsibilities, cyber literacy, and cyber legislation. Ribble's (2015) Nine Elements for Digital Citizenship provide a comprehensive foundation. The proposed S-4 Framework emphasizes critical thinking, consequence assessment, smart navigation, and commitment to the cyber community's common good. Schools need robust policies and Digital Citizenship curricula to promote a safer society for adolescents.

Conclusion

Digital Citizenship is a dynamic concept that evolves with users' lives. The proposed S-4 Framework offers a consolidated approach to critical reasoning, consequence assessment, risk analysis, and positive behavior demonstration, categorized as being social, safe, savvy, and smart. This framework aims to equip curriculum developers, school leaders, parents, and teachers to simplify and integrate digital citizenship into education, fostering a strong cyber community.

Fact Check

- The study was published in the Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences (PJSS), Vol. 43, No. 1 in 2023.
- The National Center for Cyber-Security (NCCS) was established in 2018.
- Mike Ribble's Digital Citizenship Framework was published in 2015.

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