Recommendations for State Digital Citizenship Standards, by concept and grade level. Concepts are differentiated by media literacy, safety, security and online behavior.

Digital Media Literacy

Digital media literacy is the ability to access, understand and participate in or create content by using digital media.

Developments in digital technology have had significant effects on the way individuals interact with communications and media services. An increasingly wide range of sources of information, ways of doing business, services (including government services) and entertainment are now commonly made available and accessed online and/or through digital media.

Peer and Personal Safety (safety)

Peer and personal safety involves developing protective behaviors while using a range of online mediums including social networking. These behaviors include protecting personal information to safeguard privacy, identifying when feeling unsafe and recognizing grooming tactics.

Personal information is any information or combination of information that enables the identification of an individual.

Personal information may include full name and address details, phone numbers, email addresses, user names and passwords, bank details, and student identity card or passport details.

The role of the trusted adult is central to maintaining personal safety, while adopting appropriate behaviors towards others is central to ensuring peer safety. For older students, the concept of the digital footprint is explored.

e-Security

e-Security is the process of ensuring that electronic information is kept safe from corruption and malicious attack, and that access to it is suitably and effectively controlled.

Good e-security practice involves implementing e-security measures such as installing protective software.

The focus of this capability is understanding basic computer protection and the consequences of not protecting computers and files.

The skills, knowledge and behaviors required to protect personal information online are covered in the peer and personal safety capability.

Positive Online Behavior (ethics)

Positive online behavior is the ability to develop positive, appropriate and constructive online relationships with peers, family and strangers in a variety of mediums.

Key concepts associated with positive online behavior include netiquette, appropriate contact and communication with others, and consideration of issues such as cyber-bullying, problematic usage and unethical behavior.

Grade Levels	Digital Media Literacy	Positive Online Behavior	Peer and Personal	e-Security
	Digital Media Literacy is the ability to access, understand and participate in or create content by using digital media.	Positive online behavior is the ability to develop positive, appropriate and constructive online relationships with peers, family and strangers in a variety of mediums.	Peer and personal safety involves developing protective behaviors while using a range of online mediums including social networking. Behaviors include protecting personal information to safeguard privacy, identifying when feeling unsafe and recognizing grooming tactics.	e-Security is the process of ensuring that electronic information and the hardware that stores it is kept safe from corruption and malicious attack, and that access to it is suitably and effectively controlled.
K1	K-1 student proficiency may include: understanding protocols of digital communications devices with supervision and may use: the phone/mobile email selected internet sites the School Intranet identifying and differentiating between online and offline content searching for and viewing age-appropriate digital content; for example, student- or family-friendly websites.	K-1 student proficiency may include: developing an understanding of cyberspace as a community of real people learning about the social conventions in the real world and cyberspace recognizing that children need adult assistance when exploring cyberspace sharing what has been learned with a family member	K-1 student proficiency may include: demonstrating an understanding that children need adult assistance when exploring cyberspace differentiating between public information and personal information identifying and comprehending the basic dangers of revealing personal information online to strangers comparing strangers in the physical world with strangers online sharing what has been learned with a family member.	K-1 student proficiency may include: exploring email for communication with family and friends understanding basic security practices (e.g., strong passwords, protecting passwords, user IDs, and personal information, and minimizing/evaluating pop up ads); understanding that computers can be damaged by viruses from email or the internet demonstrating an understanding of how to use email and the internet safely sharing what has been learned with a family member.
2-4	Grades 2-4 student proficiency may include: joining online communities or games with supervision creating and responding to emails and accessing email attachments showing awareness of age-appropriate online communities creating and posting content online (text, photos and audio) searching for and downloading music safely and legally using the mobile phone to communicate with family members and emergency services where appropriate understanding the work of others is their property that cannot be taken without giving credit showing awareness of age-appropriate online communities.	Grades 2-4 student proficiency may include: communicating appropriately using ICT with others, such as IM, email, texting, multiplayer games demonstrating an understanding of cyberspace as a community of real people comparing the social conventions between those of the real world and cyberspace demonstrating an understanding of the similarities and differences between real world and online communication with ICT defining cyber-bullying and understanding how it may affect themselves and others communicating to an adult when a negative message is received.	Grades 2-4 student proficiency may include: understanding the concept of cyber-citizenship following social conventions and guidelines when using ICT understanding that anyone met exclusively online is a stranger understanding the concept that there are inappropriate places online using safe searching techniques to locate and download content understanding the risks of revealing personal information using ICT demonstrating the ability to make informed choices about revealing	Grades 2-4 student proficiency may include: describing the basic threats to computers from the internet such as viruses, worms and trojans understanding the concept of viruses and malware being spread from email attachments and internet sites recognizing the security risks associated with communication devices such as email, the internet and mobile phones sharing information with parents to check on personal computer security.
Grades 5-6	Grades 5-6 student proficiency may include: developing the capacity and competence to connect to, operate and access various digital technologies and services understanding the nature of different types of digital services and the content they provide initiating accounts for online communication or games with supervision participating in age-appropriate online communities creating and responding to online content (text, photos and audio) in different forums searching for and downloading music safely and legally using a mobile phone/hand-held device to communicate with family members, friends and emergency services where appropriate understanding the need for basic safety rules when texting or instant messaging demonstrating a simple way to cite a source found on the internet recognizing when ‘it is too good to be true’; for example, online competitions, spam, phishing and polls.	Grades 5-6 student proficiency may include: developing the capacity and competence to connect to, operate and access various digital technologies and services understanding the nature of different types of digital services and the content they provide initiating accounts for online communication or games with supervision participating in age-appropriate online communities creating and responding to online content (text, photos and audio) in different forums searching for and downloading music safely and legally using a mobile phone/hand-held device to communicate with family members, friends and emergency services where appropriate understanding the need for basic safety rules when texting or instant messaging demonstrating a simple way to cite a source found on the internet recognizing when ‘it is too good to be true’; for example, online competitions, spam, phishing and polls.	Grades 5-6 student proficiency may include: understanding the risks of revealing personal information using ICT understanding that those met online are strangers and may be a threat to personal safety understanding appropriate online contact and who to maintain contact with recognizing and reporting inappropriate behavior by an online stranger to an adult or family member recognizing and reporting when they have encountered inappropriate content online demonstrating an understanding of how to avoid or exit inappropriate sites (including reporting to authorities such as the teacher, school or the ACMA) discussing online activities with a family member acting responsibly by caring for their own and others’ identity and personal information.	Grades 5-6 student proficiency may include: identifying viruses, worms, trojans and spyware as programs that can damage a computer implementing basic techniques to prevent viruses, worms, trojans and spyware infection demonstrating safe use practices when using the internet, email and communication devices to avoid spam/scams
	Grades 7-9 student proficiency may include: participating positively in age-appropriate online communities creating an appropriate online personal profile and keeping it secure creating, posting and responding to online content (text, photos and audio) analyzing online content to ensure that it is valid/trusted synthesizing online content, including citation of owners and creators of content understanding the term ‘file-sharing’ and its uses understanding intellectual property issues and acting accordingly recognizing dubious offers; for example, online competitions, spam, phishing and polls.	Grades 7-9 student proficiency may include: communicating appropriately using ICT with others, including using the mobile phone appropriately, including SMS, MMS, internet and online games demonstrating an understanding of cyber-bullying as a negative behavior defining cyber-bullying behavior: o anonymity and pseudonyms (masquerading as others) o flaming (heated, emotive arguments) o harassment (denigration of others) o outing (public release of others’ personal information) o exclusion (making another an ‘outcast’) identifying behavior and resources available if being cyber-bullied, limiting bullying and finding help if victimized understanding the concept of ethical online behavior maintaining a balanced approach to ICT use exercising informed choices in online and digital media and communications environments demonstrating understanding about laws on online behavior and plagiarism.	Grades 7-9 student proficiency may include: learning about basic safety tips to protect themselves online demonstrating an understanding of how to avoid online predators understanding appropriate online contact and who to maintain contact with researching data and mobile phone plans subscribing safely to social networking sites, peer-to-peer services and multiplayer online games considering user agreements when subscribing to online sites discussing family policy on appropriate website access with family members understanding the importance of maintaining private information and the concept of a digital footprint	Grades 7-9 student proficiency may include: describing the basic threats to computers from the internet such as viruses, worms and trojans understanding how to protect their computer from viruses and malware demonstrating basic prevention and maintenance steps to protect computer firewall and update the operating system and virus protection demonstrating safe use practices when using the internet, email and communication devices to avoid spam/scams. describing and practicing strategies for securing wireless connections (e.g., connect only to legitimate wi-fi hot spots or turn off wi-fi, turn off file share mode, encryption of sensitive data/information, use and update of anti-virus software, use of a firewall, and update of operating system). advocating for secure practices and behaviors among peers
Grades 10-12	Grades 10-12 student proficiency may include: contributing positively to online communities identifying legal and social consequences of negative behaviors, such as cyber-bullying publishing online content using multiple tools, for example blogs, wikis, photo sharing tools analyzing online content to ensure that it is valid/trusted synthesizing online content from multiple sources including citation of owners and creators of content using taxonomies effectively to organize and classify multiple information sources recognizing dubious offers; for example, online competitions, spam, phishing and polls.	Grades 10-12 student proficiency may include: observing social conventions when using ICT to communicate with others, including the internet, phone and handheld technologies describing the outcomes of cyber-bullying and the protective behaviors to counteract it comprehending the potential for online harassment during e-communication understanding the role of mobile phones in online harassment identifying the local resources available if being cyber-bullied or stalked identifying legal and social consequences of negative behaviors, such as cyber-bullying or harassment understanding consequences for those who participate in online harassment demonstrating behavior and resources to cope with cyber-bullying understanding consequences of unethical behavior maintaining a balanced approach to ICT use	Grades 10-12 student proficiency may include: identifying the various types of online relationships that can occur comprehending the implications of willing participation in risky online behavior understanding the positives and negatives in using social networking sites researching data and mobile phone plans and selecting best value ones subscribing safely to social networking sites, peer-to-peer services and online games understanding user agreements when subscribing to online sites subscribing to service sites requiring payment; for example, online games discussing family policy on appropriate web site access with family members creating appropriate online personal profiles and keeping them secure.	Grades 10-12 student proficiency may include: demonstrating a commitment to stay current on security issues, software, and effective security practices. demonstrating a commitment to stay current on security issues and effective security practices. modeling secure practices within a variety of digital communities.understanding the security risks associated with downloading items online demonstrating safe use practices when downloading or sharing information online to avoid spam/scams advocating for secure practices and behaviors among peers and community understanding how personal information may be compromised via spyware sharing safe use practices with friends and family having an adequate level of knowledge and skills to be able to protect themselves and their families from unwanted, inappropriate or unsafe content Describe and practice strategies for managing everyday hardware and software problems.