Positive Digital Engagement

Relevant, contemporary education requires the discerning application of a balanced blend of digital and more traditional resources to provide a student-centred, authentic and engaging learning experience where global competencies are developed.

As such, positive digital engagement by all students is essential.

Positive digital engagement is a composite of:

1. Cyber safety and digital wellbeing.
2. Respectful and responsible digital behaviour.
3. Confident and purposeful use of the device and other digital resources for learning.

Positive engagement – in the digital sense – relies on students, teachers and parents all being appropriately informed, supported and empowered.

Equipped students

• Aware of the place and role of digital tools within the wider learning environment at Christian College.
• Aware of the expectations of students, regarding positive digital behaviour and the use of digital devices while at school.
• Familiar with the supports available and able to access them as needed.
• Actively participating in and using digital tools and resources to support learning in contextually appropriate ways.

Empowered teachers

• Familiar with a consistently understood model for the place and role of digital tools within the wider learning environment at Christian College.
• Skilled and equipped to discern if, when, why, what and how to apply specific digital tools in a given learning context.
• Aware of their students’ digital behaviour while learning, including areas of concern that need to be addressed.

Engaged parents

• Aware of the role of digital technologies and tools within the wider learning environment, and their relevance to contemporary and future society.
• Aware of the expectations of students, regarding positive digital behaviour and the use of digital devices while at school.

Positive digital engagement unpacked…

Positive digital engagement encompasses:

Cyber safety and digital wellbeing

• Awareness of the potential dangers and pitfalls of online interaction and how to negotiate online environments safely.
• Awareness of what to do when encountering online behaviour or content (including cyber bullying) that is hurtful, distressing, harmful or offensive.
• Awareness of dangers to privacy while online, and ability to protect privacy and make appropriate decisions about what to share with whom.
• Ability to protect the security of accounts and use robust passwords.
• Awareness of the potential positive and negative impacts of digital interactions on wellbeing, and ability to have balance between on-screen and off-screen activities.

Respectful and responsible digital behaviour

• Treating others with dignity, respect and kindness when interacting online.
• Not engaging in cyber bullying and acting when noticing it as a bystander.
• Understanding how online interactions produce a digital footprint and can influence a person’s digital reputation.
• Interacting with others and sharing content online with integrity and honesty.

Confident and purposeful use of the device and other digital resources for learning

• Awareness of the place and role of digital tools within the wider learning environment at Christian College.
• Skilled and capable to use the College device, digital platforms and tools when required to participate in digital learning activities.
• Ability to problem solve, and seek digital and human resources, to help troubleshoot problems when they occur.
• Active participation in online or digital learning activities as directed by the teacher.
• Appropriate accessing and use of digital resources relevant to the learning context.
• Using the device and digital tools only for relevant learning purposes while at school, and consciously avoiding digital distraction.

Some of the elements of positive digital engagement are significantly influenced by and dependent on levels of student engagement as it is more broadly defined.