Journal 3: Students Need a Digital Driver's License Before They Start Their Engines

Journal 3: Students Need a Digital Driver’s License Before They Start Their Engines(NETS-T 3,4,5)

Swan, G., & Park, M. (2012). Students need a digital driver's license before they start their engines. Learning and Leading with technology, 40(5), 26-28. Retrieved from
http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-leading/digitaledition/digital-edition-february-2013

Summary: The increasing use of technology for replacing textbook and other devices is becoming a reality in the k-12 school system. With the expanded use of technology the Children’s Internet Protection Act and the Protecting Children in the 21^st Century Act emphasize the responsibility of schools to teach students about proper internet etiquette. Teaching internet safety is comparable to teaching driver’s education, students need a course in how to recognize and react to certain situations on the internet. This includes: cyber bullying and copyright infringement. The Digital Driver’s License (DDL) project, does this by delivering self-paced modules that is free and easy to use in order to gain exposure to concepts in a digital world.
Analysis: I think that this is an excellent project that really reaches out to students who are maybe not aware of the “bad” side of the internet. We are taught how to manually use a computer or ipad but are never actually taught how to react when it comes to certain sticky situations. I also like that the project is flexible and can change from district to district. I like the two different assessments that the students are able to take because they are able to practice first and then prove it with feedback in the end. The project is a fun way of learning about the messy parts of the internet and it’s a nice feature that students get detailed feedback on the correct answer.
Question 1: What does the DDL cover?
The DDL project covers cases of Digital law and rights, Media fluency, digital commerce, access, heath, wellness, and responsibilities.
Question 2: Is this program only available to certain states or countries?
No, this program first started in September 2011 and has since had 14,000 students participate in it. This includes students from six U.S. states, Australia, and Hong Kong.