Understanding Digital Citizenship Worksheet

Week Two

Understanding Digital Citizenship Worksheet

Student Name: Heidi Helsley

Purpose: Use this worksheet to identify and demonstrate good digital citizenship skills.

Prepare: Read Section 4.1 in Module 4 and review the Netiquette Rules found in the Course Policies, About Discussions area of your classroom.

Write: Below there are three scenarios. Read each of the scenarios and answer the questions below.

Scenario #1

Miguel is a full-time online student, a full-time employee, and a father. He finds that he is constantly struggling with balancing all of his responsibilities and is trying to figure out a way to manage his time wisely. He is only in his third class and has already submitted assignments late. Trying to complete his assignments has been stressful and when he does manage to submit his work on time, he is working on it up until the last minute.

Miguel has a three-page paper to write for his class tonight. He just sat down to work on it at 9:00 p.m. He had hoped to take the instructor’s feedback from last week and use it to improve his work on this assignment; however, because it is so late, he already feels that he won’t have time to submit his work at the level of quality the professor is looking for. He feels pressured and stressed.

To complete the paper, Miguel has to do some research on the topic. Since he has not yet taken the time to explore the library, he believes it would take too long to use this as a research tool. Therefore, he decides to Google the topic for his paper.

He pulls up several websites, and finds plenty of information that he can use. Because he is running out of time to complete his paper, he decides to copy the information he has found (without citing) and after changing just a few words, he submits his paper on time.

In complete sentences, respond to the following:

Miguel is stressed out about the little time he has left to spend on an assignment before its due. He didn’t feel comfortable using the library and writing center, so Miguel turned to Google for information and then copied it and changed just a few words. Instead, he could have used the same information but formed his own paper and adding the cites used in it instead of plagiarizing.

• In at least three sentences, describe how Miguel’s actions do not align with being a good digital citizen.

Miguel decision to plagiarize would lead to him being referred to the Department of Student Affairs and could possibly end up with him being removed from Ashford University. Miguel’s conscious would be guilty that he knew that he didn’t give it his all and just copied another’s work, as well as worst case scenario lead to him to hefty fines and even possibly time in jail and restitution.

• In at least three sentences, explain the potential consequences of Miguel’s actions.

Scenario #2

• Describe three alternative actions that Miguel could have taken in this situation.
• Schedule more time- Family and work are great things to take time, however when in school time for assignments should also be factored in. If there is time off, work on assignments, send an e-mail to your instructor letting them know you are struggling and need help.
• Even if unsure how to properly cite sources and struggle with the way that the instructor wants, and you are up on time, it is better to poorly site sources than to not put on.
  • Do your research and write your paper don’t ever copy and paste anything. It is better to put supportive sentences in to your paper that you can link to your sources than to have paragraphs and the entire paper.
  • Review Ashford University’s Policy on recycling assignments (found in the Ashford Catalogue under Student’s Rights and Responsibilities) and in your own words, explain what it means to “recycle” an assignment.
    Recycling assignments is something that must be approved and is done a case by case basis. It is solely up to each instructor, and if one student can submit it does not mean that another would be able to even if in the same course. To recycle assignments, it means that a student who wrote the assignment is the same student to resubmit it for another class, and assignment. It cannot be Sally’s assignment and Joe turn it in for credit for the same course or even different course.

Margaret is a full-time online student. She is currently in her second class and has been working very hard on maintaining a B average in her classes so far. She is hoping to achieve an A average by the end of her current class. However, in order for her to accomplish her academic goal, she knows she needs to make improvements in her school work.

One strategy that she knows she needs to use is to ask her instructor for feedback. The class is currently in the third week and Margaret has just opened the gradebook to view her grade and feedback from the assignment she completed the week before. Margaret reviews the feedback the instructor has provided; however, she is confused by it and is not completely clear on the suggestions that are given throughout the paper. Margaret decides to email her instructor and ask for clarification on the feedback provided.

Read Margaret’s email:

To: Ashford Instructor ([email protected])

From: Student ([email protected])

Subject: MY ASSIGNMENT

Email text:

Hey I saw u graded my paper from my grade but I thought I did wat u asked. Where can I see what u said to help me? I don’t understand. HELP!!!! I had better here from u today!

Write:

To: Ashford Instructor ([email protected])

• List three netiquette violations that you notice in this email.
  • Typed in capitals—In this instance its yelling, and it is very clear that this student is upset.
  • Using internet texting short cuts. It is better to type out the entire word.
  • Create a better email that Margaret can use instead. The email should demonstrate at least three characteristics of good digital citizenship as indicated in this week’s resources.

From: [email protected]

Subject: My assignment for Week 2

Dear Professor,

I noticed that you had graded my paper. I have some questions about the grade I received. I did my best on the assignment given and I was wondering if you could tell me what the best way would be to correct it or even pointers for my next assignment. Is there somewhere that the feedback is posted that I can go to so you don’t have to type it up in an extra e-mail? I know time is valuable so the quickest way to access this information is best, so it doesn’t take time away from your family. I really had a hard time understanding this assignment. I am sorry I didn’t e-mail prior to the due date for extra help and fully accept my grade earned. Where can I find extra help, like a tutor or something until I fully understand the assignment. I hope to hear from you soon. Your Student

Heidi Helsley

Scenario #3

• Aside from correcting the netiquette violations you listed in the first prompt, identify three additional characteristics of good digital citizenship that you used in the email you created above.
• I used manners, being polite gets you further than being hostile.
• Proper capitalization- I never yelled, and I didn’t type it while being tired or angry
  • I asked for help instead of demanding it. Asking for extra help and for the instructor to get back to me on his time Vs demanding his time. I don’t know what is going on in their life and being patient on replies helps more.

Part of being a good critical thinker and college student is the ability to maintain your own values, while understanding the perspectives of others who you may disagree with. Appropriate communication is important in an academic, online environment. An online classroom is meant to mirror a brick and mortar classroom in some ways. In the online classrooms at Ashford University, you will engage in academic discussions each week with your peers through the discussion forums. You may not always find that you agree with everything your classmates say, and while it is acceptable to compare and contrast your perspective with those of others, disagreement should be communicated in a calm, respectful, and non-aggressive manner. While academic discourse is part of learning and encouraged, there is a proper way to communicate. Peer responses should focus on the topic at hand and should be written to continue the academic discussion.

Irene is taking PSY 203 – Human Sexuality. She has just logged in to begin responding to her classmates’ posts. In the week’s discussion, part of the discussion prompt asks that they discuss the role of the school system on sex education. They are asked to support their discussion with at least one scholarly source. As Irene reads through the responses, she finds a response written by her classmate, Mark, which she disagrees with and decides to respond to him.

Read:

Mark’s initial response:

In my opinion, the schools should not be talking about sex education in elementary schools. In my daughters school, they started talking about sex education when she was in fifth grade. I think that was to young. I think it was my responsibility to educate my daughter and not they’res that wasn’t right. So now she knows too much about sex and I am worried about how it influenced her.

Irene’s response to her classmate, Mark:

I think you are WRONG! I think they should educate kids in school because how else are they going to learn about it? We don’t have the right information to give them. At least the teachers know what they’re talking about, did you? I disagree with you. Also you didn’t use a scholarly source like we were supposed to and you have lots of spelling errors.

Write:

Mark-

While I enjoyed reading your post, I must say that I disagree with you, when you say it shouldn’t be taught in school. The classes taught on the Sex education is more of a Puberty class, and it is separated by Boys and Girls, as well as being age based, so nothing extreme or out of line is taught. There are many students that don’t get taught at home about what the body does, so I am grateful that they have special classes to teach it, or for the parents who talk to their children as a reinforcement. It isn’t necessarily teachers who teach the classes either, many PTA’s bring in nurses to teach the classes. Kids that age tend to tune out parents in embarrassing situations, whereas this may lead to questions and the kids will be able to go home and ask the questions even.

• Identify three items in Irene’s response to Mark that did not demonstrate appropriate communication and good digital citizenship.
  • Capital letters, she was quite vocal that Mark was wrong, even though it was his own opinion and she wants Mark to conform to hers.
  • It is not her place to tell another student that they are wrong. Its ok to disagree but it is more important to do it tastefully.
  • Rewrite Irene’s response to Mark to demonstrate appropriate communication and good digital citizenship.

I didn’t put Mark down for disagreeing with him, or correct his errors as it’s not my job to do it, I am a classmate not the instructor. I didn’t yell at Mark for his opinion, it is his to have and while we may not agree points, it is not a reason to yell at him. And While I didn’t use a source that could be sited, I do know that it is put on by the PTA in the state of Utah and Idaho as well, from participating in it as child.

• Aside from correcting the three items identified in the first prompt, describe three additional ways in which the post you have rewritten above demonstrates good digital citizenship. Explain in at least three sentences.

Completed! Take a moment to spell check and ensure you have successfully answered each section in the worksheet.. Please save and submit your assignment via Waypoint.