Syllabus

Teacher Information

Your teacher for this course is Tom Gromak, the Academic Technology Coordinator at Watkinson School.

He can be reached by phone at (860) 236-5618 x169 or via email as provided in the faculty directory.

Schedule a Meeting

When and Where We Meet

For Spring Semester class is scheduled as follows on standard five-day weeks:

Course Description

Digital Citizenship is a one semester ninth-grade course that explores the impact of the internet and related technologies on our lives while seeking to provide useful ways to thrive as an online citizen. We engage in this learning through activities including class discussions, small group work, field work, and independent scholarship that is shared on our learning blog.

Objectives

By the time students complete this course, they should be able to:

• Find and identify high-quality, relevant, and accurate information online
• Define plagiarism as it relates to finding and using online content in academics
• Explain the basics of copyright and intellectual property
• Evaluate, adjust and monitor their online presence, privacy, and security
• Monitor and control how behavior is shaped and personal information is shared online
• Discuss the impact of the internet on us individually, on our families and friends, and our society
• Use a variety of tools to effectively convey information online

Required Equipment, Texts, and Resources

All work is completed during class using computers that can be borrowed from the school. No further equipment or texts are required. Students wishing to use their own devices should bring a Chromebook, MacBook, or Windows laptop to class. Mobile devices and tablets, including iPads and smartphones, may not provide the functionality necessary to complete coursework.

Students may be asked to create accounts to access free online services, however we ask that no personal information be shared. Instead, students are encouraged to either make things up or use the school’s information (email, physical address, etc.) when asked.

Attendance Policy

Excused absences, tardys, and early dismissals require adherance to Family Handbook policy. Unexcused absences, late arrivals, or early dismissals will result in consequences based upon the circumstances of each instance and the frequency at which they occur.

Communication

Most class communication is facilitated via Google Classroom, including announcements, assignments, and other required class materials. Students will be asked to enroll during class and/or via email invitations. Because coursework is done in class, assignments are usually scheduled to post at the beginning of the relevant session. Some class commmunication is via direct email from teacher to student. As a result, students are expected to check their Watkinson email accounts between class meetings.

Electronic Device Policy

Use of laptops is frequent due to the nature of this class, but their use is nonetheless subject to teacher approval, and students should expect to be asked to put all devices away and/or close them when appropriate. Use of smartphones for academic purposes may also be allowed, subject to teacher approval, but they are generally required to be silent and unseen when class is in session. All paper-based worksheets can also be submitted via computer if desired.

Food and Drink Policy

No food or drink should be consumed in class without teacher approval, however closed-top beverage bottles and food stored inside personal items for later consumption are allowed. No open-top beverages are allowed next to laptops due to the risk of spills and damage.

Course Assignments and Grading

Course assignments are completed during class. There is no assigned homework and there are no tests or quizzes. Grading is Pass/Fail, along with an effort grade between 1 and 5 as detailed in the Family Handbook. Points are awarded for successful completion of assigned work as detailed on the Scoring page. Point totals contribute to the determination of passing and effort grades along with other factors, including class participation, preparation, engagement, initiative, and responsible behavior.

Assignments and class activities are categorized in two ways: Community work is accomplished as an entire class, while Scholarship work is accomplished individually.

Community Assignments and Activities

Community assignments and activities include:

• Class Discussions (online and in-person)
• Individual Sharing and/or Demonstration of Work with Class Q & A
• Small Group (2-5 students) Research and Sharing
• Small Group Skill Practice and Sharing
• Small Group Topic Exploration and Sharing
• Peer Review

Scholarship Assignments and Activities

Scholarship assignments and activities include:

• Student-selected research about topics related to course objectives and essential questions
• Design, composition, and online publication of materials related to student-selected research

Academic Policies and Procedures

Assignments should be submitted via Google Classroom, via post submissions on our learning blog, or in class, as detailed in instructions provided during class. Credit is given and points are awarded for work when it meets the criteria and standards provided as part of assignment instructions and/or rubrics.

Community work is generally completed on the day it assigned, while Scholarship work is ongoing, with no specifc due dates.

Incidences of plagarism and other issues related to academic honesty are addressed on a case-by-case basis as detailed in the Family Handbook.

Course Calendar

Please note that dates and topics are subject to change based upon class preferences, current events, and changes to the school calendar.

Week	Dates	Topics and Activities
1	Jan 22 & 24	Course Introduction, Topic Exploration, Introduction to Scholarship Work
2	Jan 28 & 31	Fake News, Learning Blog Introduction
3	Feb 4, 5, & 7	Google Hacks and Tips, Independent Scholarship Days Begin
4	Feb 11 & 13	Search Ninja Training, Digital Permanence
5	Feb 19 & 21	Search Ninja Training, Scholarship Work Check-In
6	Feb 25 & 28	Evaluating Sources
7	March 3 & 6	Writing for the Web, Plagiarism
8	March 24 & 27	Online Privacy, Scholarship Work Check-In
9	March 31, April 3	Midterm Feedback, Chatting and "Red Flags"
10	April 7 & 9	Diversity in Technology
11	April 15	Search and Productivity Hacks, Scholarship Work Check-In
12	April 21, 22, & 24	Introduction to Learning Online, Diversity in Technology
13	April 28, May 1	Blog Gallery Walk, Final Weeks of Class Review
14	May 5, 6, & 8	Field Work, Student-Chosen Topic Exploration, Scholarship Work Check-In
15	May 12 & 15	How Technology Hijacks our Minds, Podcasting
16	May 19, 20, & 22	Dealing with Thorny Situations, Scholarship Work Wrap-Up
17	May 27	Student-Chosen Topic Exploration
18	June Exam Week	Learning Blog Exploration, Preparing for 10th Grade Exhibitions, Course Wrap-Up and Feedback