Modeling a Positive Digital Footprint

Several years ago one of our superintendents made the observation that I was addressing the lack of communication/collaboration between instructional and technology staffs from a deficit model. What he meant was that my focus on what was not working was limiting my capacity to explore positive and innovative solutions. His comment reminded me of the importance of maintaining a mindset of abundance.
A deficit model operates from a perspective of fear and/or control, and results in a culture of compliance rather than a culture that inspires students to positively contribute to and responsibly participate in the digital world. The immediate, global, and permanent nature of the digital world does necessitate some boundaries and safeguards - we don't want to toss learners into the deep end of the pool before they know how to swim. but neither do we want them to never leave the baby pool.
The ISTE standard for students as digital citizens describes students who recognize the rights, responsibilities and opportunities of living, learning and working in an interconnected digital world, and who act and model in ways that are safe, legal and ethical. This standard is supported by the standard for educators who

• Create experiences for learners to make positive, socially responsible contributions and exhibit empathetic behavior online that build relationships and community;
• Establish a learning culture that promotes curiosity and critical examination of online resources and fosters digital literacy and media fluency;
• Mentor students in safe, legal and ethical practices with digital tools and the protection of intellectual rights and property; and
• Model and promote management of personal data and digital identity and protect student data privacy.

As leaders we have the opportunity to move from a culture of compliance to a culture that inspires students to positively contribute to and responsibly participate in the digital world by modeling Digital Citizenship and cultivating responsible online behavior.