We are in the digital age. Technology has taken over our lives and is an essential part of how we function both professionally and personally. With technology comes risk, and it is important that we take steps to protect ourselves from digital threats. One way to do this is through digital resilience in education. What is digital resilience? How can we achieve it in our society?
In this article, we will answer these questions and more!
What is digital resilience?
We talk a lot about building digital resilience in our children, but what does it truly mean? Being “so tough” that nothing can affect us is not what resilience is all about. It’s not about putting up with stuff to be resilient. The capacity for rebounding from setbacks is called resilience. It is okay to feel depressed, enraged, joyful, or anxious; what matters is how we react and adjust.
Digital resiliency is the capacity to recover over time from challenging online situations. It entails understanding when you are in danger online, knowing what to do in the event of an emergency, learning from your online experiences, and being able to bounce back from any setbacks or upsets.
It is also the ability to protect oneself from digital threats. These threats can come in many forms, such as cyber-attacks, data breaches, and online harassment. Digital resilience is important because it allows us to continue using technology without fear of being attacked or victimized.
What are the threats of the digital age?
The digital age has brought many threats to our society. These threats can come in many forms, such as cyber-attacks, data breaches, and online harassment. It is important to be aware of these threats so that we can take steps to protect ourselves.
Some of the most common digital age threats are:
- Cyber-attacks: A cyber-attack is a type of digital attack that is carried out with the intention of causing damage to a computer system or network.
- Data breaches: A data breach is a type of security incident that occurs when sensitive, confidential, or private information is accessed without authorization.
- Online harassment: Online harassment is a type of bullying that takes place online. It can include sending mean messages or emails, spreading rumors about someone, or posting embarrassing pictures or videos of someone without their permission.
By incorporating digital resilience into digital citizenship education, we can create a digital resilient community that is better equipped to handle the threats of the digital age.
How can we achieve digital resilience in education?
Supporting our children and young people to be digitally resilient is essential since utilizing technology in a digital environment has become so integrated into so many facets of our lives. Children and young people must acquire information, skills, and coping mechanisms to be able to navigate the digital world.
Some of them are:
- Managing their internet activity responsibly
- Detecting and reducing risks to avoid harm while using the internet
- Recognizing the value of trusting trustworthy sources,
- Learning from their mistakes and getting back up after a setback
- Seeking assistance when they need it
- Making use of the benefits of technology
Our ability to build digital resilience in students also relies on how strong our schools, communities, and families are. That is why it is crucial to have a collaborative effort in digital resilience education. Such collaborative effort can be in the form of digital citizenship education, which is the proactive teaching of norms, values, and responsible behaviors with regard to technology use.
Some ways digital resilience can be incorporated into digital citizenship education are:
- Providing opportunities for students to share their online experiences with their peers and adults
- Encouraging positive online behavior through modeling and reinforcement
- Educating students on how to report online abuse or harassment
- Incorporating digital resilience into the curriculum. This can be done through digital literacy or computer science classes
- Offering digital resilience workshops or training for parents, teachers, and school staff. This will help create a digital resilient community in school districts.
Why is digital resilience important?
Digital resilience is important because it allows us to use technology without fear of being attacked or victimized. In today’s world, technology is an essential part of our lives and we rely on it for both professional and personal tasks. However, with technology comes risk. By being digitally resilient, we can protect ourselves from digital threats such as cyber-attacks, data breaches, and online harassment.
In addition to protecting ourselves, digital resilience is also important for building a society that can thrive in the digital age. With technology becoming increasingly integrated into our lives, it is essential that we support our children and young people in developing digital resilience. This will allow them to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.
How can we achieve digital resilience in our society?
There are a few ways that we can achieve digital resilience in our society. One way is through education. It is important that people are aware of the risks associated with technology and how to protect themselves from these risks.
Another way is through legislation. There need to be laws in place that protect people from digital attacks and hold those who commit them accountable. These laws will help to deter people from carrying out digital attacks and will also provide justice for those who have been victimized.
Finally, digital resilience can be achieved through private companies and organizations taking steps to protect their customers and employees. This can be done by investing in cyber-security, encrypting data, and providing training on digital safety.
Achieving digital resilience requires thorough collaboration. It is important that we work together to build digital resilience not just in education but as well as in our society as a whole. This includes working with families, schools, businesses, and the government to create a digitally resilient society.