Approaches to Citizenship

At YCYW, we believe that citizenship education is not limited to digital citizenship alone. While digital citizenship and digital literacy are crucial components of a complete education, we also recognize the importance of local, national, and global citizenship. As students navigate an increasingly interconnected world, it is essential they have the skills to interact responsibly, ethically, and safely both online and offline.

Intercultural Competencies refer to the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that enable individuals to navigate and communicate effectively across cultural contexts. Intercultural competencies are essential for the development of citizenship in any form as it allows individuals to engage with people from their same, or different cultures in a respectful and effective way.

Local Citizenship refers to an individual’s engagement and participation in their local community. It involves being aware of local issues, taking action to address them and contributing to the wellness of their immediate community.

National Citizenship refers to an individual’s membership in a particular country and their rights and responsibilities as a citizen of that country. This includes obeying the laws of the country and contributing to make impact or support government initiatives.

Global Citizenship refers to an individual’s sense of belonging to the world as a whole. It involves recognising the interconnectedness of the world and taking action to address global issues such as poverty, climate change and human rights abuses.

Digital citizenship encompasses the norms of appropriate, responsible behavior regarding technology use, including understanding the ethical, cultural, and societal issues related to technology. It involves issues of cybersecurity, privacy, digital etiquette, rights and responsibilities, and digital law. Furthermore, digital citizenship aims to foster an understanding of the social and cultural implications of digital interactions, teaching students to respect intellectual property, recognize misinformation, protect personal data, and engage in positive online communication.

Digital Literacy refers to the ability to effectively and critically navigate, evaluate, and create information using a range of digital technologies. It involves the practical skills needed to use technology, such as the ability to understand and utilise various digital platforms, tools, and mediums. Digital literacy is about the 'how'—how to use technology, how to find and interpret digital information, and how to produce digital content. Digital literacy ensures that students are not just passive consumers of digital content but are also skilled creators and critical thinkers in digital spaces.

In addition to digital citizenship, we also emphasize the importance of local, national, and global citizenship. This includes understanding the rights and responsibilities of citizens in their own communities, as well as the broader implications of global issues such as climate change, geopolitical conflicts. We believe that by developing a strong sense of citizenship, students are better equipped to engage with and contribute to their communities, both online and offline.

At YCYW, our commitment to citizenship education is reflected in our curriculum and teaching practices. We integrate life skills and wellness curriculum, digital literacy and digital citizenship into our subjects, and our teachers are committed to engaging students in discussions and scenarios to build their citizenship skills. Additionally, we prepare students for a future where AI is a normal part of daily life, teaching them about AI technologies and how to use them responsibly and ethically. Our approaches are outlined in Life Skills and Wellness Curriculum Guide, Digital Citizenship and Digital Literacy Guide, and the YCYW AI Policy, which emphasises the importance of balancing AI-assisted and AI-proof learning experiences and assessments.

​

Link to Life Skills and Wellness Curriculum Guide

Link to Digital Citizenship and Digital Literacy Guide (To be launched on 1/1/2025)

Link to AI policy (To be launched on 1/1/2025)