Recently, I have caught myself using phrases like “back in my day” and “when I was young” – something I never imagined I would say. These reflections often centre on how quickly technology has transformed the rhythm of our daily lives. Today, if I am in a waiting room or have a spare moment, it is second nature to reach for my iPhone to reply to emails, scroll the news, or check social media. It wasn’t so long ago that waiting rooms had stacks of magazines, and families would fight over the TV remote. For our students, though, these are snapshots from another era.
The Importance of Digital Citizenship
Students today live in an “always on” and highly connected environment, engaging with digital content through creation, sharing, and collaboration. The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 stresses that every student should be empowered ‘to be active digital citizens and to develop their responsible, safe and ethical use of digital technology’ (p.39). Research by Vandoninck and D’Haenens (2015) shows that young people with stronger digital skills are better prepared to manage online risks. Building these skills is not optional – it is a core responsibility for every school, ensuring students are prepared to navigate their online world confidently and safely.
Building Digital Citizenship
Digital citizenship goes far beyond internet safety. It is about learning to interact positively, respectfully, and ethically in the digital world. This includes practising safe online habits like protecting personal information and managing one’s digital footprint, behaving ethically by respecting copyright and avoiding plagiarism, and developing critical thinking to evaluate content, spot bias, and question sources.
I often joke that the one day of the year everyone is critical about what they see online is April 1st – yet the rise of AI-generated images and videos makes this skill essential every day. Equally important is digital wellbeing – encouraging students to balance screen time, manage distractions, and cultivate healthy online habits. Tools like Focus Mode on an iPad not only reduce unnecessary alerts but also create the space for focused, purposeful learning.
Educating Our Students
The iPad can be a powerful tool for developing digital citizenship by giving students practical opportunities to use technology safely, responsibly, and respectfully. Through guided activities and discussions, you can introduce concepts such as online safety, digital footprints, and the importance of protecting personal information, while students practise identifying trustworthy sources, recognising online risks, and understanding the consequences of their digital actions.
Collaborative platforms such as Microsoft 365, Google Drive, Seesaw and Showbie on the iPad encourage respectful communication and teamwork through shared documents, moderated discussion boards, and creative projects. This combination of interactive learning and practical experience allows you to model and reinforce positive online behaviours in your classroom, preparing students to become informed and respectful participants in the digital world.
Securing iPad Learning
Creating a safe and well-managed learning environment is integral to digital citizenship, and Jamf, together with Apple School Manager, provides just that. Jamf allows schools to manage iPads to protect students and promote responsible use. Content filtering shields students from harmful material, app access can be tailored for age-appropriate learning, and teachers can restrict device features during lessons to minimise distractions. This can be all completed centrally. Lost devices can be tracked securely.
Apple School Manager complements Jamf by streamlining deployment and safeguarding privacy. Managed Apple IDs keep personal and school data separate, apps and books can be distributed directly to devices, and integration with learning management systems supports seamless content sharing and collaboration. Together, these tools create a secure digital ecosystem that actively fosters positive online behaviours.
Professional Learning for Teachers
Teacher confidence is crucial in guiding students to become responsible digital citizens, as recognised by the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027. The Digital Strategy recognises that it is ‘essential that teachers continue to be supported in developing the requisite knowledge, skills, and confidence’(p.26). Apple Classroom give teachers the ability to manage devices in real time, lock screens for focus, and direct students to specific resources, creating a purposeful and safe environment.
Apple Professional Learning further strengthens teacher expertise, offering practical training that supports the integration of digital citizenship into everyday lesson planning. This ensures technology use is purposeful and rooted in sound pedagogy practices.
When I think back to my “back in my day” reflections in the introduction – from magazines in waiting rooms to families debating over the TV remote – it is clear how quickly our daily habits have shifted to a constant, connected state. In this “always on” world, the need for strong digital citizenship has never been more urgent. Students must be equipped to navigate an online environment that is fast-moving, information-rich, and often challenging to interpret. Pairing iPads with Jamf and Apple School Manager creates the safe, structured foundation needed to foster these skills. This approach not only protects students now but also prepares them for a lifetime of engaging critically, ethically, and respectfully in digital spaces. The technology may change, but the need for guidance, curiosity, and responsible participation is timeless – and every iPad interaction can be a chance to build these essential habits.