The technological transformation that is taking place in society is leading to major changes in the behaviors of youngsters. Strategies to support schools in coping with the barriers and pitfalls of the digital world are therefore needed. The main aim of the project was to support the development of digital citizenship competences in secondary school students through the definition and piloting of a toolkit for teachers on digital citizenship, digital footprint, and digital ecology.
We applied for this project to address the growing need for schools to adapt to the technological transformation affecting society, especially in the behaviors of young people. The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need for high-performance digital infrastructures in schools and for digital educational content. However, developing a digital culture requires more than technology—it also needs strategies that promote responsible digital behavior and a deeper understanding of the digital world. This project aimed to help schools cope with the barriers and risks of the digital world, such as the reliability of information, data sovereignty, security, and technology addiction. Digital and information literacy are essential skills for young people to navigate the digital environment responsibly. These competences are important for the well-being of individuals and society, and they align with the EU’s emphasis on digital competence as a key skill for lifelong learning. Through this project, we sought to bring these skills into the classroom and empower both teachers and students to become responsible digital citizens.