[jct101Participant]

The online world or digital world is nowadays an inevitable and essential part of real world for both youngsters and oldies; be they are students, parents, stakeholders or educators. During this pandemic crisis, education for both struggling and rich countries are delivered through online classes (as one mode of learning delivery) with the use of internet and applications or softwares like Edmodo, Google Classroom, and Facebook. Everyone, especially the younger people must take precautionary measures and be aware of their rights, responsibilities, behaviors and safety with the guide and help of educators and experts in dealing with the online or digital world connectivities and activities to avoid addiction, health problems, digital footprint risks and hazards, and committing or becoming victim of cyber crimes. The ethics and values molded in the real world must also be applied in the digital world and vis-a-vis with emphasis on wisdom and rationality to keep mental sanity or psychological health. There should be a proper and precise time management for everyone in the use of internet to maximize its productive and healthy usage and minimize its risks. It is not wrong to use mobile phone and gadget as long as the user is of right age to distinguish what is right and wrong, what is good and bad, what is risky and safe, and what is healthy and unhealthy acts; and as long as such mobile device will not control the user. I believe that if people need to drink liquor moderately; they should also treat the same as to internet or mobile device usage. An expert once said and I quote; “Just keep in mind that knowing how to use ICT and the regulations about privacy settings/security settings is only one side of the story. The other side of story which is more important is people’s internal ways of thinking about in controlling and managing their ICT use. So even if they (students) pushed technology aside, just getting students to think critically about how to use the ICT; getting them to be good citizens before they are digital citizens; getting them to be respectful to one another involves offline and online; those are the most important things because regardless of the level of technology they are using, they can carry those attitudes, behaviors and values with them wherever they go and whatever devices they are using.”

[Author]

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