Reflections of Digital Citizenship on Social Studies Course: Teachers’ Perceptions

The social studies course, which is a very effective course in raising citizens, is expected to become effective in raising digital citizens. In this direction, the views of teachers, who are the practitioners of the social studies course, on the relationship between digital citizenship and social studies course are very important. For this reason, this study aims to determine the views of social studies teachers on the relationship between digital citizenship and social studies course. The study group of the research, which was conducted using a phenomenological design, consisted of 25 social studies teachers working under the Ministry of National Education in the 2022-2023 academic year in Erzincan, Turkey. The data obtained were analyzed using both content analysis and descriptive analysis. As a result of the study, it was found that teachers established a relationship between digital citizenship and social studies course in general philosophy, content, measurement and evaluation, awareness and daily life. Teachers stated that all sub-dimensions of digital citizenship should be included in the social studies course. However, teachers stated that digital rights and responsibilities and digital literacy should be included in the social studies course the most, while digital health and digital commerce should be included the least. In addition, teachers stated that studies should be carried out on curriculum, learning-teaching process, tools and materials, awareness, technological infrastructure, teacher training and cooperation in order to make students acquire digital citizenship more effectively in the social studies course.