Technology is always changing, and the Stanislaus County of Education hopes to help parents stay up-to-date by hosting a series of technology information sessions.

Technology Night for Parents: Digital Citizenship is a free, hour-long session which will offer parents resources to help keep track of common internet slang, details about popular cell phone apps and how technology can be used for more than just video games.

Students ages 13 to 18 use an average of nine hours of media daily, which raises the question of who teaches them how to interact online. Digital Citizenship is a concept which helps teachers, technology leaders and parents understand what students, children and technology users should know to use technology appropriately.

According to SCOE’s Technology Learning Resources Director Sally Savona, Digital Citizenship is more than just a teaching tool; it is a way to prepare students and technology users for a society full of technology. Digital citizenship is the norms of appropriate, responsible technology use.  

“Too often we are seeing students as well as adults misusing and abusing technology but not sure what to do. The issue is more than what the users do not know but what is considered appropriate technology usage,” said Savona. 

The technology night will be held from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Aug. 23 at SCOE’s Petersen Event Center, located at 720 12th St. in Modesto. The session will be offered concurrently in both English and Spanish, and though walk-ins are welcome, registration is encouraged online at www.stancoe.org.