School of Information Sciences

Mattson authors new book on digital citizenship

Kristen Mattson 2025
Kristen Mattson, Adjunct Lecturer

Adjunct Lecturer Kristen Mattson has authored a second edition of her book, Digital Citizenship in Action: Empowering Students to Engage in Online Communities, which was recently released by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). In the new book, Mattson provides additional history and context to the digital citizenship conversation as well as opportunities to bring digital citizenship into the classroom.

According to Mattson, the new edition is not only based on changes in our world but also based on changes in her thinking over the past seven years. Chapters include recommended skills and standards for curriculum development, suggestions for ways students can practice participatory citizenship, ideas for integrating digital citizenship into content area instruction, and stories featuring integrated, participatory digital citizenship. The book is intended for teachers, school librarians, administrators, and other adults who are responsible for developing and delivering digital citizenship lessons.

"It was an honor to work with ISTE again to update this book. As our digital world continues to evolve, so must our approach to teaching vital skills like digital safety, media and information literacy, digital health and wellbeing, civic engagements, and social responsibility," said Mattson. "I am grateful for the innovative educators who trusted me to share their work with a wider audience and look forward to working with even more teachers who are ready to emphasize digital citizenship skills in their classrooms."

At the iSchool, Mattson teaches courses on digital citizenship and media literacy for youth. She has authored Ethics in a Digital World: Guiding Students Through Society's Biggest Questions (International Society for Technology in Education, 2021) and Digital Citizenship in Action: Empowering Students to Engage in Online Communities (ISTE, 2017). Mattson earned her EdD in curriculum and instruction leadership, MS in instructional design and technology, and BS in elementary and middle school teaching from Northern Illinois University.

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