Analysis of Perceptions and Needs for Digital Citizenship Education Among Leader Teachers in Digital-Leading Schools

Objectives This study aims to analyze the perceptions and needs of digital citizenship education among leader teachers in digital-leading schools and to propose directions for digital citizenship education while providing foundational data for future educational goals and curriculum design. Methods To achieve this, an online survey was conducted with 100 elementary leader teachers from digital-leading schools designated by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. The survey included questions assessing perceptions of digital citizenship education, its importance, and the current level of students. The study utilized Borich's needs assessment and the TLfF model to identify educational needs and priorities. Results The survey results revealed that while leader teachers in digital-leading schools strongly agreed on the necessity of digital citizenship education, the level of practical implementation was low. Needs analysis showed that digital safety and resilience, along with digital utilization, were identified as top priority areas. Specifically, information utilization in digital use, data protection in digital safety and resilience, and cyber etiquette were highlighted as critical educational domains. Additionally, digital participation's subdomain of social participation emerged as a secondary priority, with significant gaps identified between students’ current levels and required competencies, indicating the need for educational support. Conclusions The findings of this study suggest that practical support measures and the development of educational models are required to bridge the gap between the recognition of the necessity of digital citizenship education and its implementation. Furthermore, to ensure balanced ‘citizen’ education in the digital age, it is essential to address not only digital safety, resilience, and utilization but also the secondary-priority area of digital social participation as a critical component.