The Internet is a powerful tool in today's world for teachers and for our students. Safety is a prime concern when it comes to using that tool, both at school and home. Refusing to allow the children to be on the web is not the solution. Kids are going to use the computer, whether it be at a friend's house or in a poorly supervised school environment.
Teaching the child safety skills on the Internet is just as important as teaching safety in the everyday world the child lives in.
There are 4 areas of Internet Safety that need to be addressed:
Internet Safety Rules
Keep the computer in an open area of the home where POS (parents over shoulder) CAN occur.
Talk with children about communication with other people online. Never assume the person online is who he/she says they are.
Never give out personal information without checking with a parent or teacher.
Never post a picture of yourself or send one to someone you have met on the Internet.
Let parents know if someone has made you uncomfortable or used sexual language online.
Cyberbullying
In a survey of 1500 fourth to eighth graders across the country, 42% of students have been bullied while online. Cyberbullying is sending hateful or cruel text/images over the Internet or using other forms of digital communication. It can occur by e-mail, instant message, blogging, social networking sites or cell phone. Cyberbullying can be anything from harrassment to exclusion to pretending to be someone else. A parent or teacher may not even know when a child is being cyberbullied. The victim's symptoms may be: Depression, secrecy, nightmares, drop in school grades or change in behavior at home and school. A parent or teacher can take quick and appropriate action by looking for warning signs, educating students on cyberbullying, monitoring online use of the Internet, and teaching skills on how to respond to cyberbullies.
Social Networking A social network is an online group of people that share and communicate information by web-based services. The 3 most common external social networking sites are Bebo, My Space, and Facebook. Users can upload a photo, create a profile and can choose to be friends with other users. In most Social Networking services, both users must agree to be "friends" before being linked with each other. Worldwide communication about similar interests is a positive of social networking. Finding friends and relatives that had been out of touch is using the social network as another excellent communication tool. It can also misused when cyberbullying occurs or when sexual predators portray themselves as a "friend" to prey on the child.
Using Safe Search Engines
Ask a typical student how he finds information online and he will tell you he "Googles" it. It is the primary form of finding information. Another child may type in the address bar, www.(whatever the topic is.com, not realizing he may go to an inappropriate site by guessing at the URL. It is important that the student knows how to research information appropriately using a search engine. Listed below are filtered search engines that are used in the Festus District.
Free Resources
NetSmartz: This free resource can be used online or downloaded for use in the classroom. It has excellent video presentations on Internet safety from Kindergarten through High School level. The complete package also has printouts and lesson plans.
i-SAFE: This program combines classroom instruction with community outreach to teach children to use the Internet safely. It has Virtual Training Academy for teachers to receive online Internet safety training. It is also a free program, although donations are accepted. |