Post date: Feb 24, 2014 4:35:26 PM
Leanne Knight
December 2013
“But, Mrs. Knight, my mom won’t let me use her computer.” Yes, as teachers we hear this from some of the students in our classrooms. As our classwork becomes more innovative, our children need to use computers more at home. Most of the classrooms at UP have some form of web based homework assignment at least once a week.
Often I am asked what type of computer families should purchase for their children. My answer is, “It depends.” Unfortunately I am not able to encourage a family to purchase one computer over another. I won’t endorse PC over a Mac. I also won’t tell you whether to purchase a tablet, desktop, or a laptop. I will say, though, that you need to decide what is important to you and your family. I appreciate ChromeBooks, tablets, laptops, smartphones, and desktops. Your child’s safety is of utmost importance so make sure whatever technology you decide to purchase, that you keep the technology in a well-populated area of the house. Technology tools should not make their way to bedrooms. Do your children take their cell phones to their rooms at night or are these internet capable devices taken by parents before going to bed? Most technology has internet connection and a camera/webcam. Set rules while your children are young so that when they get older, the rules are already in place with fewer arguments.
Sometimes as adults we feel like we don’t quite understand as much about the internet as our children. One amazing resource for keeping abreast of internet questions is http://www.netsmartz411.org/. NetSmartz411 is parents' and guardians' premier, online resource for answering questions about Internet safety, computers, and the Web. This site has a “top questions section” and even “Ask an Expert” where you can submit a specific question.
Finally, few homes have an internet filter as robust as the one we utilize in HPISD. Do you know how to set up a safe search in your search engine? If not, then now is a great time to learn. You can use a search engine and “search” for the answer. I have also included some links on setting safe search filters in Google, Bing, and Yahoo in Sample 1 below. Or, use a search engine designed for children where the safe search filter is already enabled and readability is child friendly. Common Sense Media (http://www.commonsensemedia.org/website-lists/kid-safe-browsers-and-search-sites) has a list of Kid-Safe browsers and search engines such as SweetSearch, KidsClick!, and Ask Kids.
Sample 2 below has information on an article published by Common Sense Media concerning simple steps to internet safety.
Sample 1
Safe search
Google: https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/510?hl=en
Bing: http://www.bing.com/preferences.aspx
Yahoo: http://help.yahoo.com/l/uk/yahoo/safety/keeping_safe/indexing-07.html
Sample 2
10 Simple Steps to Internet Safety: http://www.commonsensemedia.org/advice-for-parents/10-simple-steps-internet-safety
Leanne Knight, M.Ed.
Campus Instructional Technologist
University Park Elementary
Highland Park ISD