Resources Abound For Setting Up Internet Safety Programs
By: Jennifer Hanson
Jennifer Hanson provides many resources that we as educators can use to help our students learn about how to be safe on the internet. She made a simple outline of the types of resources, for example: How to Maintain Internet Safety, Using the PTA, High School Leadership Organizations, Contacting Your Project Safe Childhood Coordinator, and Using Key District Resources. Hanson gives examples of how these resources are beneficial to internet safety. Using the PTA and High school leadership programs will allow for family and student involvement. By contacting the Project Safe Childhood coordinator it encourages communities to work together to educate not only students but parents about the danger of being online. It involves law enforcement, business, educators, and parents. These programs educate our communities so they can inform our students.
Hanson also gives tips on how to remind our students to be safe online. The tips include: how to choose and create appropriate screen names, thinking ahead when putting information on the internet, and how to get help if you are in trouble on the internet. She provides a website called cypertiponline.com if there is any bullying or you suspect any problems while online.
I think this is something all educators should be doing before they get their students online. All students should have some type of education about the dangers involved with the internet. Getting the community involved is a great idea because it promotes a more encouraging and trusting environment for our students. Getting high school students involved in younger children's education in not only beneficial for the elementary or middle school children, but the high school students academic and internet education as well. Many high school student are logging on to Myspace and Facebook and other social-networking sites and can get in a lot of trouble and by making them aware can help them with their internet usage as well.
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The last thing that kids think about these days is safety. People think that you are untouchable on the internet. This article is so important for children and students to read. Technology is becoming so popular these days that we need to emphasize the importance of safety online. I agree that educators should make it a priority to focus on safety for their students. I like how you point out that being smart about using the internet is so important.
ReplyDeleteThe more people are involved in the education and safety of students, the better. Many students do not realize the dangers of cyber bullying and the anguish it can cause a fellow student. I also believe it is essential to be present to a students computer activity. It is all too common nowadays to see Facebook and Myspace on a computer screen when the student should be focusing on school work.
ReplyDeleteThere's an excellent report written about this by the Berkman Center at Harvard. Very informative:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.CovenantEyes.com/blog/2009/02/20/online-sexual-predators-%E2%80%93-questioning-common-assumption/