Internet Safety: The Teacher’s Concern
Today’s students have an endless amount of technology and resources to help in their education. One of the most important advances in technology over the past few years is the use of the Internet. The Internet in itself is not new as it was developed in the early 1990s but it is the way that it is used today that makes it so important for the 21st century learner. It allows collaboration among students from around the world and personalized and inquiry-based learning. It has also allowed students the chance to receive authentic, lifelong learning.
The Internet is an amazing resource for students, however, it can be filled with misinformation and can even put students into some dangerous situations. Roblyer (2016) states, “In many ways, it is a reflection of the best and worst qualities of our society” (p. 174). As educators, we need to be aware of these shortcomings and be able to inform our students on how to avoid the dangers. It is up to us teachers to ensure that students use the Internet properly.
The following guidelines come from Alberta Education – Teacher Resources. This resource offers general strategies to help teachers reduce the risks associated with students misappropriate use of the Internet.
Learn everything you can about the Internet. If you are not completely aware of how the Internet works, find out. Ask your colleagues and students. There are many experts directly in your learning environment. Discuss with your administration or technology coordinator about purchasing a site license for the MNet's Web Awareness Workshop series on Internet concerns. Suggest that your board or school use these workshops for presentations to teachers during professional development time.
Learn about your students' surfing habits. Discuss with each of your students about their personal Internet usage to assess where, how often, and for how long they go online - this can also be a benefit in student learning. Try visiting some the sites that the students frequent.
Make sure that monitor screens are visible. Set up your classroom to ensure that students' computers are arranged so that you can see all screens.
Familiarize yourself with your school board's Acceptable Use Policy for the Internet. Get to know the responsibilities of teachers, students and parents, as outlined in your board's acceptable use policy.
Create a recommended list of resources for class and homework assignments. Research and bookmark safe and relevant Internet sites for your students to visit.
Teach students never to give out personal information online. One of the most important online safety rules for students is to protect their personal privacy. Teach your students that they should never give out personal information such as their full name, email address, street address or phone number on the internet.
With older students, encourage an open dialogue on Internet conduct. It is very important to keep open lines of communication with that of your students. They will at times be curious and explore sites they should not be at. This way your students will feel comfortable coming to you if they get into trouble.
Report any online content or activity that you suspect is illegal. Make sure to report any online crimes to your administration and/or the police. Your or your students may encounter online situations that could be dangerous to your students. These situations could include but are not exclusive to the following; online hate-crimes, harassment, attempt to lure a child, child pornography and physical threats.
There are many other resources located on the Internet that focus on the teacher’s ability to reduce the risks associated with students’ misappropriate use of the Internet. Here is a small list and description of each of the resources:
This is a teacher resource website that helps both parents and teacher to get informed about the latest trends in the digital age. Topics such as cyber-bullying, cyber-security, hate crimes, gambling, pornography, sexting, privacy and more are discussed.
SafeKids.com is one of the oldest sites for Internet safety. It’s founder and editor, Larry Magid, is the author of the original National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s 1994 brochure, “Child Safety on the Information Highway.” This site discusses the newest trends in Internet safety and helps teachers and parents understand the concepts of a safe internet environment.
This is an article from the Wall Street Journal that discusses identity theft and what things can be done if this happens to you or people you know. It also provides information on how to protect yourself from being part of this crime.
CyberSafetySolutions is a website that provides advice and assistance to students, parent and teachers in a wide range of disciplines including internet safety and digital citizenship. It has an excellent section of cyber-bullying.
Keeping our students safe is one of the most important jobs we have as educators. By being aware of the shortcomings of the Internet and knowing our students, we can make their learning environment safe and allow students to use the resources for their intended purpose.
References
Internet safety tips for kids and teens. National Children’s Advocacy Center. Retrieved from http://www.nationalcac.org/prevention/internet-safety-kids.html
Magid, L. (2011, December 11). Is my child at risk from online predators? SafeKids.com: Digital Citizenship, Online Safety and Civility. Retrieved from http://www.safekids.com
Roblyer, M.D. (2016). Integrating educational technology into teaching. (7ed). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
Tips for safe internet use. Alberta Education. Retrieved from https://education.alberta.ca/teachers/resources/internettips/
Web awareness workshop series. Media Smarts: Canada’s Centre for Digital and Media Literacy. Retrieved from http://mediasmarts.ca/teacher-resources/licensed-resources/web-awareness-workshop-series
(2015, July 31). Identity theft & credit card fraud – How to protect yourself. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from http://guides.wsj.com/personal-finance/credit/how-to-protect-yourself-from-identity-theft/
No comments:
Post a Comment