Teaching Internet Safety

eSchool News featured an article dense with ideas and resources about teaching Internet safety to students.  One of my favorites is “investigative role playing” where students are challenged to analyze three different websites on the same topic.  The teacher carefully selects websites (one being a hoax) that present different information, naturally leading students to determine which source of information is accurate and why.  I’ve done this activity with students and it is an eye-opener for them and very effective.

With eRate deadlines approaching and new requirements related to teaching Internet safety, schools will want to check out the numerous resources available.  One thing to keep in mind when reviewing resources – the approach matters.  Learning.com collaborated with national expert, Patricia Agatston, Ph.D., to develop their EasyTech Online Safety curriculum, avoiding a fear-based instructional approach.  Check out a video of Dr. Agatston discussing cyber bullying and risky youth behavior.  For more information on EasyTech Online Safety, click here.

Online Safety Resource

I wanted to share another great resource on online safety.  The eBook, developed and published by Learning.com and TechLearning, presents current research and strategies on how to ensure that students are not only safe online but are ethical, productive digital citizens.  A couple of key points:

• Research shows fear-based tactics are not effective in teaching online safety.
• Students do not receive adequate instruction on online safety and web literacy.  Why is this?  Is it because it is not its own subject area and course?  Is it because it is one of those 21^st century skills that falls to the “collective” ownership of all teachers?  Does this “collective” ownership weaken the curriculum and teaching of these skills?

Check out this concise eBook… and start a discussion at your school.  Who will “own” online safety?

Internet Safety: Scare tactics NOT effective

A federal online safety task force issued a report that made clear that scare tactics are not an effective method to teaching youth about internet safety.  I wrote about an excellent resource on internet safety for teachers and parents in March. 

The Online Safety and Technology Working Group (OSTWG), created by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, said that proper education about appropriate online behavior and the use of digital media is the best way to ensure children are safe online.  According to the report, the key to internet safety is teaching youth about digital citizenship and media literacy.  Some recommendations are provided: 

• On-going education on digital citizenship and media literacy – i.e. these should be common strands across all subject areas and grade levels, not an isolated unit in technology class
• Parental involvement – yet again, involving parents leads to greater results
• “Protective layers” such as filtering software – keep in mind, however, that these filters are not everywhere (i.e. not on grandma’s computer) so teaching proper behaviors is more important
• Model positive behavior vs. scare tactics – particularly when it comes to social media.  Teachers must harness the power of these learning communities rather than shutting them out for fear of misuse.  OSTWG said, “Unless new media are used in schools and within families, youth are on their own in figuring out the ethics, social norms, and civil behaviors that enable good citizenship in the online part of their media use and lives.  We are not suggesting that schools allow kids to update social network profiles in class, but rather that schools find ways to incorporate educational social-technology tools in the classroom to enhance learning and provide pre-K-12 educators with an opportunity to, in the process of teaching regular subjects, teach the constructive, mindful use of social media enabled by digital citizenship and new-media-literacy training—using the media and technologies familiar and compelling to students.”

Not sure where to begin with regards to internet safety education?  Learning.com’s EasyTech unit on Online Safety is an excellent, research-based resource.  Designed for students in grades K-8, the curriculum addresses all the essential topics (cyber bullying, sexting, online scams, file sharing, etc.) and includes assessment.  EasyTech is a great way to introduce the concepts of internet safety to students and teachers which can then be reinforced in all classrooms.  To learn more about EasyTech’s Online Safety curriculum, visit their website or view this pdf or call us at 487-5437.  Helping children be safe online is our shared responsibility.

Internet Safety Resource

Internet safety persists as a high priority for educators and parents.  Ensuring that our students understand the ethics and safety precautions of interacting online is the responsibility of both parents and educators.  I came across an excellent resource titled Net Cetera:  Chatting with Kids About Being Online published by On Guard Online, a website maintained by the FTC dedicated to providing practical tips for parents.  While designed specifically for parents, the resource is valuable for educators as well as it provides very clear guidance on how to talk to children about internet safety as well as offers information on the appropriate use of technology across all ages.  I particularly appreciate the clear definitions of things kids do with technology such as sexting or cyberbullying – makes it easy to be “in the know” and, therefore, more aware of behaviors and patterns.