Cybersafe Students: It’s your responsibility too!
As we begin a new school year, teachers are put in a unique position to educate the youth on online risks and Internet use issues, like harassment, identity theft, cyber bullying and cyber stalking, which are relevant today.
The expanding student use of the Internet also brings about the increase of concerns for Internet safety. Filtering systems are not enough, as well as “fear-based” rules and reminders.
High school students need to know what the risks are, and it’s every adult’s responsibility to make them aware of the possible problems they can encounter. We can act on this through the following:
- Restrict Internet use for educational purposes. Lead students to exciting and high-quality Internet activities where they can learn more for their class assignments and projects. This lessens the risks of students surfing aimlessly on the Internet.
- Do the supervision and monitoring yourself. Can students still access banned web sites even if you have a filtering system? To rely too much on filtering systems to do the Internet monitoring duties of an educational institution is not advisable. At least periodically and randomly check out students’ browsing history files, and inform students of the school’s expectations with regards to Internet use.
- Have clear rules. For example, in case of accidentally accessing pornography, students should immediately know that they should turn off or cover the monitor and report it, and submit themselves to a responsible assessment of who was at fault.
- Introduce them to the risks. From eyeballs to “phishing”, it is important that students become Internet-literate. Familiarize them with various Internet terms.
- Provide Internet safety guidelines. Despite lack of curriculum on this, it is important for the school to provide information about the Internet risks students face when logging in to social networking sites or chat rooms. They should also welcome students to confide in them should there be a “suggestion” of a problem faced on the Internet. Be prepared, technical and resources-wise, to improve Internet-related instruction.
- Stay informed. Find out the different Internet risks-related issues by checking out the links below.
Cyber-Safe Kids, Cyber-Savvy Teens, Cyber-Secure Schools
Cyberbullying and Cyberthreats
Parent handbook – readable version / reproducible version
A Briefing for Educators:
I Can’t See You – You Can’t See Me:- on how the use of information and communication technologies can help people to become responsible
The Julie Amero Tragedy- about a substitute teacher convicted of endangering minors
A Web 2.0 Approach to Internet Safety:
Prevention and Intervention:
Sex and the Internet:
Malware and Porn Traps: What Schools Can Do:
Schools, the Internet, and Copyright Law:
Why Teens Make Unsafe Choices:
Youth Risk Online: Foundational Concerns:
Youth Risk Online: An Overview:
Safe and Responsible Use of the Internet: A Guide for Educators
Choosing Not to Go Down the Not-so-good Cyberstreets
Filtering Software: The Religious Connection
Technology Planning for Libraries
Capturing the Eyeballs and E-Wallets of Captive Kids in Schools: Dot.com Invades Doted
Sources:
“Recent Reports and Articles: Cyberbullying.” Retrieved May 21, 2008 from
http://www.cyberbully.org/documents/
“Schools, the Internet, and Copyright Law.” Retrieved May 21, 2008 from
http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/tech/tech121.shtml
Willard, Nancy. “A Web 2.0 Approach to Internet Safety.” Retrieved May 21, 2008 from http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/columnists/willard/willard008.shtml
Willard, Nancy. “Youth Risk Online: Foundational Concerns.” Retrieved May 21, 2008 from
http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/columnists/willard/willard002.shtml
(Published 02 June 2008, Smart Communications, Inc.)
