The Internet is a powerful tool that is useful in education, business, and personal lives. Parents and teachers try to safeguard kids from becoming prey to the dangers of the Internet. However, take a look at how easy it is for someone to be tracked down on the Internet. Follow this link from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and click on "Tracking Teresa". Here you will see how revealing personal information can lead to a dangerous situation.
To protect our children from the downfalls, safety must be first and foremost. Children need to be aware of their digital footprints, the hazards and safeguards from the start. Here are some websites, blogs, and literature with helpful tips regarding safety while using the Internet:
NetzSmart: a program of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. This site contains parent and educator resources and activities.
http://www.netsmartz.org/index.aspx
KidSMART: cyber information site for students.
http://www.kidsmart.org.uk/
SafetyWeb: resources for parents regarding blogging, social networks, chats, photo sharing, and cyberbullying.
http://blog.safetyweb.com/
Connecting Kids and the Web by Allen C. Benson
January 2003
A Smart Kids Guide to Internet Privacy by David J. Jakubiak
September 2009
Cyber-Safe Kids, Cyber-Savvy Teens by Nancy E. Willard
March 2007
Nice job putting this together. I have stopped trying to be a militant about being on the web. I have just decided to teach them how to be safe and what to do if they get onto unwanted content. It has made me a much more relaxed person who can allow the learning to happen without being a militant about what the kids are doing. Thanks for the great resources!
ReplyDeleteI have never really gone over such dangers with my students, but your resources have helped me become more aware, and I must start educating my students. I think I will try to tie it into my health classes being that it relates to my students well being and safety. Thanks for the great resources.
ReplyDeleteThese are great resources! The digital footprint is such a critical issue to explore. The students at my grade levels 3-5 are relatively clueless about this, and, like many children, feel that any conversation between two people online is just that, a conversation between TWO people. But, as we know, that is not the case. The digital footprint is a force to be reckoned with!
ReplyDeleteThe internet doesn't have to be the enemy as some people think when it comes to children and even adults using it. If safety is taught at an early age/grade, safety and precautions will become second nature as they mature. Trying to teacher internet safety at an older age/grade becomes difficult because these students are so routine and are not thinking of safety first. "It won't happen to me" attitude then arises. Aside from just researching, using social networks, blogs, chats, email, and even online ordering presents dangers if precautions are not practiced consistently from the start.
ReplyDeleteGreat collection of resources. As elementary teachers we are always reminding out students to be careful when on the internet. Unfortunatley many of my students say that there is not any adults near them when they are surfing the net, which concerns me. Hopfully their parents are speaking to them about internet safety.
ReplyDeleteColette,
ReplyDeleteI found another great resource last year that I use a lot. It is Professor Garfield. Yes, our fat feline is on the web teaching online safety. The kids love it while learning to be safe.
Charisse,
ReplyDeleteWhat a great site! I liked it for myself...it was like playing a video game! You're right, anything to get the kids on board at an early age when internet safety needs to be taught. An interactive site like Professor Garfield is a great resource to use for they think it's all fun when really they are learning valuable information!