What aspects are most important when teaching youths about Internet safety?

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Permalink Reply by April on January 7, 2009 at 12:59pm

While I do agree that students should have an understanding of how to use all aspects of the Internet, I still think that certain measures need to be taken to teach them to be smart about their use of it. Many students lack the maturity and decision making skills necessary to use certain sites and applications without being explicitly told not to give out personal information, visit popular social networking sites during class time, or to trust the information that they find is valid. If students over a certain age are going to be given access to the Internet, I feel that parents and teachers need to turn on filters and monitor sites that are visited. Furthermore, I believe students who are still developing their technological skills, especially elementary schoolers need to have an adult with them at all times while using the Internet. As your foundation states, it is important for students to learn responsibility, but they will also need a great deal of guidance along the way.

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Permalink Reply by April on January 8, 2009 at 2:43pm

Your suggestion to talk about possible consequences of student actions is a good idea. And you are correct in stating that telling students not to do something often pushes them to do just that!

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Permalink Reply by James Edward Charles Webber on January 7, 2009 at 4:02pm

http://www.digizen.org/

thanks
James

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Permalink Reply by Annemarie Stoeckel on January 11, 2009 at 5:41pm

Should we then be educating the teachers and the parents along with the students about the pros/cons of the Internet especially when it comes to social networking sites like Facebook?

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Permalink Reply by Colette Cassinelli on January 11, 2009 at 9:13pm

Internet safety is just ONE aspect of Digital Citizenship. Teach it as a whole so the "scary part of the Internet" is not the entire focus. Good resource: http://www.kenton.k12.ky.us/internet_safety/default.htm

Nine Themes of Digital Citizenship

1. Digital Etiquette - electronic standards of conduct or procedure
2. Digital Communication - electronic exchange of information
3. Digital Literacy - process of teaching and learning about technology and the use of technology
4. Digital Access - full electronic participation in society
5. Digital Commerce - electronic buying and selling of goods
6. Digital Law - electronic responsibility for actions and deeds
7. Digital Rights & Responsibilities - those freedoms extended to everyone in a digital world
8. Digital Health & Wellness - physical and psychological well-being in a digital technology world
9. Digital Security (self-protection) - electronic precautions to guarantee safety.

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