Internet Safety In the Classroom

Internet use in Education

What??

We live in a time of amazing technology. With the invention of the computer and the internet, we have vast amounts of information available right at our fingertips. In learning about the internet and the dangers it can pose to children, as educators we need to be aware of these dangers and help ensure that our students are educated and protected against any possible problems.
I feel that we definitely need to include the internet in education. The internet has opened up an enormous window of knowledge available to our students, ourselves, and our lessons. Obviously we need to teach our students how to use it correctly and safely. This will come through our education of the internet as educators, and how we are able to teach our students--so they will know how to use the internet to their advantage.

So What?

After going through this lesson I was impressed with all of the resources out there to help educate chidren, and also parents. Many times when children are caught in a difficult situation it's because they haven't had the benefit of a parent monitoring them. Parents need to be resposible when allowing their children to use the internet. Children need guidance, and education in order to work on the internet safely.
When evaluating web sites an educator should look at some of the following information inorder to chose sites which will best serve their class.

Internet Website Evaluation for Educators
1) Is the spelling and grammar correct within the web site and it's documents?
2) Does this site take a long time to load?
3) When was the document created?
4) Does the information seem biased in some way by the writer?
5) Does the information contradict information from another source?
6) Is the data current and up to date.
7) Does the domain on the web site include one of the following K12, edu, com, org, or gov. in it's url address?
8) Are the links clearly visible and annotated or explanartory?
There are also rules I plan to teach my students to ensure they have a good experience on the computer, and if they have a situation they can't handle that they will know to go to their parents, or me as their teacher. The following are some rules which I plan to include in their internet safety lesson.
Internet Rules for Children:
First, remember never to give out personal information such as your name, home address, school name, or telephone number in a chat room or on bulletin boards. Also, never send a picture of yourself to someone you chat with on the computer without your parent's permission.
Never write to someone who has made you feel uncomfortable or scared.
Do not meet someone or have them visit you without the permission of your parents.
Tell your parents right away if you read anything on the Internet that makes you feel uncomfortable.
Remember that people online may not be who they say they are. Someone who says that "she" is a "12-year-old girl" could really be an older man.

Then What?

The internet is an important tool for students and educators. By preparing our students through internet safety education we can help ensure they have the knowledge necessary to use the internet safely. This will help them be able to use the internet and benefit from the information resources there. By giving them opportunities to explore and have positive experiences with the internet they will build their knowledge of technology and also feel the "spirit of discovery" which will definitely help them succeed.