Session1 - Personal Info, Predators, Bullying - these are all dangers of the internet.  Things that kids need to be aware and protercted from

 

e-mail, chat rooms, Im - these are all means of communication on the internet, some are instant, some aren't

 

Spyware, scams, phishing, spam, viruses, ID theft - again dangers of the internet.  These these are the types ofthings that can har your computer.

 

 

 

Session 3 -

 

MySpace - this is an online place where kids can put info about themselves and learn and meet other people.  It is more geared toward the teenage crowd.  This can be a very danderous place, kids should not put personal, private info, pic, ect. on their page due to on-line predators.

 

AOL - instant messaging service.  This is a plae where you can chat, communicate, live, with others.  Again, can be dangerous because you don't always know ho you might be chatting with.  Becareful whta you put in your info, you never know who might see it, don't give preonal ,private info

 

e-mail - a very popular way of communication.  Usually a means of relaying infomation not personal communication.

 

texting - fast, quick way of communication via cell phone.  Can be dangerous, if driving.  Tends to teach kids bad habits.  On work in school they tend to use shortened forms of words, like when texting.  Kids become lazy.

 

Facebook - this is the same type of communication space as MySpace, but is used more by teh college age crowd

 

Skype - this is a means of communication where you have a computer that has a web-cam, so you can not only hear a person talking to you but you can also see them

 

Podcasting - I am kind of new at this one, but it seems to me that this is a means of getting information using an I-pod.  You download the podcast and can replay it using the I-pod.

 

Risks/Dangers:

 

Instant messaging - ex: AOL chance of viruses

 

text messaging - can delete passed messages, kids always have it with them, wrong number

 

e-mail - viruses, hackers, spam, parents may not know kids have account ex: hotmail, way around content filters

 

MySpace, FaceBook - Predators, cyber bullying, profile is vulnerable, personal info at risk, provides inappropriate topics of conversation

 

Message boards - people changing your stuff, cyber bullying, people can say what they want

 

Youtube - kids can view inappropriate material, adults will not know what they are watching

 

Skype - threatening messages, use on company time, does not show up on caller ID

 

 

 

Session 6 - session 8

 

What I have come to realize is that, while the internet can be a vital part of one’s life it can also be a source of evil and discomfort.  Today’s youth are “cyber-holics”.   Whether its work ,games, social networking or just plain internet surfing, today’s live in a cyber world.  If this world is not controlled, it can bring harm to them.  The more I read the more see that parental involvement is the main ingredient to protecting our children.   We can have all the security features on our computers but unless parents take an active role kids will find a way around the road blocks. We need to communicate and spend time with our children, and make sure computers are in common areas, whether at school or at home.  Impress upon them the dangers of putting personal information on-line. 

 

            As educators I feel we have the job, in a lot of cases, of educating kids on the dangers. Many parents are too busy or just plain don’t take the time to educate them on the dangers.  Social networking can be dangerous and lead to many sorts of issues.  Sexual predators, cyber bullying,  cyber stalking and many others.  MySpace, Facebook, Hi5, are all a danger if kids are not properly educated and monitored.  Pedophiles use the Internet as a way of winning the trust of children and setting up meetings. They also share information with each other on vulnerable children and how they can be approached.  Things as simple as e-mail and text messaging can serve as means of harassment as well.  Whether it is words or pictures they can all constitute harassment in some way.  I have recently seen how posting information on Myspace cam lead to trouble.  A group of kids put a video of them committing a crime on their Myspace page and were eventually caught and punished for it.  Also, I recently had a student who was being harassed by another student from another school through Myspace.  I was brought to my attention and I contacted the right people to make sure it did not progress any further.

 

            The internet surfers, who spend time just going site to site, can get caught up in a web of sex, pornography, lies and a host of other problems related to it. They don’t mean to get caught up in it, but it has a kind of snowball effect and the get drawn in.  that is why parental and educator involvement is crucial.  Setting guidelines and boundaries and using all the available filtering software can help protect our children and students.  I really see that if you tech them at a very young age the appropriate behavior while on line that it is more effective

 

 

 

 

 

Session 9  - minimizing the risk 

 

Ways to minimize the risk of on line issues

 

Educate - educating students as well as parents.  If the teachers don't get suport from the parents at home we are fighting a never ending battle

 

Educate - teachers - teachers  need to be educated.  we can't expect the students to be educated if we aren't.  Very little internet safety education is taking palce at home.  I do feel it is our resposibility as teachers to educate our students on the issue

 

Guest speakers and assemblies - have "experts" come in and give a presentation to educate parents and students

 

Class discussion with students - have an open discussion about the topic of internet safety

 

Educate early - Once a student gets into bad habits on teh internet, it will be very difficult to get them to change later on

 

Open house - use this to talk to and hand out information

 

What are my feeling as to whether teachers should be responsibile to teach internet saftey: 

 

I do feel it is a teachers resposibilitiy.  Since most parents don't take care of it at home and we spend a majortiy of the time in a day with these kids, I feel we need to do it.    Many may disagree but where else are they going to get it??