Internet Safety and Respect
December 9, 2007 by mlower
Topics we are going to continue to see in the news and read about concern problems with kids safely using the internet and bullying that is becoming more and more prevalent. I ran across a website developed by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children which I love called the NetSmartz Workshop. The section for Educators has teaching ideas that include resources and materials to use in the classroom. Their teaching videos are acted out by the teens themselves and are relevant and interesting. Instead of an adult lecturing about the rules to follow, the teens are sharing their stories. It is one of the best resource sites to use with all ages that I have seen out there.
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Thanks for the link. I am definitely going to check that out. As a Careers teacher, I am constantly warning my students about what they post. The reality that future colleges and employers can and do check out students online is pretty scary when you consider what some of these kids post online. I have not experienced the bullying, but I have seen some pretty filthy language on some of my students webpages.
I agree that many students really do not think that anyone sees what they post. These videos used true stories and interviewed kids who had felt the consequences of what they had done online. I felt they were much more effective than me as a teacher telling them not to do it.
This topic is one that I’m particularly concerned about. Having children of my own, I want to make sure they are safe and smart on-line. Right now they are playing Webkinz and Disney.com, but I know that it won’t be long and they will be out there surfing the net. The videos about cyberbullying could be very useful, especially the real-life stories, in demonstrating the effects that this has on people. That might help it all seem real to kids so they take this issue seriously.