Where does Internet safety fit into middle school education?

[Kiwi Seminars]

Who should have the say on what kids learn in our middle schools regarding internet safety? Should it be more interesting/hands on than a lecture?

After viewing a recent youth online safety seminar this past week (more info at www.kiwiseminars.com), it was very obvious that kids and educators aren't on the same page regarding what should be on the curriculum.

What's your say?

[Unregistered]

I believe that all schools, starting at LEAST in the middle grades, should be mandated to have internet safety and internet laws as part of their curriculum. This should also include safety and laws regarding cell phones and other electronic devices. The technology explosion over the last 15 years has left our children clue-less and unfortunately for most, common sense is not a factor. Children and teenagers, who by nature are apprehensive, hide behind electronic devices. These children and teenagers divilduge and obtain information which could harm their health and safety.

[Teach 'em]

I agree with you that a curriculum needs to be mandated yet we face a huge of issue of what to teach and what not to.

We could do it the old fashioned way of just telling them what not to do because we said so but these kids are mighty savvy; nearly 2 fold savvier than teachers.

How can we reach them in a positive way?

[LoneStar]

Talk to your school librarian. Most of them are media specialists now. They know how to instruct students to use the internet (at least on school property and with school computers) safely. They can also advise the students (and the teachers) how to appropriately research topics (Google and Wikipedia is not their friend for research tools) and what copyright laws are (right-clicking on a picture and copy-pasting is a violation of copyright laws).

Get into the library! There are computers there, I'm sure. And maybe, just maybe, while the students are there, they'll crack open a book to read and really improve their mind.

[Unregistered]

Schools are relatively confined areas where students can use different technologies under the supervision of teachers or the protection of technologies such as internet filters. At home, however, the level of protection may not be as high—technological devices may not be as effective, or they might not even exist. Parents or guardians may be unable to supervise or monitor their children’s use of the internet as effectively as teachers. For example, while school codes of conduct and student agreements regulate use of electronic communication, these do not apply at home. Students may deliberately or inadvertently search for inappropriate content at home where they have access to conventional search engines rather than the safe educational websites that they may be required to use at school. Consequently, it is important that students be taught safe and responsible use of the internet and be educated about the risks associated with it. The aim should be to equip students with a level of skill and knowledge that enables them to use the internet safely at all times and in any environment. Schools may choose to advise parents of relevant technologies, guidelines or strategies on using the internet safely in the home. As long as the activity is memorable and takes into account the safety of students, various approaches will be effective.


Who should have the say on what kids learn in our middle schools regarding internet safety? Should it be more interesting/hands on than a lecture?

After viewing a recent youth online safety seminar this past week (more info at www.kiwiseminars.com), it was very obvious that kids and educators aren't on the same page regarding what should be on the curriculum.

What's your say?

[Unregistered]

Posting by: Kevin Andreyo

Schools are relatively confined areas where students can use different technologies under the supervision of teachers or the protection of technologies such as internet filters. At home, however, the level of protection may not be as high—technological devices may not be as effective, or they might not even exist. Parents or guardians may be unable to supervise or monitor their children’s use of the internet as effectively as teachers. For example, while school codes of conduct and student agreements regulate use of electronic communication, these do not apply at home. Students may deliberately or inadvertently search for inappropriate content at home where they have access to conventional search engines rather than the safe educational websites that they may be required to use at school. Consequently, it is important that students be taught safe and responsible use of the internet and be educated about the risks associated with it. The aim should be to equip students with a level of skill and knowledge that enables them to use the internet safely at all times and in any environment. Schools may choose to advise parents of relevant technologies, guidelines or strategies on using the internet safely in the home. As long as the activity is memorable and takes into account the safety of students, various approaches will be effective.

Who should have the say on what kids learn in our middle schools regarding internet safety? Should it be more interesting/hands on than a lecture?

After viewing a recent youth online safety seminar this past week (more info at www.kiwiseminars.com), it was very obvious that kids and educators aren't on the same page regarding what should be on the curriculum.

What's your say?

[albert]

Hi Unregistered,

As a parent you have the responsibility of providing your kids with good education, nice clothes and a host of other wants. However, that does not stop there; you are also expected to ensure that your children have the right moral development. With the proliferation of the internet, there has been a concern about the kids’ safety on the internet (http://www.netsafetyforkids.com/). Although much effort has been put in protecting children against the vices in the internet, more is desired.

Net Safety For Kids (http://www.netsafetyforkids.com/)

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

I believe that all schools, starting at LEAST in the middle grades, should be mandated to have internet safety and internet laws as part of their curriculum. This should also include safety and laws regarding cell phones and other electronic devices. The technology explosion over the last 15 years has left our children clue-less and unfortunately for most, common sense is not a factor. Children and teenagers, who by nature are apprehensive, hide behind electronic devices. These children and teenagers divilduge and obtain information which could harm their health and safety.


I'll get right on raising your kids during that free time I have in between teaching state standards. :rolleyes:

I'm always amazed at what everyone thinks teachers should be REQUIRED to teach. how many hours are in a day elsewhere in the country/world, because here, we only have 24

[Unregistered]

We have national and state standards that outline for us the things we need to teach. Our students are much more savy that we are and we have to remember that. Students have a false sense of security at home because they have their myspace or facebook page set to private. There have been cases of internet preditors, etc that have gotten around that and have been successful in harming or killing these children. I believe in telling them the straight story and give them the tools to make good safe decisions. I make the analogy that would you or your parents let you go stand on a very busy street corner and think it was safe? The know the answer and they wouldnt do it. I tell them the internet is the same way and it is a great tool but use with caution. There are ALOT of internet saftey websites out there that have short videos and even lesson plans on how to teach all this. We teach them about drugs and dont talk to strangers - we need to make them aware of the internet as well.

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

WE????

no parents need to.

[LoneStar]

I'm amazed at the number of parents who will freely purchase every electronic device for their child: XBox console (connected online), sophisticated cell phone, laptop computer, digital video camera, etc. and never even know how to adequately use any of it themselves (heck, they look to the kids to show them!).

Do these same parents hand over a set of car keys to their kids without them taking drivers' ed? You're letting them out on an open road in both situations -- one is a real open road and one is a virtual open road.

The scary thing is, though, that some of these kids are as young as 8 and 9. Sit in on an XBox live game session and listen to some of those kids talking. They're elementary-level kids with a vocabulary that would make a sailor blush. My teenager won't play certain games because he says they're "overrun with little kids who do nothing but curse and swear." Where are these parents? Where's the TV? Where's the laptop? Is it all hidden in a bedroom behind closed doors? Do these parents know how to operate any of this equipment?

I think not judging by what my students tell me.

Since I've bought all the equipment in my house, I've set it up, and I know how to use it all. My children learned long ago that they couldn't fool me, and I knew where to find where they'd been and what they were doing on the internet even if they tried to mask it. That's my job as a parent (and my job as a computer teacher). It got a couple of them banned from all electronics for a while, and that only happened once per child. They learn quick that there is a cause and effect and I'd pull the plug.

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

put a computer in the family room, not the bedroom (of kids). No kid will surf porn when parents are sitting in the same room.

[Unregistered]

My son recently came home from school fully energized to clean up his online profiles and eager to even show me how to use Facebook. I asked what sparked this sudden change in attitude towards the internet and he told me all about the assembly the school had that day.
The speaker's name is Josh Gunderson (www.joshgunderson.com) who spoke on the topic of Internet Safety along with other issues such as secting and cyber bullying. My son said he was the funniest person he had ever met. I called up several other parents and heard that the same this was going on at their houses! I wrote to Mr. Gunderson about his program and check out his web site. I learned that he is a recent college graduate with a strong background in educational theatre.
I feel that the school bringing in someone like this from the outside was a big help. From what I could tell of Mr. Gunderson, he is the real deal and is in it to deliver a message rather than making money.
Based on my child's reaction to the assembly I feel that whatever fee was paid for Mr. Gunderson it was worth it.