Internet Safety and Internet Safety Resources

“Internet safety” is a nebulous term that encompasses a wide variety of skills and strategies that teachers and school districts are required to address with students. Sadly, the term is sometimes misinterpreted as a mandate for limiting what students can do, rather than a requirement to educate students so that they can be safe online both at school and at home. I compare it to a swimming pool - one way to keep children safe from swimming pool accidents is to not allow them in. Of course, that means that these children will want to break into the swimming pool to play around without knowing how to swim, or will grow up afraid of swimming pools, or both. I think some of our younger teachers fall into this category - they were banned from the internet or not taught how to use it when they were in K-12 schools, so they have no idea what to do with their students to teach them to be safe. In fact, they have no idea how to keep themselves safe online!

One of my favorite resources for teaching students about safe and responsible use of the internet is Common Sense Media. This site has a collection of grade-level appropriate lessons on eight different themes, with parent letters and student activities for each. One of the most eye-opening lessons for upper elementary and middle school kids (and often their teachers) is Trillion Dollar Footprint. I think it provides an excellent starting point for a conversation about responsible behavior online.

I’m not a big fan of scare tactics with kids, but it is important that they are aware that who they are chatting with online may or may not be who they say they are. Childnet out of the UK, and Enough is Enough do a good job of providing parent resources so that parents can understand the potential risks and take steps to mitigate those risks. NetSmartz, which works in collaboration with the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, has some powerful presentations and other resources that teachers or administrators might use with at-risk student groups.

I really appreciate internet use policies that support responsible behavior, rather than listing things a student should NOT do. This is the philosophy of our district, as well. I think that emphasizing responsibility helps to eliminate the loopholes that even the most stringent Acceptable Use Policies create by omission.

These are the simple guidelines I try to help instill in our students:

• Only share your password with your parents. No one else needs to log in as you.
• Keep your private information private. Not everyone is who they say they are on the Internet.
• Be a responsible digital citizen. Post only things that are positive reflections of yourself.
• Report cyberbullying to an adult. Do not repost or share unkind comments
• Use your technology to engage in classroom assignments and school-related activities.