Hey Everyone! Welcome back to my blog!
Today I want to talk about something that I find super important...internet safety! As someone who grew up using the internet pretty frequently I was shocked to find out just how little I knew about internet safety. In the past couple of weeks I have been learning all about different ways to keep students safe on the internet and today I am going to share a few of the tips I have learned!
Throughout my schooling experience I had a handful of teachers who shied away from using the internet and technology due to their unfamiliarity with it. In this day and age, not using the internet and technology is NOT an option. Within the last year, there has been a huge increase in students using technology regularly. Due to the pandemic, students as young as age five have been accessing the internet in order to remotely join their class. This presents the question of how do we keep our students safe online? One of my biggest recommendations when trying to keep your students safe online is to only introduce students to sites that are approved by the school district. When sites are not approved by the district student data can often be collected and sold to third party vendors. What happens if you really want to use a site that is not approved by your district? When this happens, it is best to "ask for it to be vetted" (Gallagher. Kerry, et al...). One of the best ways to keep your students safe is to familiarize yourself with internet safety. I recently completed the "Common Sense Media Data Privacy Safety Course" and I would highly recommend taking this if you are interested in learning more about internet safety!
When discussing internet safety with your students I think it is incredibly important to be very honest with them. Explain to them that the internet is a tool that is very beneficial to their education. However, also let them know that there are dangers that go along with using the internet. Explain to your students that they can become responsible digital citizens. Within the Digital Citizen Curriculum article, it is revealed that schools are "creating a positive culture around media and technology by incorporating digital citizenship education as part of their curricula" ( Common Sense Education). This positive culture includes teaching students how to be responsible internet uses and includes the following subtopics: "Media Balance and Well Being, Privacy and Security, Digital Footprint and Identity, Relationships and Communication, Cyberbullying, Digital Drama and Hate Speech, and News and Media Literacy" (Common Sense Education). All of these subtopics aid in teaching children how to remain safe online. The biggest takeaway from this article for me was to remind students that if they see something they are unsure about it, don't be afraid to inform someone of it. This can be in reference to cyberbullying, strangers, and any information they are unsure about sharing online. If you are interested in ways to teach your students about Digital Citizenship, I would highly recommend the Common Sense Education website!
Let students know that they are responsible for their own online safety. Explain to them that the websites they use during school hours are vetted and safe to use. Any websites they look at on their own time may not be as safe. The best way to encourage students to practice safe internet skills is by employing these skills yourself. Explain to students that you never enter personal data online unless you know the site is a reputable source. Also, make sure to explain to your students that there are strangers everywhere online. Explain to students that it is very important that they do not let strangers follow their personal social media accounts. Although there are dangers when it comes to accessing the internet, there are so many incredible benefits. In current times, using social media is a great way to stay connected with family and friends. The internet has SO much valuable information on it and can be an excellent tool for students to use to help further their education. Stay Safe! :)
What is one strategy you will use to teach your students about internet safety?
Works Cited
Digital Citizenship Curriculum . www.commonsense.org/education/system/files/digital_citizenship_curriculum_overview_2020_0.pdf?x=1.
Gallagher, Kerry, et al. The Educator's Guide to Student Data Privacy .
Internet Safety Information. Teaching Ideas.co.uk, sites.google.com/site/schoolcubacity/_/rsrc/1598380439604/resources/internet-safety-information/SMART-eSafety-Poster.jpg.
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