Digital+Citizenship

Internet Safety is an issue that we need to address in our schools. Please check the attached document for resources you might use. Also, please add your own resources to this page.

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Resources


Please evaluate each site and provide feedback addressing the following topics:
 * Brief overview
 * Intended audience
 * How could this site be used?
 * Other

1. [|iSafe] iSafe is a nonprofit organization dedicated to education around web safety. It provides educational tools for teachers and community outreach for kids, parents and others.

The "For Teens" section isn't kid friendly - too much text and hard to navigate. It seems to be meant for web-savvy teens who want to educate others, rather than as an educational site in itself. A teacher with a lot of time on their hands (ha!) could use this site to mentor and lead a group of students who want to act as leaders at their school.

The other areas of the website offer online training for teachers, parents and community members on internet safety. You have to register to see what sort of information they provide (course listings).

2.[|BlogSafety]

3. [|Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use] This is Nancy Willard's site. It includes published articles and blurbs on her two books on cyber-bullying. Not a neutral reviewer,,,,

4. [|WiredSafety] I think that the website would be a useful site for parents and teachers looking for a clearinghouse of basic resources for teen internet safety. The site would be especially useful for parents and teachers without a lot of experience using the internet. There are documents and short videos outlining how sites like myspace and youtube work. The creators of this material are careful to spell out specific dangers and situations that could be problematic. There are many links to other sites. I thought that most interesting link was http://www.teenangels.org/ because it is created by kids. I also thought that the site could be useful for people who need to report instances of inappropriate online behavior.

5. [|NetFamily News] Geared towards parents but good advice/examples provided along with what's new in terms of popular sites kids go to and precautions parents can take with cell phone & computer usage. Could help inform adults who are "out of the loop" of popular teen culture. Has links to Childnet International, Family Online Safety Institute, GetNetWise.org, Netmom.com, SafeKids.com

6. [|NetSmartz]

7. [|Kids Health (English/Spanish)] The Kids Health website covers a variety of health related topics. The information related to internet safety is primarily for parents and adults. It is text heavy, but interesting. The advice addresses basic safety concerns and lists practical tips for parents. This is a good site for parents who are just coming into the digital age. There are related articles that might be of interest to students, but are so deeply buried they would be difficult to find. 8. [|GetNetWise] Created By: The Internet Education Foundation, a non-profit Brief overview: a multi-page site sharing information addressing many aspects of internet safety Intended audience: both adults and mid to older age kids primarily parents/educators How could this site be used? There are tutorials on safety settings for a variety of social networking sites, as well as detailed info about the safety risks of a myriad of technology interfaces. Could be used by students to research digital citizenship issues. Also has links to other resources, including the ALA's top 100 websites for kids. Other: This is a well-organized site with easy navigation and easy to read selections.

9.[|SafeTeens] • Brief overview: Collection of information regarding how to protect kids online (identity, cyberbullying, sexual predators) • Intended audience: Parents, teachers, administrators - adults who work with teens • How could this site be used? Information for adults to read/share. It could be used as basis for lesson plans. • Other - This site is useful for adults but isn’t kid friendly. Long articles with good information that could be used if they are put in a different format for kids.

Clearly organized website. Some pages are more for adults, others directly written for teens. Appropriate for 7-8 grade or older. There is link to another site for younger kids.

The notion of dispelling the myth that teen tech. proficiency equals safe practice of internet cruising was powerful to me. Just because I am challenged technologically doesn't mean that I am incapable of advising and supervising kids in their net use. Reading about "grooming" and "cyber bullying" made an impact on my consciousness. I am simultaneously shocked and horrified. Life experience as an adult is still of great value in guiding kids.

10. [|Microsoft:Security at Home]

11. Digital Citizenship and Creative Content - click [|here] Students interact with music, movies, software, and other digital content every day. Do they understand the rules that dictate the ethical use of these digital files, and do they understand why these issues are relevant? The Digital Citizenship and Creative Content program is a free, turnkey instructional program.

12.[| Kenton County School District site]

Digital Citizenship is a concept which helps teachers and technology leaders understand what students should know to use technology appropriately. But Digital Citizenship is more that just a teaching tool, it is a way to prepare students for a society full of technology. Too often we are seeing students as well as adults misusing and abusing technology. The issue is more than what the users do not know but instead what is considered appropriate technology usage.

13. [|Digital Citizenship - Resources for Educators] Because Web 2.0 tools and social networking are readily available more emphasis is needed for responsible behavior in this digital society. Ethics and responsibilities need to be taught to all students.

Click to find some ideas generated by your colleagues.
 * Teaching/Classroom Ideas**

Video
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Think Before You Post - video demonstrating the importance of thinking before posting - media type="file" key="TeacherTube - Think Before You Post.m4v"