Internet Safety: What should schools be doing

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Internet SafetyWhat should schools be doing?
Monique Uzelac Director of Instructional
Technology Ann Arbor Public Schools
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Overview

• What is this stuff?
• Opportunities and Dangers
• Teaching Internet Safety
• School Action Steps

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What is this stuff?

• Blogs
• Chat Rooms
• IM
• Social Networking
• Bebo
• Facebook
• MySpace
• Xanga
• Virtual Worlds

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Digital Natives

• Computers
• Cell Phones
• Wireless Handhelds
• Game Devices

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Some of the Dangers

• Privacy invasions
• Cyberbullying
• Misinformation
• Online predators
• Pornograhy
• Spam
• Violent or hateful content

http//www.bewebaware.ca
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And the Opportunities

• Smart internet use offers dozens of education
  applications.
• Research opportunities
• Communication and collaboration tools
• Students use the internet
• As a textbook, a tutor, a study group, a
  counselor, and a storage space for school
  documents
• 94 of 12-17 year olds with internet access, use
  the internet for school research.

http//www.pewinternet.org
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Internet Safety _at_ School

• Filters
• Required since 2000 law, Children's Internet
  Protection Act

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Internet Safety _at_ School

• Teaching Internet Safety
• Soon to be required due to recently passed
  Broadband Data Improvement Act (S.1492)
• Integrate into technology and information skills
  curriculum

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Internet Safety _at_ School

• School Policies
• Acceptable Use and Technology
• Code of Conduct and Discipline

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When should schools get involved?

• Plan before it becomes a problem
• Include cyberbullying prevention in anti-bullying
  programs.
• Schools, parents and students work together to
  address cyberbullying.
• Update school policies to address misbehaviors
  that happen off campus but disrupt the learning
  environment at school.

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Resources for Teaching Internet Safety

• http//www.cybersmartcurriculum.org
• http//www.ikeepsafe.com
• http//www.isafe.org
• http//www.netsmartz.org
• http//www.wiredkids.org

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How Do Schools Balance Dangers and Opportunities?

• Acceptable use and other policies that address
  internet safety
• Education staff, students, parents
• Curriculum integration
• Include cyberbullying in anti-bullying program
  curriculum

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School Action Steps

• Integrate Internet safety and bullying prevention
  into the curriculum
• Update school district policies to address
  Internet safety issues
• Educate staff, students and parents about
  Internet safety and cyberbullying

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Questions?