Contributed by Neera Bhat There are many web 2.0 tools that are powerful for teaching and learning. These tools may require above-average tech skills for a teacher and extra monitoring for parents to assure safety in teaching and learning. This blog provides useful tips for the parents and teachers to ensure a safe and meaningful experience for the children.
It is vital to have rules. These rules may differ among teachers or households. Having rules, upholding them, and enforcing them can help your children beware and know right from wrong.
For Parents:
The children require education on internet safety. It starts by creating strong passwords for the programs they will be using. Logging-out is also a must after they are finished using the program. They must be cognizant of the fact that they must not meet or reply to any stranger online, let alone share any personal information. Also, clicking on links within the links may mean trouble, so beware of any weblinks.
Parents need to set boundaries on time and device use on the internet by monitoring the amount of time children are on the internet and what they can do while using the internet and device. This will keep the children safe and cautious while online. Having a good relationship with children can be helpful, but it is imperative to monitor the use of the internet. It can be as simple as installing tracking software on the kid’s devices or checking the history of use periodically.
For Teachers:
As teachers, we know not all students have the same level of maturity. Therefore, it is crucial to teach how to use technology safely and effectively. The students must know that there are laws in place regarding internet use. They cannot create accounts if they are not the right age and must check the terms and conditions on the website.
Students should be taught to keep personal information (full name, address, date of birth, phone numbers, passwords) private. These must never be shared in emails or text messages. They should be taught not to believe everything they read online. It would be a good idea to evaluate the website’s reliability and cross-check information.
Using good manners is favorable at all times, whether online or offline. Students must treat others with respect online and report any cyberbullying concerns (someone posting annoying or embarrassing or threatening comments) to an adult.
Here are some useful links for learning more on this topic:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/support/safety_crisis_management/internet_safety/index.shtml
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