Women’s Leadership Group – An Introduction

Agenda Introduction of participants Brief Overview of Hello World project Review of proposed tasks and responsibilities Monitoring and Supervising the Hello World terminal Working together with the New User Assistance program participants Brief introduction and discussion of Internet Safety concerns

Introduction Let’s get to know each other: Please tell us your name and where you are from!

Hello World Project The Hello World project is a computer terminal that provides access to learning material. It also provides the opportunity to use the Internet, connect to friends and family and store information It can be used to find answers to questions, learn about new topics and to connect with other people It is important that everyone in the community has fair access to use the Hello World terminal This can be achieved by monitoring and supervising the use of the Hello World terminal, particularly when children are using the terminal

Questions for Discussion Who do you think might not get equal access to the terminal? Why would they not have access the the terminal?

The Goals of Monitoring and Supervising the Hello World Terminal To ensure that everyone has fair access to using the Hello World terminal. To ensure that users are not engaging in unsafe or illegal activities online. To help users navigate effectively on the Hello World terminal and to help to identify problems during use.

How to Monitor Effectively: We have created a weekly sign-up sheet that allows volunteers to choose a 2 hour time span to watch over the activity and use of the terminal Members of this group are highly encouraged to sign-up at the beginning of the week for their preferred time The sign-up sheet will be posted on the side of the terminal

Some Important Points to Consider while Monitoring We have put together a brief check-list of important points to consider while monitoring the Hello World terminal No user should be using the Hello World terminal for longer than 1 hour at a time, to ensure that everyone has fair access to using the Hello World terminal. Encourage girls to use the Hello World terminal and supervise the terminal use to ensure that roughly an equal number of girls and boys use the Hello World terminal everyday.

Some Important Points to Consider while Monitoring (2) From time to time look over the activities that the users are engaging in online to make sure no illegal or unsafe activity is taking place. If questionable activities are taking place, kindly ask the user to stop. Help users navigate and discover different options and programs on the Hello World terminal. Work together with the New User Assistants to provide support in recording commonly occurring problems, record these on the Hello World Help website and discuss these issues with the user, ACT team and other relevant members of the community.

Question for Discussion What activity at the terminal do you think would be inappropriate or illegal?

Some Important Points to Consider while Monitoring (3) Engage the users, particularly children, by asking them what activities they are doing on the Hello World terminal. You can engage users by asking them about their experience with the Hello World terminal including questions on what they liked, did not like and found interesting about the Hello World terminal.

Working together with volunteers from the New User Assistance Program The members of the Women’s Leadership group and the volunteers for the new user assistance group are encouraged to work together in identifying commonly encountered problems and questions Both groups can record and keep track of problems and issues on the Hello World Help page and contact the ACT team for feedback and help Members of the Women’s Leadership group are highly encouraged to help in the distribution of wristbands for the Certified New User Assistance to allow everyone to get to know each other

Question for Discussion How do you foresee the two groups working together? Should there be a leader for the Women’s Leadership group? How would you go about selecting a leader?

A Brief Introduction to Internet Safety It is important that all users of the Hello World terminal feel safe and comfortable when using the Internet The next few slides cover 5 important tips that you can teach to the younger Hello World users These 5 tips are part of the SMART concept:

for Safe Stay safe by not sharing personal information with people, especially strangers, you are chatting with online. Personal information includes: -Your name -Your e-mail -Your home address -The name of your school -Your telephone number -Photos of yourself

for Meeting Meeting someone you have only been communicating with over the internet can be dangerous. Only meet someone you have communicated with online with the permission of your parents or teacher and only if your parent or teacher can be present during the meeting.

for Accepting Accepting e-mails, text, IM chats, attachments or photos from people you don’t know or trust can lead to problems. You should not open these files -they can contain viruses or mean messages and always ask an adult for help.

for Reliable Not all the information you find on the internet is true. People online may be lying about who they are and some websites may contain. Always ask an adult if any information makes you feel uncomfortable and do have discussions about information you find on internet websites with your friends and teachers.

for Tell Always tell your parents, your teachers or a trusted adult if anything you come across online makes you feel uncomfortable or worried. Also watch out for your friends and tell a trusted adult when you feel that a friend is feeling uncomfortable or being bullied.

Discussion on Internet Safety What are your concerns for general use the Hello World Terminal? What are your safety concerns for allowing your children to use the Internet?  All questions and thoughts are welcome 

Thank you!