Cartoon by Peter Steiner. The New Yorker, July 5, 1993 issue (Vol.69 (LXIX) no. 20) page 61The New Yorker

Traveling the Information Highway “In education circles the magical mantra has been ’student safety.’ The fear of online predators has been used to curtail, restrict, and prohibit the use of some of the most promising online educational technology tools. … As educational leaders we need to be safety conscious. We need to be prudent, reasonable; but we won’t live in fear and we won’t act from fear. It is by opening doors, not closing them, that we create new possibilities for our children and new futures for ourselves.” Pete Reilly, Facts Abut Online Sex Abuse and Schools, Jan. 06, 2007Facts Abut Online Sex Abuse and Schools

Essential Questions  How can we teach our students to use the Internet safely?  How can we teach our students to use the Internet ethically?  How can we teach our students to use the Internet effectively?

The Read-Only Web (Web 1.0)  Powerful resource for educators and students, but…  Information moves one way only- from publishers to consumers  Information cannot be edited

The Read-Write Web (Web 2.0)  It is now as easy to create as it is to consume  Anyone can publish, share, and change information  Web 2.0 changes everything – including teaching and learning! Image from Time Magazine, Dec 25, 2006/Jan 1, 2007 issue

Blogs  Web + Log = weblog or “we blog”  Easy to create  Easy to update  Allow visitors to comment  If you can fill out a form, you can blog!

Wikis  Websites anyone can edit!  If you can use a word processor, you can use a wiki.  Visitors can see a history of changes and revert to earlier versions.

Educational Wikis  Collaboratively authored class texts  Writing projects  Sharing resources  Grade level teams  Subject area teams

IM and Chat LOL DIKU PAL POS TMI CTN PM BWL BRB P911 PAW TTYL A/S/L

EGUSD Internet Safeguards What we currently have in place:  Internet filtering software and procedures  CIPA/COPA Guidelines  AR  AB 307 – Internet safety as part of next EGUSD Technology Plan  iSafety workshops through Curriculum and Professional Learning  Parent and community workshops through EGACE

Social Network  Members have profiles  May contain personal information  Used to connect with others  Often includes a blog, pictures, songs, videos, and messages. Let’s take a tour!

Safety Concerns  Way too much information – age, address, phone number, gender, family names, school, passwords  Inappropriate content  Inappropriate sharing  Trevor’s Story Trevor’s Story Adapted from

What to Watch for? Grooming!  “Let’s go private!”  Where’s your computer in the house?  Who’s your favorite band? Designer?  I know someone who can get you a modeling job.  You seem sad. Tell me what’s bothering you.  I know a way you can earn money fast  If you don’t do what I ask, I’ll tell your parents/share your photos, etc. Sarah’s StorySarah’s Story (iSafe.org) *Grooming references from SafeTeen.com – How to Recognize Grooming

Cyberbullying Concerns  Creating websites that have stories, cartoons, pictures, and jokes ridiculing others  Posting pictures of classmates online with intent to embarrass them  Engaging someone in IM (instant messaging), tricking that person into revealing sensitive personal information, and forwarding that information to others  Taking an embarrassing picture of a person using a digital phone camera and sending that picture to others  Broken Friendship Broken Friendship Adapted from

Why Kids Cyberbully?  Often motivated by anger, revenge, or frustration  Sometimes done for entertainment  Out of boredom + too much time +too many tech toys  To torment others for self ego  To bolster social standing  Some even think they are righting a wrong

Cyberbullying Statistics  19% of teens report being harassed or bullied online  The incidence is higher among kids 16 and 17- year-olds at 23%  85% of incidents occur when youth are at home  In 44% of cases, children are harassed by their peers *Stats from NetSmartz.org

Safety Tips for Students  Do not share identifying information  Do not share personal information  Do not share provocative images  Do not post false information about other people  Consider the consequences and the future  Talk with parents, teachers, or other trusted adults if you have concerns about safety or cyberbullying

Safety Tips for Parents  Create an open dialog about online safety concerns  Set boundaries and time limits for online activities  Move computers into shared spaces & make monitors visible  Watch for Alt+F4 (Alt+Tab)  Check history (is it suspiciously blank?)  Beware of a reluctance to be candid

Safety Tips for Teachers  Communicate with students  Communicate with other educators  Communicate with Tech Services  Confront students who are behaving in irresponsible, inappropriate, or unsafe ways. Do not look the other way.  Create an iSafe classroomiSafe Click for iSafe Overview

Growing Bank of FREE Resources

Q & A  Contact Information:  Gail Desler – Technology Integration Specialist  Kathleen Watt – EGUSD Web Specialist  Professional Development Opportunities:  Contact Curriculum and Professional Learning for a listing of upcoming workshops