Weaving a Net of Safety Online: Weaving a Net of Safety Online: Training Issues for Preservice Training Issues for Preservice

TeachersTeachershttp://www.coedu.usf.edu/internetsafetyhttp://www.coedu.usf.edu/internetsafety

Michael J. Berson, Ph.D.Michael J. Berson, Ph.D.University of South FloridaUniversity of South Florida

bersonberson@tempest.@tempest.coeducoedu..usfusf..eduedu

Ilene R. Berson, Ph.D.Ilene R. Berson, Ph.D.University of South FloridaUniversity of South Florida

bersonberson@mirage.@mirage.fmhifmhi..usfusf..eduedu

How do children use How do children use computers and the Internet?computers and the Internet?

Current use of technology in the schoolsCurrent use of technology in the schools– Drill and Practice and TutorialsDrill and Practice and Tutorials– Games and SimulationsGames and Simulations– Inquiry and Problem SolvingInquiry and Problem Solving– GraphicsGraphics– Word Processing and WritingWord Processing and Writing– Internet & World Wide WebInternet & World Wide Web– DatabasesDatabases– TelecommunicationsTelecommunications

EffectivenessEffectiveness

What is beneficial, effective, informative What is beneficial, effective, informative about the current use of technology in about the current use of technology in social studies education?social studies education?

What educational theory is guiding the What educational theory is guiding the selection and application of technology selection and application of technology in the classroom?in the classroom?

Barriers to Effective Barriers to Effective Implementation and IntegrationImplementation and Integration

Equity of access and availability of technology

Necessity of reconceptualizing pedagogic practice in the social studies Marginalization of

computers as an instructional tool

Necessity of training– The ever evolving tools of

technology

The Social and Cultural The Social and Cultural Challenges of Internet Challenges of Internet

TechnologyTechnology* Global access without a global Global access without a global

understandingunderstanding– Recognition of cyber culture and the Recognition of cyber culture and the

evolution of cyber-cultural competenceevolution of cyber-cultural competence

* Processing Skills for Online InteractionProcessing Skills for Online Interaction

Educators need to be involvedEducators need to be involved

* The Internet presents new teaching The Internet presents new teaching challengeschallenges

* Educators’ involvement is essential to Educators’ involvement is essential to ensure children have a safe, rewarding ensure children have a safe, rewarding and educational online experienceand educational online experience

* Teachers help children assess the Teachers help children assess the value and importance of information value and importance of information they findthey find

A shared responsibilityA shared responsibility

* Ensuring a positive and safe online Ensuring a positive and safe online experience is a shared responsibilityexperience is a shared responsibility

* Parents, teachers, librarians and others Parents, teachers, librarians and others need to make sure children have need to make sure children have access to and are guided safely through access to and are guided safely through the Internetthe Internet

What does the Internet offer What does the Internet offer children?children?

* Communication via e-mail and chat Communication via e-mail and chat roomsrooms

* The world's resources are available to The world's resources are available to supplement their learningsupplement their learning

* Access to other culturesAccess to other cultures* New analytical and information New analytical and information

processing skills to build lifelong learning processing skills to build lifelong learning skillsskills

Ensuring a Safe, Educational Ensuring a Safe, Educational and Rewarding Tripand Rewarding Trip

Is the Internet safe?Is the Internet safe?

* Like the road, the Internet has some risks, but Like the road, the Internet has some risks, but there are ways to protect children onlinethere are ways to protect children online

* When children are small, you teach them to hold When children are small, you teach them to hold your hand when crossing the street. But as they your hand when crossing the street. But as they grow, you slowly give them more freedom until grow, you slowly give them more freedom until they end up driving by themselvesthey end up driving by themselves

* Like all endeavors children will undertake, Like all endeavors children will undertake, common sense says you should be aware and common sense says you should be aware and stay involvedstay involved

What are the risks on the What are the risks on the Internet?Internet?

The relative degree of online anonymity The relative degree of online anonymity coupled with the lack of system-imposed coupled with the lack of system-imposed restraints creates risk for young people who restraints creates risk for young people who may be naïve regarding the intentions of may be naïve regarding the intentions of others. Since children and youth typically others. Since children and youth typically are trusting and curious about online are trusting and curious about online relationships, they are vulnerable to crime relationships, they are vulnerable to crime and exploitation.and exploitation.

Common Risks to Children OnlineCommon Risks to Children Online

Controversial InformationControversial Information Fraud and Privacy Invasion in Fraud and Privacy Invasion in

CyberspaceCyberspace SPAMSPAM Sexual PredatorsSexual Predators Bullying and HarassmentBullying and Harassment Internet AddictionInternet Addiction

Examples of Online RisksExamples of Online Risks

* Getting e-mail advertising adult sitesGetting e-mail advertising adult sites* Making inappropriate friendships and Making inappropriate friendships and

sometimes dangerous contact with sometimes dangerous contact with strangers in chat roomsstrangers in chat rooms

* Downloading viruses Downloading viruses * Giving out personal informationGiving out personal information

The Internet is a Public Place The Internet is a Public Place

* It allows children to communicate with friends It allows children to communicate with friends they know and people they don'tthey know and people they don't

* Educators need to make sure their students’ Educators need to make sure their students’ privacy is protected and teach them why privacy privacy is protected and teach them why privacy is importantis important

* One way to protect privacy is to not give out One way to protect privacy is to not give out personal information like phone numbers, personal information like phone numbers, addresses or credit card numbers, especially in addresses or credit card numbers, especially in chat rooms and newsgroupschat rooms and newsgroups

* Educators should check websites their students Educators should check websites their students visit for privacy policies visit for privacy policies

Setting Guidelines for Safe, Setting Guidelines for Safe, Legal, and Efficient Online Legal, and Efficient Online

UseUse* Acceptable Use PoliciesAcceptable Use Policies

• Online manners (Netiquette) for studentsOnline manners (Netiquette) for students• Respect for the privacy of othersRespect for the privacy of others• Plagiarism Plagiarism

Establishing Rules to Maintain Establishing Rules to Maintain Boundaries/BarriersBoundaries/Barriers

* Teach students to never give out their name, Teach students to never give out their name, school, address, phone number, picture or other school, address, phone number, picture or other personal information to people they meet online, personal information to people they meet online, especially in public places like chat rooms and especially in public places like chat rooms and bulletin boards.bulletin boards.

* Instruct students to never plan face-to-face Instruct students to never plan face-to-face meetings alone with online acquaintancesmeetings alone with online acquaintances

* Tell students not to respond and to let you know if Tell students not to respond and to let you know if they receive offensive or dangerous e-mail, chat they receive offensive or dangerous e-mail, chat or other communicationsor other communications

Supervision Supervision

* Take the trip together. Take the time to Take the trip together. Take the time to see what your students are doing online see what your students are doing online and what their interests areand what their interests are

Tips for Students OnlineTips for Students Online* I won't give out my name, age, school, I won't give out my name, age, school,

address, phone number, picture or any address, phone number, picture or any other information about myself or my family other information about myself or my family without getting permissionwithout getting permission

* If I see or get something online that looks If I see or get something online that looks weird or bad or makes me feel weird or bad or makes me feel uncomfortable, I won't respond, I'll leave uncomfortable, I won't respond, I'll leave that area right away and tell my teacher that area right away and tell my teacher and/or parentsand/or parents

Tips for Students Online Tips for Students Online cont'dcont'd

* I won't get together with anyone I meet I won't get together with anyone I meet online without getting my parent's online without getting my parent's permission first. permission first.

* I won't open or accept e-mails, files, links, I won't open or accept e-mails, files, links, URLs or other things online from people I URLs or other things online from people I don’t really know or trustdon’t really know or trust

* I won't give out my password to anyone I won't give out my password to anyone but my parents, not even to my best friendbut my parents, not even to my best friend

Empowering Students Through Empowering Students Through Awareness and SupportAwareness and Support

* Elementary LevelElementary Level Privacy Playground: The First Adventures of Privacy Playground: The First Adventures of

the Three Little CyberPigsthe Three Little CyberPigs (http://www.screen.com/mnet/eng/cpigs/cpigs.htm)(http://www.screen.com/mnet/eng/cpigs/cpigs.htm)

* Middle LevelMiddle Level Ballad of an Email TerroristBallad of an Email Terrorist

(http://www.gsn.org/teach/articles/email.ballad.html)(http://www.gsn.org/teach/articles/email.ballad.html)

* High School LevelHigh School Level Web of Deception Web of Deception

(http://tap.epn.org/cme/cmwdecov.html)(http://tap.epn.org/cme/cmwdecov.html)

A Few Recommended Safety A Few Recommended Safety Web Sites Web Sites

* America Links Up America Links Up http://www.americalinksup.orghttp://www.americalinksup.org* Child Abuse Prevention Network Child Abuse Prevention Network

http://child.cornell.eduhttp://child.cornell.edu* CyberAngels Internet Safety Organization CyberAngels Internet Safety Organization

http://www.cyberangels.org/http://www.cyberangels.org/ * Federal Trade Commission Federal Trade Commission http://www.ftc.gov/privacyhttp://www.ftc.gov/privacy* National Center for Missing and Exploited Children National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

http://www.missingkids.com/cybertiphttp://www.missingkids.com/cybertip* National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect

Information Information http://www.calib.com/nccanch/http://www.calib.com/nccanch/* Safe Kids On-line Safe Kids On-line http://www.safekids.com/http://www.safekids.com/