The internet has been a game changer for education. There is almost nothing that I can’t research on the internet. In a recent conversation I had with a student, we discussed the need for even having to go to school at all. Keep in mind that this was a casual conversation and not a serious question, but it does bring into question the use of the internet. With the prevalence of video hosting like YouTube and Vimeo, and the mass of information in the form of “how to”, can the internet be a valuable learning tool? I say yes, but with a catch.
Anyone can post anything they want on the internet. This means that there is true information out there, but there is also bogus information. Students have to learn how to sort through the stream of information, evaluate it, and determine if it is indeed a credible source.
On top of everything else, safety has to be there. Social media and Web 2.0 tools allow an unprecedented amount of interaction for students. A big worry for educators and parents has been cyber bullying. According to NoBullying.com, in a survey of over 10,000 youths, 7 in 10 students experienced cyber bullying in 2013. ("Cyberbullying and Bullying Statistics 2014, Finally!," 2014) As an educator it is important to evaluate the use of the internet in your lessons. Monitoring of student use is necessary to prevent bullying of students.
Other ways to keep the internet safe for students can come from your school. While an Acceptable Use Policy will lay out the rules of the internet, it is only useful after the fact. To keep it safe, many school install internet filters that will prevent unsafe material from being accessed by the school network. In fact the Children’s Internet Protection Act requires that schools and public institutions install filters that meet the federal government’s requirements to block offensive material. (Federal Communication Commission, 2014) CIPA also requires the monitoring of internet usage on the school network. As a teacher, these tools can help out a lot with internet safety.
It is also important to teach students how to be safe on the internet. There are many resources that can help with teaching internet safety, but ultimately it comes down to digital citizenship. Students need to know and understand the how’s and why’s of being safe on the internet. Caroline Knorr has some excellent “Rules of The Road” for young people to guide their presence on the internet and their digital citizenship at CommonSense.org. (Knorr, 2014)
Anyone can post anything they want on the internet. This means that there is true information out there, but there is also bogus information. Students have to learn how to sort through the stream of information, evaluate it, and determine if it is indeed a credible source.
On top of everything else, safety has to be there. Social media and Web 2.0 tools allow an unprecedented amount of interaction for students. A big worry for educators and parents has been cyber bullying. According to NoBullying.com, in a survey of over 10,000 youths, 7 in 10 students experienced cyber bullying in 2013. ("Cyberbullying and Bullying Statistics 2014, Finally!," 2014) As an educator it is important to evaluate the use of the internet in your lessons. Monitoring of student use is necessary to prevent bullying of students.
Other ways to keep the internet safe for students can come from your school. While an Acceptable Use Policy will lay out the rules of the internet, it is only useful after the fact. To keep it safe, many school install internet filters that will prevent unsafe material from being accessed by the school network. In fact the Children’s Internet Protection Act requires that schools and public institutions install filters that meet the federal government’s requirements to block offensive material. (Federal Communication Commission, 2014) CIPA also requires the monitoring of internet usage on the school network. As a teacher, these tools can help out a lot with internet safety.
It is also important to teach students how to be safe on the internet. There are many resources that can help with teaching internet safety, but ultimately it comes down to digital citizenship. Students need to know and understand the how’s and why’s of being safe on the internet. Caroline Knorr has some excellent “Rules of The Road” for young people to guide their presence on the internet and their digital citizenship at CommonSense.org. (Knorr, 2014)
References:
Cyberbullying and Bullying Statistics 2014, Finally! (2014). Retrieved from http://nobullying.com/cyberbullying-bullying-statistics-2014-finally/
Federal Communication Commission. (2014). Children's Internet Protection Act | FCC.gov. Retrieved from http://www.fcc.gov/guides/childrens-internet-protection-act
Knorr, C. (2014, February 17). Internet Safety: Rules of the Road for Kids. Retrieved from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/internet-safety-rules-of-the-road-for-kids
Cyberbullying and Bullying Statistics 2014, Finally! (2014). Retrieved from http://nobullying.com/cyberbullying-bullying-statistics-2014-finally/
Federal Communication Commission. (2014). Children's Internet Protection Act | FCC.gov. Retrieved from http://www.fcc.gov/guides/childrens-internet-protection-act
Knorr, C. (2014, February 17). Internet Safety: Rules of the Road for Kids. Retrieved from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/internet-safety-rules-of-the-road-for-kids