Unsafe Scenario

Predators, rapists, thieves and bullies existed before the Internet. We teach our children about not talking to strangers or getting into cars with people they don’t know, etc. We need to include cyberspace in this discussion. Common sense about safety should be exercised in the real and virtual worlds. The following situation demonstrates how a young person can volunteer information about them self and their surrounings, bit by bit, and a predator can put the pieces together to find them. Think about what you share online as you watch the video. Do you keep yourself safe online?

Preparation

• Students will participate in the Netsmartz.org Internet safety curriculum in class.
• Students will use school email address to register accounts, if possible.
• Students will share this document with parent(s) or guardian(s).
• Students will get a parent or guardian signature on the CHS Communication Technologies Social Networks Code of Conduct.
• Students will understand and follow the CHS Communication Technologies Social Networks Code of Conduct and the safety measures suggested in the Safe profile settings videos available on the class web site for each tool used in class.

Publishing Tips

• Be Safe
• Be Mindful of What You Say
• Be Respectful of Others
• Be Informative
• Be Interesting

Be Safe

Anyone can access the Internet and view what you write on a blog or wiki. Even if your page is ‘protected’ there is nothing to stop your friends from copying your material and placing it elsewhere on the web. It is important to respect your privacy. Use your first name only and do not use pictures of yourself in the content or as an avatar, unless approved by the teacher. If you wish to have an image associated with your blog, use a picture of something that represents you. Don’t give out any personal information about yourself, anyone else or your location.

Be Mindful of What You Say

You are responsible for anything that is posted in your name. Always use appropriate language and remember that how you say something is as important as what you say. Avoid exaggeration, provocation and sarcasm in the language you use.

Be Respectful of Others

When writing on your blog or wiki or if you are commenting on others, always make sure what you write is fair and accurate.

When blogging or podcasting, do not record any person without his or her consent and awareness. You must have the consent from every individual whose voice can be heard on your podcast. Start each audio recording by identifying everyone present by their first name only.

Other bloggers and podcaster will love to hear what you think of their work. If you want to make some constructive criticism why not try giving two stars and a wish (two positive comments and one thing you think could improve).

Be Informative

Write about and present what you know. Make sure you get your facts straight and ask for advice if you are not sure. Remember that your blog can be searched through Google. Make sure that you write in a way that everyone can understand e.g. limit your use of text speak.

Be Interesting

There’s no point in blogging or podcasting if people don’t read or listen to what you say. When people leave a comment, reply to them quickly to bring them back to your site. Make sure it is interesting. Make it fun so that you will encourage your readers and listeners to come back for more. One way to do this is to expand on others ideas. You can quote other people’s work, link back to it and add your own thoughts or opinions to their ideas.

- These tips cited from http://edubuzz.pbworks.com/socialmediapupil

Consequences

These tips compliment your Olympia School District Internet Use Policy. Any inappropriate use could lead to the loss of Internet use privileges, as stated in the OSD Internet Use Policy, or other disciplinary action.

Signatures

Student ____________________ Date ______

Parent/Guardian ____________________ Date ______

Issue

Young adults are publishing online. They are capturing images, video and audio with cell phones and other digital devices and posting to social networking and social media sites like Facebook, Myspace, YouTube, Flickr, Google Video, etc. What conduct is safe, appropriate and legal? We need to engage students in discussion and guide them in the proper use of information and media in the digital age.

Background and Benefits of Social and Media Networks

Social networking and social media web-based tools are very powerful communicators with tremendous potential. They help people connect, collaborate and create. Many employers and universities expect potential employees or students to have information technology skills. Steve Borsch details many attributes of the new skills expectations in his paper Rise of the Participation Culture:

“While many of us were placing our attention elsewhere, the post-dotcom-crash World Wide Web and global Internet continued to evolve. Once seemingly focused primarily on web page publishing, ecommerce, and transaction-oriented paradigms, an amazing array of web-based applications, social media and social networks have burst forth over the last several years and a new culture has emerged comprised of people participating rather than acting as passive recipients.”

Business are reaching out through these vehicles to potential clients. Schools run virtual classes online. People are forming valuable communities for learning, work and recreation. A new literacy is expected of 21st century citizens. Students need to practice these skills, understand appropriate behavior and prepare for their future.

Just like any tool, it can be used properly or not. We need to teach students to make appropriate choices and empower them in the digital age. What does it mean to be a responsible digital citizen? We need to discuss and explore this in the classroom and at home. The more students understand the potential and limitations, the better prepared they will be for an ever changing world.

Washington State Technology Standards

We use social media and social network tools to help students achieve the following State Standards in technology.

• EALR 1 – Integration

  Students use technology within all content areas to collaborate, communicate, generate innovative ideas, investigate and solve problems.

• EALR 2 – Digital Citizenship

  Students demonstrate a clear understanding of technology systems and operations and practice safe, legal, and ethical behavior.

Student Publishing Process and Tools Used in Class

• Learning Journal and Projects Showcase
  • Educational blogging with Edublogs.org
  • Video Explanation
  • Safe profile settings
• Learning Resources Management
  • Social Bookmarking with Delicious.com
  • Video Explanation
  • Safe profile settings

• Image Gathering and Publishing
  • Online photo sharing with Flickr.com
  • Video Explanation
  • Safe profile settings

• Presentation Resources and Platform
  • Publishing presentations with Slideshare.net
  • Web Site Tour
  • Safe profile settings

• Resume and Employment Showcase
  • Building a professional presence with Linkedin.com
  • Video Explanation
  • Safe profile settings

Glossary

• Avatar
  • An avatar is a computer user’s representation of himself/herself or alter ego, whether in the form of a three-dimensional model used in computer games, a two-dimensional icon (picture) used on Internet forums and other communities. It is an “object” representing the embodiment of the user. The term “avatar” can also refer to the personality connected with the screen name, or handle, of an Internet user.
• Blog
  • (a contraction of the term “weblog”)[1] is a type of website, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. “Blog” can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.
• Digital Citizen
  
  • A digital citizen commonly refers to a person that participate in society using a certain amount of information technology (IT).
• Information Technology
  • IT deals with the use of electronic computers and computer software to convert, store, protect, process, transmit, and securely retrieve information.
• Olympia School District Internet Use Policy
  
  • Download PDF file
  • District Technology Resources Page: technology.osd.wednet.edu
• Podcasting
  • A podcast is a series of digital media files (either audio or video) that are released episodically and downloaded through web syndication. The mode of delivery is what differentiates podcasts from other ways of accessing media files over the Internet, such as simple download or streamed web casts: special client software applications known as pod catchers (like iTunes, Zune, Juice, and Winamp) are used to automatically identify and download new files in the series when they are released by accessing a centrally-maintained web feed that lists all files associated with the series.
• Social Media
  • Social media supports the human need for social interaction, using Internet- and web-based technologies to transform broadcast media monologues (one to many) into social media dialogues (many to many). It supports the democratization of knowledge and information, transforming people from content consumers into content producers. Businesses also refer to social media as user-generated content (UGC) or consumer-generated media (CGM).
• Social Networking
  
  • A social network service focuses on building online communities of people who share interests and/or activities, or who are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others.
• Washington State Technology Standards
  
  • EALR 1 – Integration

    Students use technology within all content areas to collaborate, communicate, generate innovative ideas, investigate and solve problems.

    • Components
      • 1.1: Innovate: Demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology.
      • 1.2: Collaborate: Use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively to support individual learning, and contribute to the learning of others.
      • 1.3: Investigate and Think Critically: Research, manage, and evaluate information, and solve problems using digital tools and resources.
  • EALR 2 – Digital Citizenship

    Students demonstrate a clear understanding of technology systems and operations and practice safe, legal, and ethical behavior.

    • Components
      • 2.1: Practice Safety: Demonstrate safe, legal, and ethical behavior in the use of information and technology.
      • 2.2: Operate Systems: Understand technology systems and use hardware and networks to support learning.
      • 2.3: Select and Use Applications: Use productivity tools and common applications effectively and constructively.
      • 2.4: Adapt to Change (Technology Fluency): Transfer current knowledge to new and emerging technologies. [Grades 6-12 only]
• Wiki
  • A wiki is a website that uses wiki software, allowing the easy creation and editing of any number of interlinked Web pages. Wikis are often used to create collaborative websites, to power community websites, for personal note taking, in corporate intranets, and in knowledge management systems

Read More

• This document is available online at http://capitalcomtech.info/code-of-conduct/
• Internet Safety with NetSmartz.org
• School social media and social networking policy development: http://landmark-project.com/aup20/pmwiki.php

Resources Cited

• Glossary definitions: http://wikipedia.org
• http://edubuzz.pbworks.com/socialmediapupil
• http://k12wiki.wikispaces.com/Social%20Networking%20Acceptable%20Use
• http://www.budtheteacher.com/wiki/index.php?title=Blogging_Rules
• http://digiteen.wikispaces.com/

Fewer than 25 percent of educators feel comfortable teaching students how to protect themselves from online predators, cyberbullies and identity thieves, says a new study from the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and Educational Technology, Policy Research and Outreach (ET PRO). – By Zach Miners January 2009, District Administration Magazine

How do students learn to be safe online? This is a critical issue for all of us to address. How do we want to prepare our children to be safe online? I did an informal survey in my classes a few weeks ago. I asked students if they had any training on Internet safety, either at school or at home. In one class only two out of thirty individuals raised their hands to confirm some discussion about the topic. This was a typical ratio in all of my classes.  Where are these students learning to be safe?

Children ages 10-14 spend more time on the Internet than watching television, but the report, the 2008 National Cyber Ethics, Cyber Safety, Cyber Security (C3) Baseline Study, found that only a handful of states have education curriculum requirements for teaching children how to protect themselves online. – By Zach Miners January 2009, District Administration Magazine

Teachers and parents have to first teach ourselves about safety and then advocate and support it for our young people. I am convinced that if we understand the issues clearly we will better model the behavior for students.