Internet safety is an issue that confronts educators as they try to integrate the power of the Internet in the teaching and learning process. The Internet has both positives and negatives and educators should therefore strive to minimize the negative impact.
The first of the process is to educate students on how to navigate the Web safely and effectively. Students are to avoid potential online predators by not sharing their personal information with strangers. This information might include students' full names, addresses and photographs. As students might like to associate themselves with their publications, they might use only their first names, pseudonyms or numbers. They should also be taught about the process of reporting problems online, both in online content and technical issues.
Inappropriate contents are often filtered by school districts as mandated by the Children's Internet Protection Act. However, many have questioned blocking of websites that might equally present important educational materials and therefore advocate for positive behavior from both teachers and students.
Teachers can also create their own Web tours before presenting them to students for research. These websites might include those that offer Web projects for students and other educational resources. If students accidentally navigate to inappropriate websites, prior education should inform them of what to do. Students should be made aware of acceptable use policies of the Internet an the consequences for unacceptable behavior, a point raised by Jeff Dunn in his Teacher's Guide To Keeping Students Safe Online.
Parents should also be involved in the process of keeping students safe online. Parental approval should be sought before publishing students' information when it becomes necessary. They should also be made aware of their role at home in connection with students' use of the Internet.
The first of the process is to educate students on how to navigate the Web safely and effectively. Students are to avoid potential online predators by not sharing their personal information with strangers. This information might include students' full names, addresses and photographs. As students might like to associate themselves with their publications, they might use only their first names, pseudonyms or numbers. They should also be taught about the process of reporting problems online, both in online content and technical issues.
Inappropriate contents are often filtered by school districts as mandated by the Children's Internet Protection Act. However, many have questioned blocking of websites that might equally present important educational materials and therefore advocate for positive behavior from both teachers and students.
Teachers can also create their own Web tours before presenting them to students for research. These websites might include those that offer Web projects for students and other educational resources. If students accidentally navigate to inappropriate websites, prior education should inform them of what to do. Students should be made aware of acceptable use policies of the Internet an the consequences for unacceptable behavior, a point raised by Jeff Dunn in his Teacher's Guide To Keeping Students Safe Online.
Parents should also be involved in the process of keeping students safe online. Parental approval should be sought before publishing students' information when it becomes necessary. They should also be made aware of their role at home in connection with students' use of the Internet.