Internet Safety for Teachers
While the Internet offers great access to valuable resources, it also provides opportunities for criminals to exploit children. Stories about the dangers associated with web sites such as MySpace.com have been prominent in the news. The Virginia General Assembly recently passed a bill requiring school divisions to address Internet safety within their instructional program. HCPS makes every effort to filter inappropriate material, and teachers are responsible for monitoring student internet use and providing guidance toward appropriate resources. These safety measures may not be in place at home or other locations where students use the internet, so it is important that we educate the students about appropriate behavior.
Monitor student use of computers carefully. It is generally not a good idea to provide "free" time on the computer. If a student has some free time, you should provide guidance as to appropriate and educational sites. A portaportal is a great resource to use.
Provide guided searches rathen than open searches. Not only can open searches lead to inappropriate material, it also can be a large waste of time as students wade through material that is not relevant or that is intended for a different audience (college students rather than elementary students).
Internet Safety
- Comcast Presentation on Cyberbullying Good video on the problems on cyberbullying
- Common Sense Media Parent media education program with information and resources
- Cyber Criminals Most Wanted Cyber crime awareness, prevention, and safety
- Cyberethics for Teachers A lesson plan outline for elementary and middle school students
- CyberSmart! A free K-8 curriculum empowering students to use the Internet safely, responsibly, and effectively. Includes lesson plans, activities, and posters that you can print and use with your students
- Enough is Enough Internet Safety 101 provides information for parents to help keep their children safe online
- GetNetWise "Rules of the Road" for child safety online and some common-sense guidelines to avoid spam, malware, and protecting personal information.
- Hanover County's Internet Safety Great site with links to internet safety by grade level
- Iggy and Raser's Internet Safety Game Helps students age 3-7 learn to be safe on the internet
- iKeepSafe for Educators Activities and resources including presentations and training materials
- Internet Safety in the Elementary Years Links appropriate for each grade level following the HCPS scope and sequence
- iSafe Internet safety education site
- Joe Showker's Internet SafetyDel.icio.usl Lots of valuable links
- Keeping Kids Safe From PBS Frontline, view the video "Growing Up Online" along with good information and resources
- Naming in a Digital World: Creating a Safe Persona on the Internet In this lesson from Read/Write/Think students explore naming conventions in digital and non-digital settings then choose and explain specific names and profiles to represent themselves online
- NetSmartz Lesson, activities, and online resources
- Privacy Playground: The First Adventure of the Three Little CyberPigs Download a game designed for children ages 7–9. The three little CyberPigs go searching for an online club house. Their search leads them through a tangle of high-powered advertising and online marketing scams – plus a close encounter with a not-too-friendly wolf.
- MouseTrap: Protecting America's Children From Online Predators Important information for parents, teachers, and other adults to help protect children when they are using the Internet.
- Parent's Guide to Online Kids Provides statistics on internet use, describes various programs that kids may be using online, discusses risks, and offers tips on internet safety
- Password Checker Test the strength of your passwords
- Play It CyberSafe Seeks to empower children, parents and teachers to prevent cyber crime through knowledge of the law, their rights and how to avoid misuse of the Internet
- SafeKids.com and SafeTeens.com Lots of information, printable resources, online safety quiz, and more
- Safe Netting and Ethics from the Digital World - Ongoing journal that chronicles important issues about the emerging digital world. Editor: Joe Showker
- THMS Internet Safety Links Links for students, parents, and teachers
- Unit 10 Internet Safety Links to web resources and activities
- Web Wise Kids A non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring child internet safety by giving tips and advice to parents and children on how to protect themselves from online predators
Internet Safety Curriculum
Keeping Your Identity Safe
Shopping online is convenient, and it is safe as long as you use common sense and some simple precautions. Legitimate sites use measures such as encryption to safeguard your personal information. Stop by Safeshopping.org for information to help you shop smarter.
Phishing is a way of tricking you into giving out personal information. Those emails that you receive from a bank, Paypal, Ebay, etc. asking you to update your account information are just ways of gathering your personal information. DO NOT DO THIS. Even the annoying SPAM that you receive advertising Viagra and other drugs is more likely designed to collect information than sell you anything. The FDIC reports important information and tips on keeping your personal information safe in You can Fight Identity Theft
Spyware is becoming more and more prevalent. While some forms are benign and designed mainly to gather information for marketing, others are malicious and designed to gather personal information. Protect your yourself and your computer. Regularly run software designed to detect and remove spyware. Here are some free solutions that you can download.
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Site Created and Maintained by Karen Campbell, Instructional Technology Coordinator
Harrisonburg City Public Schools
Last updated
March 18, 2009