Module 12: Internet Safety (LSSL 5391)

Module 12

Internet Safety

How can you be sure you're students are really safe? 

            Funny enough, Tara and I had already completed an infographic over copyright and fair use in a previous module (check the blog post about infographics!). So, as our last group project, we had to reach out to Dr. Gross and figure out what to do. This time around, we decided on internet safety, a lesson geared towards students, but something that all adults should be aware of in the back of their minds.

            Below is the infographic we made for copyright and fair use. We used Canva for both infographics and were very pleased with the outcome. This topic in conjunction with internet safety is a great way to start a school year with your students! Once the basics are taught and understood, it will be easier for you to go through the year without having to stop and individually point out any issues.

            Out of all of the online programs we have been introduced to during this class, the infographics were our favorite. Not only are they colorful, fun, and inviting... they host a plethora of information in a small space. We decided to use Canva, a free online application, to create our infographic on.

Canva Perks

• Free of charge (unless you want to upgrade)
• Free thirty day trial of upgraded version
• You can register with Google, Facebook, or create an account with your email and a password
• Able to design presentations, projects, make social media graphics, and more
• Thousands of layouts
• Millions of images of stock photographs, vectors, and illustrations
• You can load your own images
• Ability to filter photos (more choices with the upgraded version)
• Icons, shapes, and elements can be added to your design
• Hundreds of fonts

Johnson's 3 P's of Technology Ethics

Privacy

protect your privacy

protect & respect the privacy of others

Property

protect your property

respect others' property

a(P)propriate Use

use technology in constructive ways

use technology in ways that do not break the rules 

Additional Teaching Points

Check out this fun blog with the 10 Commandments of Computer Ethics.

Guidelines to ponder while creating a lesson over computer ethics.

Show real world examples and/or give your older students a more in-depth look.

Think About It

What can you do to help students stay safe?

• Students may not understand the term "self-worth" yet, but they do need to understand that along with their own personal values.
• Articulate ethical online conduct wjo;e setting clear limits on what is and what is not allowed.
• Inform students on the acceptable use policy (AUP) at their campus/district. Discuss why the school district/campus does what it does and why (parental signatures for photographs, etc. on the web).
• Explain how posting your full name, location, phone numbers, etc. can be dangerous. Discuss the enabling of  location services on most cell phones and applications nowadays and how it can be dangerous to post where you are.
• Discuss specific, clear, but few guidelines to help students remember. Don't go into lengthy documents and wordy rules; students need to know the basics and the other information should come natural or through real world inferences. 
• Always model ethical behaviors when discussing or explaining the topic. Give students real world examples of how you practice internet safety.
• Always encourage student discussion! Mistakes happen, but we need to be able to talk about them and how to prevent them in the future!
• Because most campus computers already have filters embedded within them, allow students to use the computer for personal reasons that do not necessarily encompass a curriculum based topic. If students know what to do and choose to make proper decisions, they should be less likely to go to sites that are inappropriate and dangerous in the school and home setting.
• If mistakes occur, react accordingly to the problem, expressing your concern without blaming. Let students understand from the get go that consequences can occur, and, if an issue does arise, be sure to follow through with that consequence. 
• Educate your educators so that they can back you up!

Beginning the school year off with internet safety and how to be a good digital citizen is crucial. Students are huge consumers of technology whether we agree with it or not, therefore, it is our responsibility to teach them how to be safe and respectful online. Since the beginning of the year is crazy and busy for all, we came up with this bookmark that can be shared with campus teachers at the beginning of the year along with some additional resources, which we linked below. The teachers can then cover internet safety and digital citizenship within their classrooms and give the students the bookmarks as reminders.

            With all that said and done, check out our new infographic over internet safety. The best part about this? You can easily make your own (or borrow ours with proper credit!) and create bookmarks for students and educators alike.

References:

Cornell Tech (November 18, 2016). The 4 ps of health tech. Retreived from https://tech.cornell.edu/news/the-4-ps-of-health-tech/

Information Security Education and Awareness (2016). Internet ethics and rules. Retrieved from http://www.infosecawareness.in/internet-ethics-and-rulesfamily

Johnson, Doug (December 26, 2010). The blue skunk: A dozen ways to teach ethical and safe technology use [blog]. Retreived from http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2012/8/31/three-sets-of-computer-ethics.html

Johnson, Doug (August 31, 2012). The blue skunk: Three sets of computer ethics [blog]. Retreived from http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2010/12/26/a-dozen-ways-to-teach-ethical-and-safe-technology-use.html

Mostak, K. & Hoq, G. (2012). Information ethics and its implications for library and information professionals: A contemporary analysis. Philosophy and Progress, LI-LII, 38-48.

This blog post brought to you in partnership with Tara Hargrove⤵⤵

Visit her blog at www.themrshargrove.com