Technology+Report



= Security Issues = “What to look out for, what to advise parents about, and how to help students who may be experiencing problems online,” (Hitchcock, 2007) is a major concern for our district. Security is a great concern for us as educators. We as educators must be aware of types of internet security and safety measures that are available to our schools today. By being proactive and teaching our students, parents, and staff about safety preventative methods, this will help limit security risks. Cyber bulling is on a rise, nearly “42 percent of students have been bullied online.” (Based on a 2004 survey of 1,500 students conducted by i-SAFE) Cyber bullies can be harassing, hurtful and dangerous. This is a very serious issue and must be addressed immediately. We have to develop certain guidelines to set in place to deal with this issue, such a zero-tolerance policy in our schools. Also, “we have to deal with this issue as soon as possible when incidents are reported”, as stated by the author of the Cyberbullies, Online Predators, and What to Do About Them.” Other preventative measures that we can do are send messages out to parents, electronically and with pamphlets. I feel that we need to call the Kids/Teen Division of Working to Halt Online Abuse and ask them to host a video pod conference to address online safety to our faculty, staff, and students. Key preventative measures are when students are actively communicating on the Internet. Students exposing themselves to online predators are also a major concern. We need to inform our youngsters that posting personal data online and meeting people who they do not know is a grave mistake. By law we are required to install filters and firewalls on the district server according to the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). “A new law that congress is currently trying to adopt is Deleting Online Predators Act (DOPA); to block social networking sites,” (Abernathy, 2010). Lastly, another internet safety concern is teaching students to evaluate all sites for validity, appropriateness, unbiased, and truth. Ours students need to be aware that everything that is posted on the internet is not true. We have to teach them that the internet is a great resource however; anyone can post whatever they want on it. Teachers serving as role models are our greatest defense if we want students to develop these skills while online. In the article, “Internet Safety and Security: What Teachers Should Know,” states that it is the teachers job along with parents to teach responsible internet use. As a district, I feel that we are in compliance because we have in place our Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) which defines that internet/computer access as a privilege not a right. It tells our philosophy and mission statement when it comes to technology and also it list consequences when policy is not followed. District wide we have programs that monitor transmissions made to and from schools network. The firewalls that we have in place are to protect from potential viruses and free downloads of software. Protection for all students is our main concern and in doing so web publishing restrictions are also addressed in our AUP. Teachers need to be aware that they must obtain written permission from parents before they photograph or video record students for educational purposes. When posting student information on the internet they cannot use students’ full name. We can never be too cautious, so there are several great lessons that have been created to assist teachers in informing students of the grave dangers that lurk online. In the article, “Teaching Online Safety,” author Hallee Adelman suggested some great lessons that I have incorporated in my Internet Safety lessons. This article provides several resources that I feel all teachers at every level can use in their classroom. It is my finding that if we continue to inform students about cyber bullying, online predators, and to evaluate all finding on the internet for validity then we will cut down on the numbers of incidents and risk that are lurking in the dark. References Adelman, H. (2004). Teaching Online Safety. [Editorial]. //Voices From the Middle, 11 (3)//, 17-22. Retrieved October 26, 2010 from Lamar Library database. Hitchcock, J.A. (2007). Cyberbullies, Online Predators, and What to Do About Them. Multimedia & Internet@Schools, 13-15. Retrieved October 27, 2010, from Lamar Library database. Internet Safety and Security: What Teachers Need to Know. (2008). Retrieved October 27, 2010 from The McGraw-Hill Companies, Teaching Today: http://teachingtoday.glencoe.com/​howtoarticles/​ internet-safety-and-security-what-teachers-need-to-know. Joseph, Linda. (2007). Keeping Safe in Cyberspace. Multimedia & Internet@Schools, 17-20. Retrieved October 26, 2010, from Lamar Library database.