Digital Safety Plan
The internet is the most popular electronic media outlet that is constantly expanding rapidly. With all technology there is always pros and cons that reveal themselves. This being my first year of teaching I want to come in and establish a foundation of dos and don'ts for my students when it comes to the internet.
My first rule I want to embed is school property is for school purposes only. Its not time to check social media, send messages back an forth with friends or post pictures. We are here to learn. So we treat the property with respect and follow the lesson that is being taught.
Secondly I would teach them about never disclosing their personal information online. You will be surprised who can access your information and use it in ways to hurt you more than one. Never disclose addresses, phone numbers, family members names, etc.
If it feels wrong then most likely it is. You should stay on safe websites while on school property. Sites need to be limited to appropriate URLs. Only access websites that are bringing awareness to your education.
Also never use the internet as an outlet to cyberbully the next person. No matter if your the person doing the harm or the harm being done too. Always report to the teacher of any activity that is not appropriate or kind.
These are a few of many rules I plan to teach my students to becoming a positive digital citizen while overseeing their activity. The goal is to make sure every child is safe, respectful and taking the appropriate steps to learn.
Below is a poster I found helpful and something I would hang up to give my students more direction to follow by.
I agree with the guidelines you have set for your students. You will find out quickly that students will sometimes try to message each other during class time. At my school, for some reason, the technology department has not deactivated Google Hangouts so I have to constantly be on the lookout to ensure all students are engaged with my lesson and not wrapped up in a conversation online. It's kind of like the notes we used to pass in class, but in digital form I guess! :) It is also very important for students to understand that just because something is on the internet doesn't mean it is true. Teaching students reputable sources vs. unreliable sources is a skill that students must grasp in order to complete any assignment that requires research. Good luck to you next year- teaching is a very rewarding career!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your rules, which are very well explained. Like you, I believe it is very important to teach our students the ins and outs of Internet safety. In addition, it is important to instruct our students to be respectful and learn to protect themselves while surfing the Internet. I love your creativity, thanks for the idea. I am also going to borrow your creative activity post to put it in my next lesson plan. I have used something similar in my classroom rules and I have great results. Definitely, I believe that your students will have a great understanding when reading your instructions and expectations.
ReplyDeleteI think that your first rule is the most important. Students should just focus on school research or assignments. All your rules are concrete, I agree with them. I love you poster, I think the colorful and simple posters get the attention of the students. As educators we must help our students practice to respect and accept others to avoid bullying or any type of aggression towards others, your rules will help to practice it. Good luck on your first year!
ReplyDeleteInternet protection is so important. I am glad that you are encouraging your students to keep themselves safe while using technology. I agree that school property should only be used for school work, and although it's hard to enforce sometimes, emphasis on respecting school property is something students need to hear.
ReplyDelete