> Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:37:53 -0400
> From: Jennifer Newton <NewtonJ@MCDUFFIE.K12.GA.US>
> Subject: TECH: Internet Safety Guidelines Presentation
>
> Has anyone prepared presentations for all grade levels concerning Internet =
> Safety? If so, would you mind sharing them? I'd like to see what others =
> have included especially at the lower grade levels. I've been given the =
> charge to prepare these (K-3; 4-7; and 8-12) for my school system and my =
> background is HS.
>
> Thanks for your help!
>
> Jennifer
>
> Jennifer Newton, Ed.S.
> Media Specialist/Instructional Technology Specialist
I have some words of guidance on this. Yeah, ok, you probably figured this
to be the case. ;) This is going to be a bit extensive. And this is just my
thoughts right now. I am working with a multidisciplinary group to create
some more comprehensive recommendations for schools.
First of all, I am pleased that your district was wise enough to ask a
librarian to coordinate this. The new requirement for schools to teach
Internet safety is coming into schools associated with the Erate. I am
concerned that this may result with ed techies making these decisions. Ed
techies can range in their understanding of the human dimensions of these
issues. These folks absolutely need to be involved - as part of a
collaborative effort. I like librarians in leadership.
But the other professionals who absolutely MUST be involved are your
counselors and health education teachers. The most significant areas of risk
online are associated with youth risky behavior in areas of aggression,
risky sexual and relationship issues, and unsafe online groups. I was told a
very sad story by an ed tech teacher who was teaching a lesson on online
predation to middle school students. The discussion quickly turned to the
issue of rape. And the ed tech teacher told me she was totally unprepared to
discuss this issue with students. Well, duh!
The other thing that is really important to recognize is that whatever you
decide to do for this year is ONLY THE START. With the current level of
curriculum resources and professional development, all that schools can be
expected to do at this time is begin to address these issues. What we really
need are comprehensive instructional objectives for the range of issues -
digital media safety and literacy and sufficient professional development to
ensure the integration of these issues within 21st Century curriculum. And
you simply are NOT going to be able to accomplish this objective this year.
The other thing you need to know is that we are undergoing a major change in
understandings about the actual risks online. Any curriculum developed
before last year is likely grounded in an inaccurate understanding of the
risks. The instructional options will be greatly expanding over the next
several years.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE be very careful in relying on law enforcement or any
organization whose curriculum has been developed with law enforcement
funding. There are some good quality law officers in this country who are
not into fear-mongering. But recognize that the old DARE approach was
totally ineffective - when the officers did understand drug abuse and were
warning against something harmful. If you get law officers in front of
students who do not understand the digital culture, who present fear-based
statements and simplistic "just say 'no'" rules against normative online
behavior that is not inherently risky, this will make things worse because
students will learn only one thing: "We can't trust adults."
So my recommendations (and more on this will be forthcoming):
1. It would be my hope that every librarian in this country will "stand up"
and say to your administrators, "I will assume responsibility for this."
Why? Because you are the savviest folks in schools with respect to the
underlying media literacy issues and can be trusted to have the necessary
insight to do this correctly - especially with the help we are going to
provide. (And this will help to ensure that librarians assume the
appropriate preeminent role in addressing these issues as we move forward.)
2. Advise your administrators that you understand from authorities in the
field (said will all due humility ;) and knowing that there will soon be
guidance issued by a larger group of authorities) that these are issues that
cannot be effectively addressed simply with a new presentation for students.
We have to focus on integration.
3. Encourage the establishment of a new "team" at the district level that
will include librarians, counselors, health education teachers, and
educational technology professionals. The objective of this team over the
next year will be to develop instructional objectives including scope and
sequence, identify instructional assignments tied to underlying professional
expertise, and establish plans for professional development.
4. For instruction in this next school year there are several options. I
really like the CyberSmart curriculum. This is appropriate for K-8. I am
working very hard to get some professional development materials completed
for educators. This will be a 2 hour narrated slides presentation. This will
qualify for Continuing Education hours if you purchase separately - and you
district ought to be able to get local hours. I am also working on a 45
minute narrated slides presentation for middle/high school students - and a
presentation for parents, each with 6 page reproducible handouts. (I am
trying to simplify this for 4-5th grade students I generally write for
adults and getting my language down to 9 YOs is a challenge ;)). I do not
think presentations like this will work for younger students. Actually, I am
not strongly in favor of such presentations and think in the longer term
that educating teachers so they can effectively address these issues in a
manner that is integrated will be better. But I know you need something now.
My presentation materials recommend that wise teachers set up situations
where the students are educating each other - with the teachers as "guides
by the side."
As I have said, I am working with a new multidisciplinary collaborative. We
are calling ourselves the Digital Media Safety and Literacy Coalition. Our
draft mission statement is: The mission of the Digital Media Safety and
Literacy Coalition is to provide guidance to policy-makers, educators,
mental health professionals, and others on effective strategies to empower
young people with the knowledge, resiliency, and values to protect
themselves, respect others, and make effective use of interactive
communication technologies to benefit themselves, others, and our global
society.
Our first high priority project is to provide guidance to schools on how to
more effectively mobilize to address these issues - in a manner that
incorporates research insight into the risks and effective risk prevention
and moves forward proactively and positively. So more soon to come.
All best,
Nancy
--
Nancy Willard, M.S., J.D.
Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use
http://csriu.org
http://cyberbully.org
http://cyber-safe-kids.com
http://csriu.wordpress.com
nwillard@csriu.org
Cyberbullying and Cyberthreats: Responding to the Challenge of Online Social
Aggression, Threats, and Distress (Research Press)
Cyber-Safe Kids, Cyber-Savvy Teens: Helping Young People Learn to Use the
Internet Safely and Responsibly (Jossey-Bass)
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