The comments in this Voicethread are shared from my perspective as an elementary teacher. I look forward to any comments you may have!
The US Department of Education (2010) reports that teachers or their students used computers in the classroom during instructional time often (40 percent) or sometimes (29 percent). Internet use in schools is increasing as it becomes more involved as an educational tool. Teachers use the Internet for instructional purposes - showing videos on YouTube, searching facts via a Google search, etc. With blended learning, students are taking an active part in engagement content on the Internet. Due to this increase in student use of the Internet in an academic setting, we must make certain that student online safety is paramount. At the beginning of the school year, teachers must initiate the conversation with students about appropriate behaviors when using the internet. Students must be guided to understand how they can keep themselves safe when online and what can happen if safety is not practiced. After a class discussion, reviewing Internet safety rules and posting these rules with students, would be wise. With the guidance of the teacher, classrooms can create their own list of rules to follow when they are on the Internet. This type of collaboration would create ownership and would, perhaps, allow students to internalize these safety rules. NetSmartz Workshop has created a pledge for primary age students that includes four internet safety rules. This pledge can be used as a guide for teachers to spark discussion. Internet Safety Rules
Once the class has agreed upon the rules for internet safety, these rules should be posted in the classroom and referred throughout the year. In my classroom, we use these rules: Always:
Never:
Videos can also be used to reinforce the ways to keep students safe online. Parents must be involved in the discussion of internet safety as well. At Back to School Night, teachers should inform parents that their children will be learning and interacting on the internet. Teachers must share how they intend to keep students safe on the internet and give parents the school’s acceptable use policy with time allowed for discussion. Results of the class discussion about internet safety should be communicated to parents and posted on the class website. Parents must understand that these expectations should be reinforced at home. With today’s children accessing the internet through phones, gaming systems, tablets, smart televisions, and personal computers, it is imperative that parents reinforcement these rules to keep children safe online. Parents and teachers must form a partnership in keeping children safe online, no matter where a child may access the internet.
Resources for children: Safe Online Surfing - game created by the FBI The Internet Safety Game Netiquette Resources for Parents: Talk to Your KidsInternet Safety Video Kids and Computer Security How to Prevent and Stop Cyber-Bullying Tip Sheets for Internet Safety References: NetSmartz. (n.d.) Safety Pledges. Retrieved from http://www.netsmartz.org/Resources/Pledges U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2010). Teacher's use of educational technology in U.S. public schools: 2009 (NCES 2010-040). Retrieved from http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2010/2010040.pdf I interviewed five of my colleagues and created a video that shares their views on using videos in their classrooms. Because I wanted to hear opinions from teachers in different content areas, I chose one primary teacher, two intermediate teachers, a "specials" teacher, and an integrated services (special education) teacher. All of these teachers shared their relative advantages of video use in an elementary setting. They spoke of using videos to:
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