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
- I will tell my trusted adult if anything makes me feel sad, scared, or confused.
- I will ask my trusted adult before sharing information like my name, address, and phone number.
- I won't meet face-to-face with anyone from the Internet.
- I will always use good netiquette and not be rude or mean online.
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:
- Keep your personal information private
Never:
- Respond to anyone that is rude.
- Agree to meet someone you met online.
- Give out your personal information.
Videos can also be used to reinforce the ways to keep students safe online.
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