"Keeping Students Safe Online: What Works" By Tech & Learning, Gwen Solomon, Editor
Right away the first thing that stood out to me in this article was the emphasis on how instilling fear doesn't work to keep students safe online. I remember that this was the type of strategy that the teachers at my schools used growing up. It didn't work, I mean I've always been safe and responsible online but it wasn't because of the fear tactics. I think this was that I thought it was so straight forward, and just common sense. And for a lot of students I think that it can be they don't have any first hand experience with this, so it doesn't scare them when you talk about it. I think that Patricia Agatston has it right when she said, "kids are saturated with consequences, and what they need are more skills training, for example, resistance skills, self-management and social skills training." I agree that if we focus on teaching those skills it can help more then what we are doing now. Besides the fact that fear doesn't work, its not applicable. Once you tell them don't do something, what can they do with it? If you teach skills they can practice them and actually use them in their life.
Another part of the article that I think we need to emphasize more for students is that of privacy on the internet. That its vague and just because you think you have it, doesn't mean you do. I know I didn't take that seriously and thinking back, if I really understood what could happen to me and my career because of stuff online there is tons I would have done differently when I first had my myspace or facebook.
At the end of the article it also talks about how its not just internet safety anymore, but really there should be talks about cell phone safety. That sharing and "sexting" is something serious and not just something funny. I thought it was interesting that they said that students were surprised when they learned that the pictures they sent were shared with other people.
The last thing that was talked about that stood out to me was really talking to students about sharing work, ownership and copyright. Its so easy to accidentally use something not thinking that you are doing anything wrong when you could be. The real world consequences should be better explained to students when they start working on papers and working with the internet so they know that these issues are big deals and not something to take lightly.
Right away the first thing that stood out to me in this article was the emphasis on how instilling fear doesn't work to keep students safe online. I remember that this was the type of strategy that the teachers at my schools used growing up. It didn't work, I mean I've always been safe and responsible online but it wasn't because of the fear tactics. I think this was that I thought it was so straight forward, and just common sense. And for a lot of students I think that it can be they don't have any first hand experience with this, so it doesn't scare them when you talk about it. I think that Patricia Agatston has it right when she said, "kids are saturated with consequences, and what they need are more skills training, for example, resistance skills, self-management and social skills training." I agree that if we focus on teaching those skills it can help more then what we are doing now. Besides the fact that fear doesn't work, its not applicable. Once you tell them don't do something, what can they do with it? If you teach skills they can practice them and actually use them in their life.
Another part of the article that I think we need to emphasize more for students is that of privacy on the internet. That its vague and just because you think you have it, doesn't mean you do. I know I didn't take that seriously and thinking back, if I really understood what could happen to me and my career because of stuff online there is tons I would have done differently when I first had my myspace or facebook.
At the end of the article it also talks about how its not just internet safety anymore, but really there should be talks about cell phone safety. That sharing and "sexting" is something serious and not just something funny. I thought it was interesting that they said that students were surprised when they learned that the pictures they sent were shared with other people.
The last thing that was talked about that stood out to me was really talking to students about sharing work, ownership and copyright. Its so easy to accidentally use something not thinking that you are doing anything wrong when you could be. The real world consequences should be better explained to students when they start working on papers and working with the internet so they know that these issues are big deals and not something to take lightly.
Emma-
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. The first thing that I noticed about the article was that they talked about how fear doesn't work and that tactic is always taught to us as younger students. I was never scared of the internet but I've always been cautious just like you said. I think we would all rethink our MySpace choices if we could! I really like your writing style Emma. Great Job!
Katelynn
Great ideas about the importance of cell phone safety too. It's just as easy, maybe easier, to share something or say something or send something to 100 people at the same time. I feel like the worst thing is the ease of access with cell phones. Not everyone has 24/7 access to Facebook. But everyone who carries their cell phone in their pocket everywhere they go will always immediately see a mass text of a students nude picture. Phone safety is absolutely just as important.
ReplyDeleteI didn't even really think about the cell phone factor until I read your article and I totally agree. Cell phones are advancing faster and faster as we gain technology. Kids these days are getting cell phones as young as early elementary years because parents want to be in contact with their child. However, parents don't always know what else their kid is doing on that phone and it is important that we teach our students that what they do and say in person, over text, and over the internet has the potential of affecting them of the rest of their lives.
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