Online safety continues to be an issue both for educators and for parents.  Matthew J. Bowerman had an interesting article in the Fall 2011 New Teacher Advocate titled "Online means all the time".  "Being online also means increased opportunities for cyberworld dangers, such as cyberbullying."  Cyberspace is still relatively unsupervised.  According to a study cited by Bowerman, 93% of children ages 12-18 are online with 32% of those being harassed in some way.  26% are also victims via cell phones.  So what can schools and teachers do?

According to Bowerman, being safe doesn't mean blocking out or locking down all technology.  A better option would be to teach students how to be informed online community members and to be more aware of what students are doing and how they are using their computers and cell phones in the classroom.  If teachers and staff become more informed, then they can help parents become more aware and educated.  "Teachers can - and must - navigate students toward safe and positive computer and technology usage!"

Ask yourself these questions:

• Do you know where your students are when they are online?  In school and at home?

• Do you know who your students are talking to online and what they are doing?

• Do you know what you can do to help them (and yourself)?

Here are some ideas:

• Block known inappropriate sites - be aware, though, that usually by the time a block is established, a student somewhere has already created a way to evade it)

• Translate acronyms and icons - familiarize yourself with LMIRL, POTS, TDTM, PRW, TIR, ASL

• Be observable - keep computers in open areas where you can monitor the screens

• Monitor history - check the Internet history of browsers used by students periodically

• Get alerts - fix your browser to show, or consider having messages e-mailed about, potentially dangerous online behavior

• Learn about online safety and its risks - be aware of resources

• Educate students on the acceptable use policy

• Create a class contract regarding how students are to treat the computers and one another while using them in your classroom

• Practice what you preach!  Maintain appropriate and professional online behavior yourself (think about what you have posted - pictures, persons who are your "friend", affiliations with groups, etc.)

Next week I will share some information about "computeritis" and how instant connections with others can be both an asset and a hindrance.  Thanks to the Kappa Delta Pi, an international honor society in education, for their New Teacher Advocate publication!  It is always full of wonderful and inspiring information.