Online Safety in Schools

Goal:

1. The student will research some of the online threats posed to students working online in schools.

2. The student will understand the role of filters in schools and why they are used.

Introduction:

The Internet is a huge resource and provides students and teachers with learning opportunities at just one click. But with this wealth of information also comes danger. There are people and information to fear exposing children to – something that filters can help to prevent children from stumbling across. In this activity you will read about some of the dangers surrounding children in this online world.

Activity:

Visit these sites on dangers online and keep a running list of the threats that are mentioned in the articles:

Dangers Children Face Online This is a dateline report on child sex predators. Here, reporters have set up a situation where they will catch predators in the act of trying to solicit sex from minors.

Internet Dangers for Children This is an article which addresses threats posed by chatting online. This article describes how a police officer, posing as a child, was able to locate and educate a 14 year old girl about giving out personal information online.

Internet Safety This article describes various internet dangers and ways to prevent them from becoming a danger with your children. Everything from chatting online in groups, Iming and search tools are addressed.

Now read about filters. Learn about what they are and how filters can help to prevent these situations from occurring in homes and in schools.

How Filters Work This site describes how filters are set up and how they are able to block unwanted sites.

History of Internet Filters and the Library This article explains how filters have become widely used in public libraries as a means to protect children from inappropriate sites.

Do Web Filters Protect Your Child? This article states a growing concern, backed by the U.S. Department of Justice that Internet filters may not be enough to protect children.

Assignment:

When you have finished reading about Internet safety and how filters can protect children. Read the ALA’s stance on Internet filters at: . What do you think about this? What is your personal stance? Write a 200 word response stating your view on the use of Internet filters. Be sure to mention specific aspects of the filters that you agree with or think should not be implemented in the safety of children.

Submission:

When you have finished writing your response, post it to the discussion board thread titled, “Internet Filters.” Then, email your instructor informing her that you have completed the assignment.

Grading Rubric:

	Unacceptable	Developing	Accomplished
States stance	States a stance in favor of both using and not using filters.	States specific stance whether in favor or not of using filters.	Gives a specific stance with reasoning about why that stance was chosen.
References readings	Does not provide references to the readings provided in the activity.	States information found in 1-2 articles read online in the activities	States or demonstrates that knowledge from three or more sites were used in the creation of the stance.
Provides reasoning for position	No to little reason is given for choosing a particular stance.	Reasoning is provided but lacks specific support to back up those reasons.	Reasoning is provided and is supported with evidence from readings.