Karen Rainier

Course Module

July 18, 2009

Safety and Privacy Tips for Social Networking

Objective:

Students will create a list of safety and privacy tips for users of social networking sites. Students will explore various websites, both provided and self-selected, to gather information regarding the safety and privacy concerns related to social networking. After exploring several sites about social networking safety and privacy, students will prepare a list of at least ten tips promoting safe networking to be provided to a selected and targeted audience of their choice: parents, educators, or teens.

Introduction:

Do you have a Facebook account? Social networking sites like Facebook are becoming more popular and widely used every day. It is estimated that over 70% of teens are involved in some kind of social networking. Social networks can be amazing tools; members can connect with old friends, talk, share photos, instant message, and more. However, there are mounting concerns regarding privacy and safety when networking online. Here are some questions this assignment will address:

· Are you aware of the privacy issues that you face as an educator?

· Are you conscious of the current social networking safety issues that concern parents and teens?

· Are you familiar with the options you have to keep your personal information secure?

This assignment will give you an overview of how social networking works, how to reap the benefits of being involved in a social network while also staying safe and keeping personal information secure.

Activity:

You will be reading and viewing information regarding social networking on the websites below to create a list of at least ten comprehensive and specific tips on how to stay safe and protect privacy when using social networking sites.

Do you want to create a list for educators, whose goal would probably be to stay connected without overstepping ethical boundaries or giving students access to personal information, or do you want to create a list of tips for teens (or parents of teens) to help keep them safe and introduce privacy issues that can arise when networking online? You will need to choose an audience that your list will be geared toward.

Choose your audience and keep them in mind while viewing and/or reading the information presented in all of the following websites:

Social Networking in Plain English: video- A link to brief video explaining the basic concepts behind social networking.

http://teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=18050&title=Social_Networking_in_Plain_English

Youtube video: Social Networking- A link to another brief video with details about how social networking works and risks associated with networking online. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lMgzjVlwoI

ConnectSafely- ConnectSafely is a website that provides advice, articles, discussions, and information about social networking.

http://www.connectsafely.com/safety-tips-and-advice.html

Microsoft: Networking Safety- A top-ten networking safety list provided by Microsoft.

http://www.microsoft.com/protect/yourself/phishing/socialnet.mspx

SafeFamilies.org- An article on Safefamilies.org about social networking and how to stay safe when connecting with people online.

http://www.safefamilies.org/socialnetworking.php

WiredSafety Blog- A blog that provides basic safety tips for parents and kids on blogs, diary sites, and social networking.

http://www.wiredsafety.org/internet101/blogs.html

Facebook: About- the information page provided by the popular social networking site, facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/facebook?ref=pf#/facebook?v=wall&viewas=0&ref=pf

Myspace: Safety- the safety page of another popular social networking site, myspace.

http://www.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=cms.viewpage&placement=safety_pagehome

Specifications:

1. Your list should contain at least 10 well-written, detailed tips, each written as a strategy, that address the most current issues regarding social networking safety and privacy. Positive and negative outcomes of social networking should be addressed.

2. Your list should have a targeted audience which is clearly indicated and addressed appropriately; the tips included should be specific to the audience.

3. Your list should be reader-friendly and printable.

4. Tips should be formatted in a visually appealing manner. Clipart or graphics should be included as appropriate.

Submission:

Please attach the assignment in word document format and send via email to instructor. Remember to include the class name, as well as your last name and the name of the assignment, Social Networking Safety and Privacy Tips, in the subject line of the email.

Rubric for Assessment:

Components	Unacceptable: 0-2 points	Developing: 3-4 points	Accomplished: 5 points
Content	Single declarative statement with no reasoning or outcomes acknowledged or addressed.	Simple sentence stating a tip with incomplete reason.	Tips stated in the form of a strategy with a reason for suggestion. Positive and negative outcomes are addressed.
Required # of tips	6 or less tips submitted	7-9 tips submitted	10 or more tips submitted
Format	Not printable and does not include graphics/clipart, is not visually appealing.	Includes minimal graphics or is not printable.	Tips are visually appealing and include appropriate clipart or graphics.
Audience	Audience is not identified	Audience is vaguely identified but not addressed clearly with tips	Has a targeted audience which is clearly indicated and addressed appropriately; the tips provided are specific to the audience

ISTE Standards Addressed:

Teachers model Digital-Age Work and Learning

a. demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations

b. collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success

and innovation

d. model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information

resources to support research and learning

Teachers promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility

c. promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information