Connie Lippenholz

LS521, Su02

7/17/02

Safety (Misc.)

Staying Safe Online

Introduction:

Many people don't realize the dangers to students lurking in today's technology... strangers and sexual predators seeking relationships and information online, access to pornographic materials, illegal hacking and software piracy, internet addiction, etc. So how can you help your students stay safe while surfing the web?

Safety Agreement:

Have your students take this Safety Agreement for Acceptable Use home with a letter to their parents. Agreement<http://wwwfac.mcdaniel.edu/slm/student/lippenholzc/sftyagrm.htm>, Letter<http://wwwfac.mcdaniel.edu/slm/student/lippenholz/prntltr.htm>

Safety Checklist:

When the students return the signed agreement, provide them with a copy of this checklist. <http://wwwfac.mcdaniel.edu/slm/student/lippenholz/chklist.htm>

Things You Can Do To Ensure Safe Students Online:

• Only take your students online with a clear, detailed lesson plan, including pre-screened sites and activities.
• Monitor where your students are at all times, and how long they have been online.
• Limit chat room usage to "with permission only" (see Agreement). Only grant permission after ensuring that the chat room is moderated, and run by a reputable company.
• Keep the classroom computer in an area where it is easy to monitor what the students are doing.
• Monitor/limit usage of personal email in the classroom or lab.
• View the History file regularly (it's part of your Browser), to see what sites your kids have visited, and how often.
• Be familiar with your school system's filtering policy and software.

Resources:

Guide to Child Safety Online <http://www.symantec.com/securitycheck/childsafety.html>

Project Plus' Acceptable Use Policy <http://www.ess.pdx.edu/ets/Resources/AUP.HTM>

Safetyed.org Acceptable Use Policy <http://www.safetyed.org/help/teachagree.html>

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