Introducing School-Wide Digital Citizenship Practices with iPads. An elementary school in our district recently got 30 iPads and asked for some advice implementing them with students and teachers. In addition to suggesting some starter apps, I recommended that we have conversations with kids around the appropriate use of these devices. While almost every child has used an iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone, the exciting learning opportunities these mobile, Internet-connected, media creation devices create also open the door to new challenges. Cyberbullying or inappropriate web publishing happens more through the camera than regular computer use does; the mobility of the device combined with the reality that multiple users are using the device with no personalized, password-protected, network-tracked accounts makes it more challenging to keep track of who is doing what with the device or that the device itself is safe.
Rather than tell the students how they should and should not use iPads, I felt compelled to involve the students in the conversation. World’s simplest online safety policy. Editor's note: Tom Whitby and I co-wrote and cross posted this piece. Check the comments on his blog and in Diigo here. If you like this post, you might also be interested in The World's Simplest Social Media Policy When it comes to upgrading education to the 21st Century, those who are less supportive of change, often hide behind, or are frightened of acronyms like FERPA, CIPA, COPPA.
This is sometimes done intentionally for convenience, or unwittingly out of ignorance. Of course in a litigious society such as ours has become, law suits are foremost in the minds of administrators. Students can access websites that do not contain or that filter mature content. HowNotify parents/guardians that their child’s work, likeness, name will be shared across the year, and let them know the procedure for opting out.
Why Not Ban? Never before in history have kids had the ability to create and publish so much content, so easily. What about Safety? Why I Let My Kids Have an Internet Presence. Eva and Ian using the computer Eva bought with income from her book sales. Those sales have in part been made possible by her website. Education and technology – it seems everywhere I look folks are talking about it. Should we do more, less? What about virtual schools? Interactive white boards? The way I see it, there is risk in everything we do. So yes, I let my kids have a presence on the internet – first and last name and everything.
The kids’ online presence serves as an important element for this type of motivation. It Enhances Sense of Identity and Purpose Over the past two years, Eva has come to see herself as an author. It Connects Us with People from Around the World and Creates New Opportunities Through social media, our family has been able to connect with some pretty amazing folks – people we would have never had the opportunity to meet otherwise. We’ve also “met” dozens of writers both young and old, teachers, principals, musicians, home educators, parents, kids. 29 Steps to Internet Safety for Kids. Re:Born Digital, in Video: Identities.