When I was a child, I was taught not to
accept candy from strangers and to be home by the time the street lights came
on. … …
When my boys were little, I reminded them
to always where a bike helmet, not to accept candy from strangers ….and to be
home by the time the street lights came on. … …
(okay...my warped sense of humour got the better of me.....)
Today, just because the street lights are
on in your neighbourhood, doesn’t mean they are on in the neighbourhood of the
friends that your child is playing with… …
In the ‘digital age’ there are many new
variables that we, as parents, need to familiarize ourselves with so that we
may teach our child the rules of safety that apply in their world.
On line safety and digital citizenship are the 21 century version of telling a child not to accept candy from a stranger. You cannot lock the child away so that they never meet anyone new, or shelter them from the ‘dangers of the internet’ by prohibiting the use of technology. It is important to expose your child to new things and facilitate safe experiences and learnings.
With technology becoming such a large part
of life in a classroom, it is the responsibility of educators to teach internet
safety and appropriate usage. Digital
citizenship is an extension of the social education and community building that
already exist in schools. It is
imperative however, that the principles and values of citizenship are demonstrated,
respected and reinforced outside of the ‘school’ as well. Students needs to practice digital
citizenship no matter where, when or how, they are accessing technology and the
internet.
There are a number of resources that can be
accessed by educators, parents and students to assist in instilling the
philosophies of positive digital citizenship.
Just like with any rules or restrictions, young people will question their
necessity and rebel against policies, so it is important to explain the ‘why’
as well as the ‘how’ when it comes to online safety and appropriate usage. Be aware that ‘banning for life’ is not a
reasonable consequence, and together with educators teach, value and respect
digital citizenship.
Digital Passport
·
A program that I, as an
educator, would like to further investigate as a possible resource for setting
up my program for next year.
Mind/Shift
·
One of my new resource hangouts
online. There are a number of
interesting posts concerning digital citizenship and internet safety.
An important thing to remember:
Parents sometimes say that today’s students are so far ahead in the
technological realm, that the older generations can turn to them for help,
writes education journalist John Merrow, author ofThe Influence of Teachers. He worries that this kind of thinking will resign adult
responsibility. “But being a ‘digital native’ is not the same as being a
‘digital citizen.’ Young people have always needed ethical guidance and the
security of rules and boundaries.”
Taken from Teaching Respect and
Responsibility — Even to Digital Natives
http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/05/teaching-respect-and-responsibility-even-to-digital-natives/
Acknowledging
that kids will find a way, banning doesn’t solve the problem, and the need for
facilitating proper and respectful conduct.
“Grab those
phones, the smartphones, see what apps your kids have. And there’s a lot of
iPhones that you can actually restrict them adding certain apps, or any app,”
Harris said.
But Devon Warner,
the parent of a 15-year-old in San Francisco, says she found restricting what
kids do online may not be the answer.
“I discovered
that the child knew how to get beyond [the restrictions],” Warner said. Her son
is transgender and has a mild form of Asperger’s.
