Safety

Communication Producers & Consumers

Students today are constantly soaking in information from radio, television, and the Internet and also from their iPods, cell phones, video games and other devices. Students are not only receiving this information but are also creating it. As Web 2.0 continues to grow, so does the emphasis on interactivity. The most popular devices and programs are those that allow the user to add, change, and create. This emphasis provides a great opportunity for educators to harness the intrinsic collaboration of Web 2.0 for learning purposes. However, students must be taught to be responsible producers and consumers of information. They must learn to produce accurate information in a responsible way and must also be discriminiating consumers; checking the validity and sources of information and finding corroborating material.

Keeping students safe on the Internet should be a top priority for all adults. Students are using technology everyday; from social networking sites and social gaming to downloading music, the Internet is an everyday aspect of a child’s life. In order to ensure their safety, students must learn how to be responsible Internet citizens. Students need to know:

Personal information should not be shared on the Internet
Internet bullying is not acceptable
How to react if threatened online by a bully
Copying is a crime, whether downloading music that is not paid for or copying homework
How to keep away from inappropriate information and pictures and what to do if it is inadvertently found