Importance of Internet Safety
The 21st century is the dawn of the digital age, the world being interconnected through a digital medium has accelerated the amount of information an individual person can access, but with this increase in access comes an increase in danger. Students may be savvy in accessing content in comparison to their adult counterparts but are typically unaware of the dangers inherent to the content they have just accessed. For teenagers the most prevalent danger in internet use is the danger of a website's accuracy in information. Teenagers are often saddled with numerous assignments and projects which require them to do independent research, and often teenagers do this research on their computer by searching the internet, unfortunately most teenagers are unaware of how to evaluate the information as being valid and accurate which poses a problem on how well they are learning. Here are five characteristics you should look for when evaluating the validity of a website: •1)Accuracy - page lists author/institution of publisher •2)Authority - page includes author credentials and domain is preferred (.edu, .gov, .org, or .net) •3)Objectivity - page provides accurate information with limited advertising and is objective 4)Currency - page is current/updated regularly; links are also up-to-date •5)Coverage - you can view information properly; access is not limited to fees, software, or browse. Not all websites will fulfill every characteristic listed above but a website should at least have most of the characteristics before being considered as a source.
Often my class will engage in online activities which require the class to use computers in school either in a computer lab or library; this has been a situation where students often feel tempted to go off task and further expose themselves to the dangers of the internet. Rest assured on assignments which require in-class computer time I have developed a clear procedure which ensures that students stay completely on task by providing clear directions and modeling of how tasks are to be completed, a time frame for each task to be completed, providing the tools and links necessary in a clear organized manner for easy access, and finally a set of rules which will be firmly enforced by my constant monitoring. Under this procedure students will be able to function effectively and safely during in-class online activities.
Often my class will engage in online activities which require the class to use computers in school either in a computer lab or library; this has been a situation where students often feel tempted to go off task and further expose themselves to the dangers of the internet. Rest assured on assignments which require in-class computer time I have developed a clear procedure which ensures that students stay completely on task by providing clear directions and modeling of how tasks are to be completed, a time frame for each task to be completed, providing the tools and links necessary in a clear organized manner for easy access, and finally a set of rules which will be firmly enforced by my constant monitoring. Under this procedure students will be able to function effectively and safely during in-class online activities.
More info about internet use.
1) A Thin Line: a online education resource developed by MTV and other organizations for the purpose of the site is to educate teenagers and young adults about the possible repercussions of their digital activities. the website emphasizes on issues such as digital disrespect, sexting and spying. the website provides a blog aspect to post your experiences with such a topic or to see others experiences.
2) Secure Websites by Common Craft: a quick and easily understood video of how to understand if you are on a secure website. 3) UC Berkeley Library- Finding Information on the Internet: A Tutorial: This is a website sponsored by UC Berkeley Library to help students understand how to evaluate web-based resources. |