Contracts, netiquette, and passwords are some simple steps to help keep kids safe in cyberspace.
During the first week of school, many parents and students must sign a small contract on acceptable computer use in the classroom. Unfortunately, this contract often does not outline computer safety for kids.
Students have a great deal of exposure to computers inside and outside the classroom, but they may have a very limited amount of preparation to keep them safe from the unknown and unseen in cyberspace. World Wide Web is a great avenue for inappropriate behaviour because of the so-called anonymity.
Computer Contract
First, before parents sign a school contract in regards to acceptable use for school computers, there should be a short information session so that parents are aware of what the school deems acceptable use. As well, students should be involved in computer safety training that is age appropriate. Computer safety focus for primary grades is quite different than for intermediate students.
Contracts should be written in kid- and parent-friendly language. Many parents and students are unaware of the real dangers in cyberspace. Students who are informed of the dangers will be prepared to make the right choices while surfing the net for educational or entertainment purposes. As well, contracts should outline the consequences for inappropriate use.
Password Privacy
Many schools assign students a user name and password to allow them access to school approved programs and to the Internet for educational purposes. Often passwords are random and the user name is a part of the student's name. Purpose of the passwords is for teachers and administrators to monitor sites visited by students, and if there is an issue, to locate the user at the time of the indiscretion.
Passwords and user names should not be in a public space, as any student, teacher, or administrator could use the information. Passwords should be given to the individual students and a master copy kept by the teacher and located in a secure place. Often, teachers will have easily accessible passwords available to primary and junior students, but for intermediate and senior students there is more need for secrecy.
To ensure their privacy, it is best to teach students in the primary grades that passwords should be kept secret from friends. Primary students most likely would not be a part of cyberbullying, but that is becoming a big issue in junior, intermediate, and senior grades. If students are taught the importance of keeping their user names and passwords secret, it will reduce the stealing of user names by students who may be involved in unacceptable Internet use.
Netiquette
Students and adults are taught how to interact with one another via telephone, letters, and personal contact, but many schools have not introduced netiquette. Netiquette is a set of rules for behaving properly on the Internet -- in other words, manners for cyberspace. Manners are important in the home and classroom; why are they being ignored on the world wide web? The web connects people from all over the world, but with no faces. As a students make errors, there is no disapproving look or gentle guidance. Students have been left to trial and error on the Internet, but they are often not equipped with the skills to handle this alone.
Students need to be taught continuously how to communicate on the Internet. They need to be given gentle reminders that their interaction is with a real person with feelings similar to theirs. Sometimes it is difficult to think that they are communicating with a person, with the wild and unique user names found on the web. Even with the invention of emoticons, the sender is unaware of the receiver's reactions to the the messages.
Contracts, password privacy, and netiquette are just the beginning for keeping kids safe online. Parents are not always aware of the Internet dangers, and it is ideal for teachers and the school community to educate about this because of the vast impact on students. Internet has great advantages, but there must be rules, consequences, and guidance for it to be a useful tool in education.
