I’ve been using blogs and a website in the classroom for a couple of years now and thought it high time I started tracking what I’m learning through this.
Tonight the issue of online security is foremost on my mind. I want to support my students in being literate online, and I believe this means actually letting them work online. However, there is some nervous reaction to this; some students, parents, and colleagues wonder whether or not it is safe.
Making the wired environment a safe one for teens should always be a priority in any classroom, but I don’t think that keeping students in a bubble is the best way to keep them safe. It’s a bit like driving — even though it’s dangerous when you look at the accident statistics, the accepted solution has been to educate teens in how to drive safely. Preventing teens from driving hasn’t really been an option. So with online work in the classroom. Educating them on protecting identity, citing reliable sources, and avoiding all cyberbullying gives them tools to thrive and survive in their future.
We fail our kids with denied access. Let’s cruise the information highway safely … using traffic signals and safety belts.
