Web Safety Sites

I was a lifeguard growing up. It was a great summer job. I believe I was once good at it because I took it seriously and I was aware of my responsibilities and what I needed to do to keep those entrusted to me safe.

After visiting these four websites on Web safety, I realize that my "lifeguarding" skills have waned. I have been encouraging my students to swim around and explore the web. Until today I did not consider that they were swimming in uncharted territory, without every being given the skills to help themselves should the waters become dangerous. In considering and answering the following questions I will become a more vigilant lifeguard.

1. How will you educate your students on Web Safety?
2. What are two strategies you found useful from the reading?
3. What are some roadblocks you foresee in Web safety in regards to how your school's Internet is set up?
4. What do you think is most important in Web safety for children?

First, I will open the lines of communication and have an open dialouge with my students. It may include a survey to gather data about how, why and when students are using the Web. This conversation will extend into identifying safe means of using the Web. Then I will add to what students already know by including a list of kid friendly sites. I found the article by Debbie Richmond very helpful in comparing regular sites to kid friendly sites. The summary of kid friendly sites is one I will share with students and families. A key element in this conversation is that students understand that they should trust their feelings and talk about them while surfing. I will encourage my students to share the exciting, fun information they find as well as any information that may give them doubts or uncomfortable feelings. I will do my best to let them know that they will not be judged. That if they happen upon some information that is inappropriate that they should discuss it with me or another adult. They should talk about why it is not appropriate and move on to a site that gives more useful information. Finally, I will try to learn more about what filters are used on our campus and what we as a staff feel they are adequate.

It is impossible to provide student safety on the Web without parent education. The lines of communication must be open across the board. Teaching parents how to be Web lifeguards at home is critical. I hope to have students and parents participate in the 4Kids Surftificate program on the 4Kids.Org website is a start. Providing parents with information filters and how to install them at home. It is also important to introduce issues their children are potentially facing as they surf like internet/video bullying. Share with parents the CIPA and COPPA laws that specifically require protection that "blocks or filters" access of harmful images to minor. Websites are hit with loss of Efunding should they not be in compliance here.


There are two forseeable roadblocks with regards to how my school's internet is set up. First, is shared information. There is a gap between the Tech Department and the staff that trickles down and has an impact on the students. The Tech Department is understaffed and overworked. Their ability to share information with staff is at the bottom of the list of items they must complete. I strongly feel that educating our staff on what tools and safegaurds are in place with our internet system is important in order to make safeguards effective. Second, is overall willingness to explore and learn about the internet as a staff. Here again the trickle down impact exists. There is an extremely wide spectrum of knowledge held by members of our staff. This could be overcome by staff development led by teachers who are more knowlegeable in this area.

Most important aspects of Web safety for my kids are centered around three areas: engaging in open communication, providing kid friendly useful resources, and introducing the importance of good citizenship as it applies to the Web. As I mentioned earlier, the role of communication between students, parents and teachers is critical to keeping our students safe. However, it is important to provide an infrastructure for students to navigate the Web safely. This can be done in many ways, but giving students clear access to kid friendly websites is a good beginning. Finally, instilling a feeling of responsibility on how to treat their fellow Web users is critical. It is a learned behavior in many ways and necessary in a world where we want our kids to treat others as they would like to be treated. That Golden Rule applies, even in the World of the Web.

It is my responsibility to make sure that when that Rule isn't applied, I have been the most vigilant possible lifeguard for my students.