What Parents Should Know About Digital Citizenship

I chose to discuss these four things for a couple reasons.  First, I think they are all important for parents to know.  Second, I remember when I first started using technology and social networking sites and my mom was a little concerned.  At the time, she wasn't too great with technology herself because she hadn't grown up with it like I did.  I honestly had information available to everyone that I shouldn't have and I think it's important that parents monitor their kids for this reason. In my classroom I will teach about digital citizenship by telling personal stories, as well as giving parents things to read about the cyber world. I also think it's important that the parents get hands on experience so I hope to have them mess around on some sites that they use regularly.  This will help them know how to set privacy settings and know how to check when they ask their kids if their privacy settings are set. I think most parents understand that not everyone on the internet is who they say they are.  With that said, I will let them know how friends of friends can still see their child's information.  It is especially important to watch what you are posting, even as adults, if you have for example, a boss as a friend on your site.

As far as resources, I think the best resource is getting them logged onto sites and experience it themselves.  I would also have handouts of articles and videos for them to watch. I would probably send a paper home explaining what we will be doing on the internet in the classroom and have the parents sign a waiver to make sure it is okay.  After all, this is to learn more about digital citizenship.  The students may in fact be able to teach their parents a little bit about it.

I would deal with cyber bullying by making sure my students know they can talk to me about it.  They need to know that it is important that they tell someone what is going on.  I will also let them know that they can talk to their parents, as long as it is someone they know they can trust.  As far as preventative measures, I would tell the student that if it is happening through a chat online, to just sign off. The bully can't hurt them much when you're not available to talk to.