Skip to main content

Digital Citizenship in the Elementary Classroom

By

Kids as young as age 2 are beginning to understand how computers work and how to find the activities that they like. It’s no wonder that those of us in the elementary classroom are finding that students are coming to us prepared to find Disney and Nickelodeon with no trouble. While this is a useful bit of knowledge to have, these same students have very little understanding of how vast the Internet truly is, and the implications of their actions online. It’s our job as educators to help them understand the “rules of the road” in order to help protect them.

As teachers, we are given the unique opportunity to provide students with dedicated instruction on how to stay safe online. The tricky part of teaching this topic is balancing teaching safety skills, while still making the content real for students. In elementary school this can be difficult. I encourage you to reach out to parents and let them know that you are going to explore the topic and offer them tips that they can use at home to support the new ideas.
A major component of teaching this information is finding strong tools to help you teach the content. One of the best tools that we have encountered recently was created by Common Sense Media (commonsensemedia.org) called Digital Passport (digitalpassport.org). Digital Passport is a tool that provides a set of 5 lessons that teach students about internet safety, mobile technologies, cyberbullying, internet search skills, and copyright. The games that are associated with each section are incredibly entertaining and educational. Digital Passport also offers lesson plans for teachers, and the ability to track student progress throughout the sessions. I recommend this for grades 3-5.

For younger students, I have found that Router’s Birthday Surprise (www.netsmartzkids.org/RoutersBirthdaySurprise/Adventure) by NetSmartzKids (www.Netsmartzkids.org) works incredibly well at conveying internet safety tips. This site approaches the subject matter through an interactive cartoon featuring Router. Each section focuses on a different tip, and has a quick form of assessment at the end. The songs and the method of presentation make this site very popular with students in grades K-2.

If you are finding that you are lacking the time to work with these tools, we highly recommend the Michigan Cyber Safety Initiative (bit.ly/micsi) offered by the Attorney General. The Attorney General representatives will come to your school and put on free presentations to students and parents on how to stay safe online. The tools that they offer are extremely valuable and make a lasting impact on students and parents.

If you question the need for time to be spent on this topic, ask your elementary students how many of them have Facebook accounts. Every hand that goes up is an opportunity for you to change their
lives and keep them safe.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Getting Started with 3D Printing: Part 1

By
By now, it is likely that you have seen or heard of the concept of 3D printing.  The easiest way to think of it is taking a 3D model off of the computer and turning it into a real life product.  3D printing is an additive manufacturing process so there is very little waste when you make objects. When you decide to get started yourself, it can be VERY overwhelming trying to figure out which 3D printer to buy and how to even begin.  In this series of blog posts, I intend to share some first hand tips on how to make that process easier and help you avoid some mistakes that I have made. Finding a Printer S eeMeCNC Rostock MAX v2 Congratulations, you have examined your educational goals and figured out that a 3D printer would be a good fit for you and your students!  Expect that you will need to have a budget of approx. $700 to $1000 to get started.  That would include the cost of the machine, and a spool of filament. Here at the RESA we have a RoStock MAX v2  ($1000 for the kit
162 comments
Read more

Student Technology Showcase Post

By Anonymous
Each year, student teams and their teachers from around the state participate in the  AT&T/MACUL/MVU Student Technology Showcase , an event held at the State of Michigan Capitol Building. This year’s Student Technology Showcase took place on December 7, representing  34 schools  across Michigan.  It was an opportunity for teachers and students to present to lawmakers classroom technology projects designed and created by students at all levels of K-12 education.   Through these demonstrations our lawmakers see the importance of technology integration into the classroom firsthand, hearing straight from students themselves.  The event was also a chance for teams to move about the rotunda of the Capitol to explore the work of teams from other districts.  These new connections helped students grow their digital literacy knowledge while discovering the possibilities of other technology integrations into school projects and curriculum. For most students, this was their first exp
152 comments
Read more

Tech Camp: Google Apps for Education 2015

By
Happy August! The world is picking up speed here at Berrien RESA!  We are rapidly preparing to host more than 100 educators for Tech Camp 2015.  This year we are focusing the camp on the Google Apps for Education suite.  With over 16 sessions being offered per day, there should be something for everyone! http://www.solutionwhere.com/berrienresa/cw/showcourse.asp?309 If you are interested in registering for Tech Camp , the registration deadline is August 12th! Get a jumpstart on your school year and come learn from some of the best and brightest from all around the state!
364 comments
Read more