In today’s internet based society, the internet is often the number one resource that comes to mind when researching a topic. This is also true for today’s students. Not only do students use the internet for research but also class projects, social networking, e-mailing, etc… While the web provides us with a vast variety of information and tools, it also poses a threat to our students. These threats may vary from compromising students’ physical safety, identity theft, online predators, misinformation, commercialization, pornography, and other dangers. We must help our students/children to stay safe while using the internet as a positive tool. I have created some guidelines to follow below.
STUDENT GUIDE TO INTERNET SAFETY
Basic:
1.) ALWAYS ask for/have permission to be online
2.) Follow the established AUP
3.) Once something is put online it is there FOREVER
4.) Treat others with respect as you would face to face
5.) Use common sense – if you think it might be wrong, it probably is!
*For more information check out: livestrong.com or iVillage
Personal:
1.) NEVER share your username or password with anyone
2.) DO NOT pretend to be someone you are not
3.) DO NOT lie about your age
4.) DO NOT give out personal information (address, phone number, etc..)
*For more information check out: iSafe
Misinformation:
1.) Recognize educational websites vs. entertainment sites or editable sites.
Good: (.edu), school based sites, government based sites
Bad: Wikipedia, biased/opinion blogs, gossip (The Enquirer)
2.) Check multiple sources to support your claims
3.) ASK a teacher or parent/guardian if you are unsure about validity of content
*For more information check out: Better Read That Again or Validity on the Internet
Commercialization:
1.) Determine what an ad might look like and stay away from them
(Pop-ups, flashing windows, Includes words like: win, contest, enter, download)
2.) If it pops-up or asks you to download something – DO NOT open it
3.) If it asks your age/birth date to enter a page DO NOT continue
4.) If an ad says you’ve won something or something is free – it IS too good to be true, navigate away from the page
5.) If you are ever unsure about a pop-up or any form of ad ASK a teacher or parent/guardian
*For more information check out: Common Sense Media
Following these tips will certainly not end web-based crime, but by educating our youth we can certainly make it a safer environment.
JennieFinafrock: EDTECH Portfolio 
These are some great guidelines. Students need to be directly taught how to be responsible internet users. It is not something that can be glossed over. With that in mind, how would you teach students how to determine appropriate behavior? Often I have heard students say “I didn’t think it was wrong” because they have such a different world view and lack of experience. How would you ensure that student are safe and following these guidelines?
You have a very comprehensive and comprehensible list for guiding students to do what is right online. Many students have trouble differentiating between what is right and what is wrong, and this applies to an online setting too. Parents and teachers need to be diligent in assisting the students with understanding how to properly use the internet. In many cases, I feel like adults sometimes have the same issues that students do with differentiating what is real and what is not online. Your steps will help students (and adults!) in figuring out how to use the Internet safely,
I’m glad you put in the part about pop-ups and how the ones claiming you’ve won really ARE too good to be true. I used to fall for those, too. I thought you probably could have gone into the reasons why these are being aimed at users. The whole intersection of conflicting motives that occur online can be negotiated better when a viewer realizes what gains predators might be after. I agree with Cybil that many adults have trouble knowing what’s right or wrong too. Where do we think the students learn it?