Schools across America are now requiring students to take mandatory computer classes in Internet safety and etiquette with a particular effort on cyber-bullying. Back in the good old days students would be expected to regulate themselves with little parental oversight. I remember trolling through "free" Internet porn at my friends house but now with almost 41% of children 8 and under with smartphones these classes have become necessary.
The article equates giving children internet safety classes to driving lessons for a teenager. I would like to believe that using the internet is not as dangerous as giving a 16 year old the keys to daddy's car but there is no question that misuse of the internet can be particularly dangerous.
Recently, cyber-bullying has made national headlines as it has led several children to commit suicide. Teaching proper internet use and accountability is important.
From an educator's perspective teaching about plagarism and copyright laws is also a valuable lesson for children. Today's generation (what the BBC labeled "homo interneticus") blurs the line when it comes to ownership as they can simply copy and paste articles from the internet.
I think we still have a lot to learn in teaching about proper responsibility when it comes to using the internet. Websites like http://creativecommons.org/ are helping redefine ownership and a step in the right direction. In the end it will take a concerned effort by both educators, parents and children alike to make the internet a safer place.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/story/2011-11-30/internet-schools-safety-cyberbully/51509474/1
internet safety class sounds interesting and useful for teenegars. I believe that it provides them with the strategies, skills and mindset needed to protect themselves, their computers and their privacy when they connect with the Internet.
ReplyDeleteInternet can be both harmful and useful depending on the users. that is why parents should learn more about internet safety to protect their children.
It is nice to see that there is a internet safety course running in america, I wish this lesson will be given everywhere on the world, not only in America.