Child Safety on the Internet

Dr. Sheila Offman Gersh

City College of New York

sogcc@cunyvm.cuny.edu

http://www.schoollink.org/twin

(212)650-5792

Street Smart

Cities have wonderful resources

• Universities and Museums
• Tourist areas and shops
• Theaters
• Adult Places

No one has yet abandoned cities

Global Publishing

• Johannes Gutenberg’s Printing Press
• Television and Video
• Internet

Benefits of Using the Internet in the Classroom

• Projects
• Research
• Communications
• Publishing

Potential Dangers

• Exposure to pornographic materials
• Potential exposure to pedophiles or other sociopaths
• Harassment

Pornographic

•  Largely Web-based with a very strong Usenet presence
• E-mail Span
• Online-porn businesses average $250,000 in annual revenue
• Be cautious of text and video in addition to photographic images

Pedophiles

•    Do not allow Chat except for private dialogues with SME's
•   Teach students the Internet danger of chat rooms
•   Use only chat software that allows you to control who participates

Sociopaths

   Possible exposure to criminal ideas, persons, information, and cultures

•    Nazism, KKK, Drug culture
•    Bomb-making techniques
•    Terrorist groups
•    Militia recruitment
•    Cults
•    Software Piracy

Harassment

•   Can occur through chat, listserv & Usenet postings
•    E-mail accounts, especially among students

Other Real-Time Danger

   CU-SeeMe

•   Video teleconference is available inexpensively

   IRC

•    Internet has chat, not just online services

   ICQ

• Online contact software

Primary Solutions

•    Adult Supervision
•    Technological controls
•    Self-restraint

Adult Supervision

•    Nothing is more effective than an observant teacher
•    Ask parents to b observers at home also
•    Use classroom helpers
•    Place computers properly

Technological Controls

   Blocking software

•   Cyber Patrol - http://www.cyberpatrol.com
•    Surf Watch - http://www.surfwatch.com
•    Net Nanny - http://www.netnanny.com
•    Cybersitter - http://www.cybersitter.com
•    Cybersnoop - http://www.pearlsw.com

   Monitoring solutions

•         Cyber Snoop

   Content Management

•         AUP enforcement
•         Monitoring and Reporting
•         Content-sensitive filtering

Self Restraint

   Acceptable Use Policy

•  A legal document with an instructional opportunity designed to clarify user expectations, reduce inappropriate uses, and limit provider liability

Tips for Creating and Enforcing AUPs

•    Have teachers, students and parents in on the process from the start
•    All involved should sign the document
•    Keep parents informed
•    Guidelines need to be very clear - as do penalties for violation
• The person responsible for enforcing the policies should be designated and empowered
• Use English, not legalese
• Don't reinvent the wheel. Be aware of the AUPs that are available and working in other districts
• Make sure the AUP is flexible
• Post the AUP in a variety of places and be sure everyone is aware of it
• Consider putting the information in the student handbook
• The enforcement should be implemented consistently
• Having students do a lot of their Internet work in groups sometimes helps

Online Rules for Kids

• Do not give out personal information
• Tell the teacher at once if you encounter materials that makes you uncomfortable
• Never send anyone your picture online without parental permission
• Do not respond to messages that are mean or make you feel uncomfortable.
• Never agree to meet someone you meet online without parental permission
• Talk with your parents and teachers about how time to spend online
• Do not fill out forms on the Internet without parent/teacher permission
• Do not give out your password or let anyone use your e-mail account

Take Positive Steps

• Students should be given structured assignments when online -  a meaningful reason for using the Net
• Yahooligans, Searchopolis and/or Ask Mr. Jeeves  for kids should be primary search engines used by students
• Bookmarks should be created to guide students

Avoid problems with School/Teacher Web sites by

   Posting group photos without names

   Using only first names on stories and minimizing other personal information posted

   Eliminating photos entirely

   Providing information about the class as a whole rather than individual contributors

   Password protectin your web site

   Not posting things like "student of the month" on the Web site

   Looking at how other schools are successful posting on the Internet

Using Offline Materials

   Web Whacking

        Takes web sites off the web for structured viewing without Net hassles

•     Web Whacker - http://www.bluesquirrel.com
•    Web Buddy - http://www.dataviz.com/webbuddy

      CD Clubs

        Off-line Web sites with lessons and activities

Sites of Interest

•    Safe kids - http://www.safekids.com
•     Internet Safety Book - http://www.surfsafety.com
•    AUP Developmemt - http://www.erehwon.com/k12aup
•    South Regional Education Board on AUPs - http://www.sreb.org/Programs/ETCoop/edtech.html
•  
•    Child Safety on the Internet -- http://www.ask.wednet.edu/EagleCreek/Barnard/ChinetSa.html
•      Safety First - http://www.oceancountygov.com/safety/default.hm
•     Elementary School - http://create.familyeducation.com/home
•    Child Safety - http://www.on.rogers.wave.ca/HelfSafeChild.html
•     ALA's Parent's Guide to Cyberspace - http://www.ala.org/parentspage
•     Safe site for kids - http://zeeks.com
• Meeting Responsibilities As Users and Creators - http://www.benton.org/Library/KickStart/kick.meeting.html

QUESTIONS???

THANK YOU - FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT ME AT sogcc@cunyvm.cuny.edu