Children's Online Safety Web Resources
Online safety is an ongoing challenge for schools. There are many organizations that provide outstanding resources for school. Following are web site resources you can use as you develop your online safety education program.
SAFE-Net, a Cyber Safety Awareness program of the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, focuses on raising the awareness of students, parents, and educators about cyber threats, measures of protection, and cyber ethics. http://csa.3rox.net/. The site includes workshop materials, and classroom and parental materials for schools to use.
OnGuard Online is a resource sponsored by the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Homeland Security, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Commerce Department's Technology Administration and other non-profit organizations and technology companies to help online users protect themselves against Internet fraud, and to promote computer security and online personal privacy. Its website, www.onguardonline.gov, includes a video related to promoting online safety for children. In addition, they have just posted "Net Cetera: Chatting with Kids About Being Online" at http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/net-cetera.aspx, a a guide for parents with practical tips to help kids navigate the online world.
The National Cyber Security Alliance, a coalition of government, non-profit and industry organizations, offers a collection of resources to promote online safety and security on its website, www.staysafeonline.org. Its resources that are directed specifically at promoting online safety for children. The 2010 State of K-12 Cyberethics, Cybersafety and Cybersecurity Curriculum in the U.S. Survey, an extension of the 2008 National Cyberethics, Cybersafety, and Cybersecurity Baseline Study, is an effort to understand current online safety and security education attitudes and practices of U.S. teachers, administrators, and technology coordinators. .
NetSmartz is designed to provide educators and administrators information on how to use interactive materials in their classrooms, accumulate more information about Internet safety and technology, and take steps to bring their classrooms into the 21st century. http://www.netsmartz.org/
iKeepSafe educational resources teach children of all ages in a fun, age-appropriate way, the basic rules of Internet safety, ethics, and the healthy use of connected technologies provided by the Internet Keep Safe Coalition: http://www.ikeepsafe.org/
The Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use provides research and outreach services to address issues of the safe and responsible use of the Internet. We provide guidance to parents, educators, librarians, policy-makers, and others regarding effective strategies to assist young people in gaining the knowledge, skills, motivation, and self-control to use the Internet and other information technologies in a safe and responsible manner. http://csriu.org/
Computer Security Resource Collection gathered by Anyplace Control Software is a resource that provides information on topics of general computer security as well as online safety suggestions. http://www.anyplace-control.com/computer-security-resource-collection.html
CyberSmart is a free, K-8 online curriculum that was developed with support from Macmillan/McGraw Hill. The downloadable materials are organized around five themes-safety, manners, advertising, research and technology-to teach online safety and information literacy skills. See www.cybersmart.org.
Safety Clicks! is an initiative sponsored by America Online Inc. and the National School Boards Foundation to promote online safety. Its Web site, www.safetyclicks.com, includes interactive games and information for children, parents and educators, and a downloadable instant-messaging robot that can provide real-time responses to online safety questions.
"Get Net Wise." This Web site, created by the Internet Education Foundation, a coalition of education organizations, advocacy groups and Internet businesses, was designed to provide a safety resource for parents that was "one click away." It includes a useful guide to filtering software products as well as products that monitor children's online activities or that can set time limits on online sessions. Although most of the products are designed for single computers used at home, some of the products are identified as solutions for network servers. Available at www.getnetwise.org.
The Media Awareness Network is a project, sponsored by Canadian businesses and non-profit associations, designed to promote online safety and information literacy. It covers a wide variety of topics, including information literacy, Acceptable Use Policies, privacy issues, content management strategies and online marketing to children. Although the public policy information is from a Canadian perspective, much of the information could be useful for teachers and parents. The project's materials are available at www.webawareness.ca.
Safekids.com is a Web site created by Larry Magid, a syndicated columnist for the Los Angeles Times and a long-time advocate for child safety online. It can be accessed at www.safekids.com.
Net Family News is a nonprofit news service devoted to serving the needs of teachers and parents working with children online. It helps distribute the news of a consortium of organizations working in this area. Its Web site and newsletter can be accessed at www.netfamilynews.org.
International Bullying Association has produced a website, "Stop Bullying Now" which provides links that will lead you through an exploration of interventions that work to reduce bullying in schools. http://www.stopbullyingnow.com/
Childnet International is a non-profit organization, based in London, England, that works to promote online safety around the world. See www.childnet-int.org.