Internet Safety Education in the classroom
Throughout Polk County Schools students are being taught Internet Safety Curriculum in the classroom. For the 2011-2012 school year, all 2nd, 5th, 7th, and 9th Graders must be taught and the online assessment must be individually completed. Teachers are using a variety of resources to accomplish this, some of those resources include videos, handouts, online games, and other materials. Brochures are also being sent home and some schools are holding parent's night to present this information.
There are seven main objectives that this curriculum covers:
- Students will demonstrate safe and responsible use of social networking, web sites, chat rooms, electronic mail, bulletin boards, instant messaging, and texting on cell phones.
- Students will recognize, avoid, and report online solicitations by sexual predators.
- Students will recognize and avoid the risks of transmitting personal information on the Internet.
- Students will recognize and avoid unsolicited or deceptive online communication.
- Students will recognize and report online harassment and cyber bullying.
- Students will understand the procedures for reporting illegal online activities and communications.
- Students will understand copyright laws on written materials, photographs, music and video.
Below is a selection of some of the resources teachers are using.
Kindergarten - 2nd Grade
3rd Grade - 5th Grade
6th Grade - 8th Grade
9th Grade - 12th Grade
Resources
- iSafe (Internet Safety Education)
- ikeepsafe.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.
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Kids page - Here you'll find lots of information about crime and crime prevention including Internet Safety for Kids.
- Federal Trade Commission: Privacy Resources
- GetNetWise
- Microsoft Online Safety -
Minimize the risk of cyberbullying, use social networking sites more safely, and use parental controls in Microsoft products to help keep your family safer online.
- Net Smartz Workshop - Internet Safety for Parents, Educators, Law Enforcement, Kids, and Teens.
- Safe Surf - Keeping Florida safe from shore to digital shore. This website was developed to help educate students about the safe uses of the internet and to emphasize the need for cyber safety.
- Stay Safe Online - Provides free and non-technical cyber security and safety resources to the public, so consumers, small businesses and educators have the know how to avoid cyber crime.
- Wired Safety - Internet Safety for Parents, Educators, Law Enforcement, Kids, and Teens
- More Safe Online Websites - The PDF contains several additional website links for parents and kids.
