Safety & Ethics in Cyberspace

Resources for Teachers & Staff

While the Internet is a unique educational resource, it is important that our students use technology in a safe and responsible manner. In our roles as teachers or support staff, we all use technology to some extent and we have a responsibility to help our students make safe and ethical decisions on the Internet, with cell phones and as they deal with other types of technology.

Be aware...

• of the threats that online predators can pose to a child's physical and emotional safety.
• of inappropriate Internet content - pornography, violence, hate groups, drugs, extremist activities
• that privacy invasions can result from acquiring personal information about individual children, their friends and families.
• that young people may use technology for harassment, intimidation and bullying.
• of aggressive marketing tactics targeted at young children and teens.

Be involved!

• Incorporate social, legal and ethical issues associated with technology use into your school environment.
• Teach and reinforce the rules for behaviors that are acceptable, appropriate and effective.
• Model ethical behaviors for your students in your own use of technology and adhere to copyright laws. Please visit the Ethics & Copyright page for more information.
• Communicate with the appropriate administrators, counselors or parents if you have concerns about student safety.

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Know the rules, learn more & use good judgment

It is probably reasonable to assume that most of the students we come in contact with are much more educated about technology than the adults around them. This does not mean that they always exhibit good judgment in the way they use technology. We must take the lead in helping our students develop safe and legal attitudes and behaviors in their uses of technology.

• Understand and enforce the District's Network Acceptable Use Policy.
• Know your school's policies regarding student cell phone use as well as rules, in addition to the District's AUP.
• If you publish to any web site, protect our students' privacy. Our District has guidelines outlining Web Publishing Procedures for you to review. Please give special attention to the section concerning "Security & Privacy".
• If you publish student work on our web site, you must obtain permission from the student to do so. This is a great opportunity to teach the importance of copyright permission and intellectual property ownership. We have a permission form that you may use or alter to fit your needs. The form also gives parents and guardians several choices regarding student information that is published with the work. Please note that it is not acceptable to publish the student's full name. The form is in PDF format, but if you want to alter it, contact the for a Word version.
• Our District has a Board Policy for blocking or opening access to a web site from within our network. If you feel an inappropriate site needs to be blocked, or that an educationally valid site is blocked and should be opened, please follow the Internet Filtering Policy.

Need ideas for incorporating cybersafety & ethics into your curriculum?

• Numerous resources are available on the Internet. We have linked a few from our Links & Resources page. You will find links to resources that clarify copyright issues as well.
• Investigate the IMC for video resources.
• Your school counselors and librarians can provide you with resources and materials.
• Ask your colleagues what works for them and what resources they may have found to be especially effective.
• Ask your students for help! Teenagers are experts in technology areas and many younger children know considerably more than their parents and teachers.

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