by Bruce Friend
As an educator and parent of three girls who are of elementary and middle school age, I know firsthand how exciting and challenging it is to introduce them to new technologies that foster learning, sharing, and collaboration (Perhaps I should say how exciting it is when they introduce such technologies to me!).
Setting them up with an email address, instant messenger, or with a social network site is every bit of a rite of passage for today’s kids as going out to the mall on our own or being alone on a first date was to those of us who are of another generation.
An important part of allowing students to use technology is teaching them how to use such tools in a responsible manner. Unfortunately there are students who do not utilize the Internet and other technologies responsibly, and the consequences can be tragic, as evidenced by some recent headlines about students being afraid to go online and even committing suicide as a result of cyberbullying.
Short of putting our kids in a technology-proof bubble, it is nearly impossible to monitor all interaction that students may have with others whether it be in email, texting, or in Internet chat rooms. There are proactive steps that parents can take to prevent cyberbullying. Some recommended actions include:
• Set up a contract with your child for the appropriate use of computers and mobile phones.
• Monitor the websites that your child visits and block access to inappropriate sites.
• Teach your child the importance of never giving out their contact information to strangers, which includes email address, instant messaging name, phone number, etc.
• Encourage your child to inform you or another trusted adult if they are victim of cyberbullying or other uncomfortable digital communication.
Knowing that your child has been a victim of cyberbullying is not always apparent. Look for signs such as being withdrawn from families and friends; declining interest in school, grades, and behavior; or perhaps appearing out of sorts after being online or on the phone. Most importantly, use this an opportunity to talk to your kids about the appropriate use of technology and to reassure them that you support healthy use of technology for learning and communicating with others.
If you have questions about the use of online learning and what options may be available to you, feel free to email me at: bruce.friend@sas.com
Bruce Friend is the Director of SAS® Curriculum Pathways®, an award-winning education resource that provides online lessons, engaging tools and activities at no cost to U.S. educators. Bruce has spent the past decade working in the field of online learning. He is a national pioneer in helping to establish the country’s first statewide online program and has been the chief administrator of two state virtual schools.
In 2003 he was honored with the “Most Outstanding Achievement in Distance Education” award by the US Distance Learning Association. Prior to joining SAS, Bruce was the Vice President of the International Association for K12 Online Learning; a non-profit organization that provides support to students, parents, and online learning programs.
As an educator and parent of three girls who are of elementary and middle school age, I know firsthand how exciting and challenging it is to introduce them to new technologies that foster learning, sharing, and collaboration (Perhaps I should say how exciting it is when they introduce such technologies to me!).
Setting them up with an email address, instant messenger, or with a social network site is every bit of a rite of passage for today’s kids as going out to the mall on our own or being alone on a first date was to those of us who are of another generation.
An important part of allowing students to use technology is teaching them how to use such tools in a responsible manner. Unfortunately there are students who do not utilize the Internet and other technologies responsibly, and the consequences can be tragic, as evidenced by some recent headlines about students being afraid to go online and even committing suicide as a result of cyberbullying.
Short of putting our kids in a technology-proof bubble, it is nearly impossible to monitor all interaction that students may have with others whether it be in email, texting, or in Internet chat rooms. There are proactive steps that parents can take to prevent cyberbullying. Some recommended actions include:
• Set up a contract with your child for the appropriate use of computers and mobile phones.
• Monitor the websites that your child visits and block access to inappropriate sites.
• Teach your child the importance of never giving out their contact information to strangers, which includes email address, instant messaging name, phone number, etc.
• Encourage your child to inform you or another trusted adult if they are victim of cyberbullying or other uncomfortable digital communication.
Knowing that your child has been a victim of cyberbullying is not always apparent. Look for signs such as being withdrawn from families and friends; declining interest in school, grades, and behavior; or perhaps appearing out of sorts after being online or on the phone. Most importantly, use this an opportunity to talk to your kids about the appropriate use of technology and to reassure them that you support healthy use of technology for learning and communicating with others.
If you have questions about the use of online learning and what options may be available to you, feel free to email me at: bruce.friend@sas.com
Bruce Friend is the Director of SAS® Curriculum Pathways®, an award-winning education resource that provides online lessons, engaging tools and activities at no cost to U.S. educators. Bruce has spent the past decade working in the field of online learning. He is a national pioneer in helping to establish the country’s first statewide online program and has been the chief administrator of two state virtual schools.
In 2003 he was honored with the “Most Outstanding Achievement in Distance Education” award by the US Distance Learning Association. Prior to joining SAS, Bruce was the Vice President of the International Association for K12 Online Learning; a non-profit organization that provides support to students, parents, and online learning programs.
