Internet Safety

1. I really enjoyed the article Things As They Really Are by David A. Bednar. I also enjoyed the article "Mixed Signals" from the New Era in 2001 under the category of Internet. "Sanctify Yourselves" by Jeffery R. Holland from the 2000 Ensign under the category of Media.
   

2. I started by looking at the standards online at Utah Core Curriculum in order to see what was in the curriculum that students were being exposed to. From there I found the following site that was listed as an extra resource for most of the standards: Don't Buy It: Get Media Smart which included the following headings:
Advertising Tricks
Buying Smart
Your entertainment
What you can do

This is a website for kids that has so many links to finding out how to “Get Media Smart” ------

I found a lesson plan discussing how Iraq’s people live daily and how our media portrays it. It explains how the media can choose how to portray certain things in certain lights and teaches why media portrays things as it does.

1. Iraq Daily Lesson Plan
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   This video shows things that children are doing online and is a good resource for parents and teachers to connect with the students. It was a good reminder that some things are good from the internet, it is not all bad.
   Common Sense Video
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   IRCA This website has tips for families. It also has 10 tips for how to keep kids safe on the internet. It explains how to use parental control toolbar that can block adult-content while in child-mode and how to install the toolbar.
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   Just For Kids
   This site for kids called “Just for Kids” and includes info on how to be a smart surfer. The video I watch on this sight is in words for kids to understand and on tips what to do while on the internet.
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   Wired Kids
   This website is from “A Program of WiredSafety: The World's Largest Internet Safety, Help and Education Organization.” I found the link through Disney.com, which is very child-friendly, who is in partnership with this organization. This has resources for kids of all ages.
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3. The most important thing I took away from this research is the view that the internet can be beneficial if used correctly. I found that there are many objectives in Media Curriculum that use technology for educational purposes. While I was looking for internet for things on internet safety I learned that there are a lot of good resources for teachers and parents to help children become safe as they look on the internet. I was happy to see that there are so many resources that are child friendly as well because children will be more likely to trust them than having to listen to an authority figure lecture. The article I read by David A. Bednar was very eye opening and made me realize what I can teach about for the children in my class. It was nice to be able to take away something spiritual from this research that I can adapt and think about as I plan my units. These children are also part of the rising generation even if they may not be members of the church and should have the opportunity to realize how the media works.

4. I spoke to my dad about what he knows about internet safety. He is familiar with social networking sights and has heard of things like "Second Life" but is not super familiar with them. He did know however that there are parental controls that can be installed to monitor or restrict what children can look at on the internet. He also had the opinion initially that children should be kept of the internet just for browsing. He mentioned that one thing he would note for children to learn is to not ever share personal information online.

His reaction to what I shared was that if there are ways to teach internet safety they should be taught a lot because the internet can be very dangerous. He was interested to know there were so many sights and that there are a lot of children who use the internet for good reasons. I think he reacted this way because when his children were in elementary school education did not use the internet barely at all.
reaction to what i shared

I was surprised by his reaction because I did not know how much he would know about internet safety. I was pleased to hear that he knew a lot about parental controls and levels of parental control. I was also surprised that when we got the internet installed he immediately put controls on it to help us stay clear of adult-content sights.

I think he will have a good reaction to what I told him. I also figure that he will be more open to using the internet with his grandchildren and helping them find positive ways to use the internet because it is an important skill in today's world.