

Your online accounts, computer files, and personal information are more secure when you use strong passwords to help protect them. This Microsoft Online Security site helps students understand and test password strength.

(link) http://www.onguardonline.gov/games/auction-action.aspx

(link) AnyQuestions.co.nz and (link) UiaNgāPātai.co.nz are services designed to help
students find useful, accurate online information. Online librarians
from throughout New Zealand are available from 1-6 pm Monday to Friday
to help students work out the sort of information they need and then
facilitate safe searching with them.

(link) http://www.webwise.ie/article.aspx?id=7684

(image) In this game, designed for ages 8-10, the CyberPigs play on their favourite Web site and encounter marketing ploys, spam and a close encounter with a not-too-friendly wolf.

(image) In this game, designed for ages 8-10, the CyberPigs play on their favourite Web site and encounter marketing ploys, spam and a close encounter with a not-too-friendly wolf.

(link) http://www.onguardonline.gov/games/auction-action.aspx

(link) Click to view Episode 1

(link) Click to View Episode 2

(link) Click to view Episode 3

(link) Click to view Episode 5

Not everything on the net is what/who you think it is. To make sure you are using the net as safely as possible and so you don't get caught out, read these tips below.

VIDEO: Highly recommended - the description from the site reads:

The school holidays (especially in the winter) mean children and young people probably spend more time online. Have a look at some information for parents and caregivers here

GUIDELINES for SCHOOLS
ONLINE PUBLICATION
of
STUDENT IMAGES and SCHOOLWORK

"In the online world words are actions." Turkle 2005


Video from the team at You Tube about keeping safe online. Simple video with simple practical steps for appropriate online behaviour and safety tips. Some good discussion points for working with students.

At the recent (link) Interface Xpo conference, I saw a lot of vendors talking to schools about the advantages of cloud based computing. With this in mind I thought I'd put together a couple of cloud pieces that I've seen around the place.

Your cell phone, IM, and online profile are all digital extensions of who you are. When someone you're with pressures or disrespects you in those places, that's not cool. That's Not Cool provides tools to help you draw your digital line about what is, or is not, okay in your relationships.

In our Year 2 class we use eLearning tools throughout our classroom learning. Because of this we regularly discuss ways to keep ourselves safe online, and WHY we need to keep ourselves safe online.

Stephen Balkam of FOSI (Family Online Safety Institute) has written an interesting piece about the online activism in Egypt and Tunisia as an example of Digital Citizenship in action.

(link) http://www.commoncraft.com/protecting-reputations-video

Schools collect and hold an increasing amount of potentially sensitive personal information.

How cybersmart are you? This (link) multiple choice quiz has 16 questions about different online activities. It can be a starting point for basic cyber safety knowledge and classroom discussion.

(link) This web site helps secondary students explore their own beliefs about where to draw the line with face to face and online behaviors. It provides a platform for young people to talk to each other about what is appropriate in respectiful behaviors.

The site was developed by the University of Pennsylvania Library in the USA.

Childnet's cyberbullying film, Let’s Fight It Together, is a unique drama documentary produced by students with accompanying lesson plans and classroom discussion points.

NetSafe's film, At a Distance, is a unique drama documentary created and filmed in New Zealand.

(link) Click to view Episode 4

(link) Click to view this episode

The Hector’s World initiative teaches young people how to become confident and responsible digital citizens.

What can I do to protect myself on Facebook or other sites?
One of the most fun things to do on sites like Facebook is following links on people’s profiles to see what sorts of things they’re into. However, scams are all over the net, and it can be hard to figure out which links are legit and which aren’t. By the time you’ve figured out you’ve been had, it’s probably too late to retrieve whatever details you’ve unwittingly given out. While this can make it tricky to fully protect yourself online, the tips below can go someway towards helping:

Identity theft is when someone sets up a webpage (or uses documents like passports) to pretend they are you. Sometimes on social networking sites like Facebook, people can set up a page which looks like you made it, but it says mean things about you and makes you look bad. This is a form of harassment and any kind of harassment - online or off - is not OK.

Just like the footprint you leave when you walk on the beach, your digital footprint is the trail you leave about yourself when you’re on the net. Anything you do online, including any profiles you have created, the sites you’ve visited and the online conversations you’ve had, add to this trail - even if you think you’ve been doing things anonymously, or have hidden them (e.g. deleted them from your computer)!

NetSafe created "In My Day" to offer parents and caregivers information on the popular activities young people engage in online, the challenges they may come across as a result of those activities, and conversation suggestions for engaging with children about their online activities. "In My Day" is designed to assist parents and caregivers to guide and support their children with technology.

Cyberbullying is a big concern for children and young people and parents and caregivers can gain more information and advice by going to

This BBC podcast features an interview with child psychologist Dr Tanya Byron, who talks about online safety.

(link) VIDEO: The description from the site reads "At Bradon Forest School, Purton, a drama is played out in a PSHE lesson, depicting a cyber bully accused of posting a picture online without consent. ICT is also used to help create storyboards.

(link) This web site helps secondary students explore their own beliefs about where to draw the line with face to face and online behaviors. It provides a platform for young people to talk to each other about what is appropriate in respectful behaviors.

Learn how to move both your body and the things around you to make yourself comfortable and avoid discomfort and pain when you work on the computer. That way, you'll work much better.

The report is highlighted on the US based Transforming Education through Technology online journal "(link) School Principals and Social Networking in Education: Practices, Policies, and Realities in 2010," is the conclusion of a two-phase research effort begun last year. The first phase involved a nationwide survey of more than 1,200 education professionals, including principals, teachers, and librarians. It was designed to gauge attitudes toward and usage of online collaborative tools, including social networks and other collaborative technologies (often classified as Web 2.0).

(link) Enhancing child safety and online technologies:

Many parents and caregivers would like to protect their children and young people online by locking down their online access. Young children can certainly be helped by having filtered access, however there are so many online access points and so much information about circumventing filters available, that it is unrealistic to think filters will keep children safe. For more information go to

Parents and caregivers want to protect their children from inappropriate content online. They often think that this is best done with filters to lock down access. However there are so many access points and so much information on circumventing filters that it is unrealistic to think that filters will keep older children safe. For more information

The Privacy Commissioner has released a Youth Privacy Kit which has guidance notes and ideas, discussion points, a short film, activities, a quiz, brochures. It is great for class use, and developed for young people by young people.

Presentation on what every educator should know about staying legal in an online environment "Thou Shall Not Steal". Presented at Learning@School 2010.

Presentation on cybersafety in an online school environment. Presented at Learning@School conference 2010.

An Instrument to Assess Student Voice and e-learning
Pam Hook

Nine Themes of Digital Citizenship

A collection of suggestions and tips around onine safey in, for example, chat rooms, for both parents and teenagers.



"In the electricity age we wear all mankind as our skin" McLuhan 1964

NetSafe's film, At a Distance, is a unique drama documentary created and filmed in New Zealand.

(link) SuperClubsPLUS is a protected social learning network, designed to help children 6-13 years better understand how to keep themselves safe online. It has a range of unique tools and functions that provide for the active protection of children against predation, cyberbullying and other forms of online dangers. More importantly, it provides children with a developmental education over extended time frames where they can acquire the strategies and behaviours that enable them to keep safe no matter where they go online. It is also a virtual and experiential playground that encourages young children to develop sophisticated ICT skills, socialise and work with peers in a wide range of projects and activities.

The learning pathways for digital citizenship and cybersafety follow the New Zealand Curriculum’s learning pathways. They are designed to build on student’s existing skills and develop school leavers who are capable of managing their own online safety.

This is a Digital Citizenship and Cybersafety module that teachers can work through at their own pace. Although the virtual meetings have ended for 2010, the resource is still available for personal professional development. It covers: understanding digital citizenship, digital citizenship in the classroom, and staying cybersafe in the classroom.

Cyber bully viruses are an ugly bunch. The students play an online game and are then asked, in groups, to produce a poster on one of the viruses. They are required to name them, describe the symptoms and a possible cure. The viruses are “Onlookerosis” “Slaggermania” "Commentitis” “forwarditis” “Gang-Green” and “Hasslenza”. All fairly common in cyber space.

NetSafe has worked closely with Google to create the (link) Google Family Safety Centre advice pages. There is information here on a range of issues that we know can often be concerning to parents.

This free resource helps teens ‘own their space’ online. It will also help parents, caregivers, and educators keep up with the latest computer and online safety issues and help kids learn to avoid them. It was written by security expert and author, Linda McCarthy, former Senior Director of Internet Safety at Symantec.

Here are some cybersafety discussion points for students.

Classroom strategies on Teachers TV

(link) (image)

I love superclubsplus last year I went to a school that didnt have it and I never went on the computer! But now im the computer everyday! So.. I would just like to thank whoeva made it up.. for making my life better!

Young people’s use of technology in Aotearoa - New Zealand is always changing. Changes in ICT-use produce new opportunities for learning, as well as new opportunities for challenges for both students and educators.

Digital Citizenship issues in primary school: The changes Web2 brings to cybersafety

How to report inappropriate content to YouTube

Facebook lets teens broadcast every conversation, photo, and thought. But if they're not careful, the whole world could have access. Common Sense Media shows you how to set (link) Facebook's privacy controls and help your kids protect their online identity.

Using a complex password is one of the first lessons a young person can learn to play an active role in their own cybersafety. This classroom or home activity will help young people learn how to create and remember a strong password.

This YouTube video is a slidecast. It gives simple tips and instructions aimed at teens to help them stay safe online.

Students need to learn that the Internet is a very public place and as such once something is posted online, they lose all control over that content. They have no idea who has a copy of what has been posted and it is impossible to take back content, once posted. They need to thnk before they post.

Powerful video showing how easy it is to be duped online through sharing too much information. Thought provoking video that should generate discussion with students

How to get parents to "like" you - facebook in schools

I have been advising teachers in all of the schools that I work in to create a clear boundary between their private and professional lives online. I have also been advising schools to set these expectations and to consider the appropriate procedures around staff, social networks and the parents and students of a school. (link) This article relating to this years NUT conference in the UK only serves to highlight the importance that schools and individual teachers heed this advice.

This video featuring the "North American House Hippo"

Here’s an excellent reason why you really need to be aware of your privacy settings on sites such as Facebook, and be very careful about what information you put out on Twitter. Just watch the video to see what I mean :

Fantastic video all about personal information online.

SuperClubsPLUS is a protected social (learning) network, designed to provide children 6-13 years (primary school children) with their first or near-first experience of a social networking environment, predominantly to learn how to keep themselves safe online.

A group of high-school friends post a rumour about a rival that sparks a chain reaction and leaves no one untouched. Cyberbullying, sexting, filmed fights and police action ensue.

If you're interested in finding good quality copyright free or creative commons licensed online material for creating your own mashups then this website is a great resource.

This article entitled "(link) Why Teachers need Digital Citizenship" by Suzie Nestico details how a Facebook imposter profile was created in her name, how she went about dealing with it and the lessons that she (and all of us) can learn from incidents like these.

If you're interested in finding good quality copyright free or creative commons licensed online material for creating your own mashups then this website is a great resource.

US School Districts dealing with technology in school and both ends of the spectrum - lock it down - frredom of speech.

A great (link) article about appropriate modelling by adults from Marti Weston on the (link) Teaching Tolerance Website, which is part of the (link) Southern Poverty Law Centre, an online resource focused on;