Promoting Internet Safety is a Top Priority for Educators



Promoting Proper Computer Use is a Top Priority for Educators

Jeffrey R. Bouwman

In today’s digital world, it is crucial that students know how to use the computer and Internet safely and ethically. Recently, the NBC television network aired “To Catch a Predator,” an eye opening television series that exposes on-line sexual predators. During each investigation, Chris Hanson, an NBC reporter, works directly with local law enforcement to catch on-line sexual predators. Predators talk explicitly on-line and try to meet under-aged children with the purpose to commit lewd sexual acts. In just three years, this task force has managed to lure in over 200 potential sexual predators (Hansen, 2007). This scary statistic must serve as a “wake up call” to not only parents, but educators as well. With student safety in the forefront, educators are faced with a dilemma as to how to keep students safe from inappropriate Internet content (Cromwell, 1998). As teachers utilize technology in the classroom, it is crucial to make students aware of how to not only use the computer safely, but ethically as well. Unethical behaviors such as hacking and/or using computers to gain unauthorized access must be strongly discouraged. Hacking is defined as breaking into computer systems, frequently with intentions to alter or modify existing settings. Sometimes malicious in nature, these break-ins may cause damage or disruption to computer systems or networks. Unauthorized access is defined as approaching, trespassing within, communicating with, storing data in, retrieving data from, or otherwise intercepting and changing computer resources without consent (Ochoa, 2006). In my opinion, educators can take the following steps to better inform students on how to use the computer safety and ethically. First, educators must teach students how to conduct themselves properly on the computer and Internet. Second, teachers must discourage students from unethical behaviors such as hacking and/or gaining unauthorized access. Finally, a district must have an acceptable use policy and an Internet filter in place. Therefore, it is believed that if teachers and school districts promote proper computer use, students will be more likely to utilize his/her computer safely and ethically.

Many of today’s computer safety issues lie solely on the Internet. How can an educator keep students from being exposed to inappropriate content? With the potential risks involved, some might wonder why use the Internet at school at all? It is essential to utilize the Internet in today’s digital classroom for three reasons. First, the use of the Internet in schools increases student autonomy, motivation, and school enjoyment along with improving student-teacher relationships (Schofield, 2003). Second, the large amount of educationally pertinent material that is readily available for student use outweighs the potential risk of students running into inappropriate content. Finally, students will have to be knowledgeable on how to use the Internet to be a well-informed citizen (Johnson, 1994). Although the Internet has potential risks, it is a beneficial resource that belongs in the classroom because it motivates, locates information, and better informs students.

Similar to any social situation, one must know how to act in an orderly manner when using a computer. It is essential that teachers discuss Netiquette when using computers. Netiquette is defined as the proper etiquette of behaving and communicating in cyberspace (Shea, 1994). Virginia Shea suggests that individuals need to follow ten core rules in order to act in an orderly fashion on-line. In my opinion, educators must have his/her students pay particular attention to Shea’s second rule of Netiquette, “Adhere to the Same Standards of Behavior On-line that one follows in Real Life.” This rule suggests that just as it is important for an individual to be a law-abiding citizen in the real world, one should be a law-abiding citizen while using the computer. Individuals who follow the proper rules of Netiquette are both ethical and law-abiding. On top of encouraging proper Netiquette, teachers must also discuss Internet safety. Students must be encouraged not to give out personal information, such as his/her real name, home address, phone numbers, pictures, etc. Unknown individuals on-line cannot always be trusted to be the person they portrait themselves as. There are predators always lurking on-line looking to take advantage of someone (Virginia Department of Education). It crucial that students understand and follow the rules of Netiquette and various safety protocols while using the computer.

As teachers emphasize the importance of Netiquette and Internet safety, it is also important to discourage unethical behaviors such as hacking and gaining unauthorized access. According Michigan Legislature sections 752.794 and 752.795 of 1979, both hacking and gaining unauthorized access are illegal. As stated under section 752.794, a person shall not intentionally access or cause access to be made to a computer program, computer, computer system, or computer network to devise or execute a scheme or artifice with the intent to defraud or to obtain money, property, or a service by a false or fraudulent pretense, representation, or promise. Section 752.795 has two parts. First, a person shall not intentionally and without authorization or by exceeding valid authorization access or cause access to be made to a computer program, computer, computer system, or computer network to acquire, alter, damage, delete, or destroy property or otherwise use the service of a computer program, computer, computer system, or computer network. Secondly, a person shall not intentionally and without authorization or by exceeding valid authorization insert or attach or knowingly create the opportunity for an unknowing and unwanted insertion or attachment of a set of instructions or a computer program into a computer program, computer, computer system, or computer network, that is intended to acquire, alter, damage, delete, disrupt, or destroy property or otherwise use the services of a computer program, computer, computer system, or computer network. Just as it is important to discourage students from illegally plagiarizing another author’s work, students must be discouraged from computing unethically. If students choose to hack and/or gain unauthorized access, he/she can be subject to prosecution for breaking the law. Not only is it important for students to know how to use the computer safely, he/she must use it ethically as well.

In order to keep computers and the Internet safe for students to use, school districts must implement an acceptable use policy. An acceptable use policy is a school district’s technology plan that details how students, staff, and community members can use the district’s computers and Internet (Northwest Educational Technology Consortium, 2005). According to Sharon Cromwell’s 1998 article, “Getting Started on the Internet: Developing an Acceptable Use Policy,” an acceptable use policy consists of six parts: a preamble, a definition section, a policy statement, an acceptable uses section, an unacceptable uses section, and a violations/sanctions section. Before school computers are used, students, teachers, and community members must agree to the district’s acceptable use policy. This agreement makes all users responsible for the manner in which he/she uses the district’s computers and Internet. It is also in the best interest for school districts to utilize an Internet content filter. There are numerous services that a school district can choose to utilize in order to help filter inappropriate Internet material. However, not all filters are completely effective. Some filters have technological glitches and/or simply miss hidden content (Stratford, 1995). Despite minor problems, in my opinion, filters are a step in the right direction to keep students safe from viewing inappropriate Internet content.

In conclusion, it is important for teachers and school districts to encourage students to use computers and the Internet safely and ethically. First, a teacher must educate students on how to conduct themselves on the computer and the Internet. Students must be made aware of Netiquette. Netiquette outlines acceptable and unacceptable behaviors while using the computer. Students should never give out personal information on the Internet. On-line predators are always lurking on-line, and students must know how to stay safe. Second, teachers must strongly discourage students from hacking and/or gaining unauthorized access. Both hacking and gaining unauthorized access are unethical behaviors, and are subject to prosecution in a court of law. Finally, a school district must develop an acceptable use policy. An acceptable use policy holds all users responsible for the manner in which he/she uses the district’s computers and Internet. School districts must also look into utilizing an Internet content filter. Internet filters, although not 100 percent effective, help block inappropriate material before it reaches the students. When teachers and school districts promote proper computer use, it is my belief that students will choose to use the computer safely and ethically.

In order to initiate a strong plan of action that encourages students to use the computer and the Internet safely and ethically, parent involvement is key. Teachers have a brief opportunity to encourage safe computer practices while students are at school. However, when students leave school, these practices need to be reinforced at home. As students use the computer at home, parents/guardians must monitor to see if their student is using the computer properly. Parents/guardians must be made aware of computer strategies to keep their student safe. It is beneficial for both teachers and parents/guardians to encourage students to stay away from chat rooms. Children are most vulnerable to online predators who communicate in chat rooms and Internet Relay Chat (IRC) channels (Sullivan, 2007). Better informing parents/guardians will help promote safe and ethical student computer use.

References

Cromwell, Sharon. (1998) “Getting Started on the Internet: Developing an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP).” Retrieved August 15, 2007 from .

Cromwell, Sharon. (1998) “The Internet Safety Debate.” Retrieved August 14, 2007 from .

Hansen, Chris. (2007). “Reflections on ‘To Catch a Predator’.” Retrieved August 14, 2007 from .

Johnson, Doug. (1994). “A Baker’s Dozen of Reasons Why Schools Should Have Internet Access.” Retrieved August 14, 2007 from .

Michigan Legislature. (1979). “Prohibited Access to Computer Program, Computer, Computer System, or Computer Network.” (Section 752.794). Retrieved August 15, 2007 from (S(xuh0dz2venittl5534hybf55))/mileg.aspx?page=GetMCLDocument&objectname=mcl-752-794.

Michigan Legislature. (1979). “Prohibited Conduct.” (Section 752.795). Retrieved August 15, 2007 from (S(0oilzz55cdjjvz55s5tscd45))/mileg.aspx?page=GetMCLDocument&objectname=mcl-752-795.

Northwest Educational Technology Consortium. (2005) “Acceptable Use Policies.” Retrieved August 15, 2007 from .

Ochoa, Ricardo. (2006). “Computer Hacking and Unauthorized Access Laws.” Retrieved August 14, 2007 from .

Schofield, Janet Ward. (2003). “The Impact of Internet Use on Relationships Between Teachers and Students.” Retrieved August 14, 2007 from .

Shea, Virginia. (1994). “Netiquette.” Retrieved August 15, 2007 from .

Stratford, Steven J. (1995). “What's a (Teacher, Parent, Administrator) to Do?” Retrieved August 15, 2007 from .

Sullivan, Bob. (2007). “What You Don’t Know Can Hurt Kids: Parents Must Understand Online Tools to Protect Their Children.” Retrieved August 15, 2007 from .

Virginia Department of Education. “Guidelines and Resources for Internet Safety in Schools.” Retrieved August 15, 2007 from .

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