Happy Safer Internet Day

Meeting Strangers Online

In my Digital Citizenship classes I have been holding in our 7th and 8th grade classes, I talk about the dynamic of meeting strangers on the street and meeting strangers online.  When we grow up, we are taught not to talk to strangers.  Parents know that there are malicious people out there and they want to protect their children.  My daughter is very much a social butterfly, and we have to instill in her not to talk to strangers.

In my classes, we discuss how the rules change when meeting strangers online.  The average part of an online lifestyle is meeting strangers.  It is one of the best parts of being online.  Sharing, collaborating, strategizing, meeting, communicating, learning - many careers require the ability to do this with strangers online; and students can learn a lot from strangers online.

The main element I try to capture with the students is that meeting strangers online can be a great opportunity, however we have to learn when the relationship (and I do not mean romantic relationship, but any kind of communication or transaction with a stranger is referred to as a relationship in the class) gets uncomfortable, or private information is being asked for, then red flags should go up and we should reconsider the value of the relationship.  I teach students how to deal with situations like this - logging off, leaving the conversation, changing the subject, not revealing your real name, and especially not giving out personal information.

Digital Citizenship Classes in 7th and 8th Grades

It have been a rather busy two months for me at the Middle School.  I have been in the 7th and 8th grade classrooms teaching students about Digital Citizenship and making right choices online.

We, the PIMS administration and myself, decided last year that we need to teach our students about the impact they make online as well as on themselves as digital citizens; ways that they can be more street-smart with their activity online and when dealing with strangers.

I teach three 8th grade classes, and five 7th grade classes.  Each student has to pass each assessment of each class in order for them to take home their 1to1 iPad device.

The material I have chosen to use as my curriculum is from Common Sense Media.  These guys are fantastic with their thorough approach to dealing and helping parents, teachers, and students understand what is safe and not-so-safe in our media.  From reviews on apps, movies, games, websites, and books, to educating parents on what is trending for kids.  Common Sense Media has also created a rather extensive curriculum for teaching digital citizenship.  Look through their curriculum here.

In December I taught the 8th grade.  The lessons included:

• What's The Big Deal About Internet Privacy?
• A Creator's Rights
• Identifying High-Quality Websites

In 7th grade, I am currently teaching:

• Scams & Schemes
• Safe Online Talk
• Cyberbullying: Crossing the Line
• Trillion-Dollar Footprint
• Risky Online Relationships

All of these classes I have found to be effective for helping students understand how they can impact the internet as well as how the internet can impact their lives, positively and negatively.

Two Excellent MLTI Workshops Here in Presque Isle

Just in from Juanita at MLTI yesterday, there will be two excellent workshops being held at our own Presque Isle Middle School.  Below are the detail from the email.  Please plan to attend.   This is going to be some good content.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Dickson, Juanita <juanita.dickson@maine.gov>Date: Tue, Sep 30, 2014 at 2:55 PM
Subject: [MLTI_MacBook] MLTI Common Sense Media - Fall Training Schedule
To: "mlti_macbook@lists.maine.gov" <mlti_macbook@lists.maine.gov>

MLTI has worked with Common Sense Media to bring a fall training dedicated to helping educators harness the positive impact of technology. Learning how to use media and technology wisely and safely is an essential skill for life and learning in the 21st century. The two workshops listed below will help educators guide students to think critically, act responsibly and interact positively in the digital world and to discover high quality resources.
Educators can attend one or both trainings scheduled.
We are currently working with schools to schedule additional sessions. If your school has space available and would like to host, please contact Juanita Dickson at juanita.dickson@maine.gov.
Additional dates will be posted on our events page as they are confirmed: http://maine.gov/mlti/events/index.shtml
Online registration can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/mlti_csm
Skills To Help You Discover, Use, and Share Great Digital Tools for Learning Through Graphite by Common Sense MediaThis session will run from 8:00am - 11:00am

• October 16 - Auburn Central Office

• October 21 - Saco Middle School

• October 28 - Harpswell Coastal Academy

• November 7 - Presque Isle Middle School

• November 13 - Jonesport Beals High School

As technology is integrated into classrooms, teachers need to know how to discover and use quality tools for learning, while meeting Common Core standards. Learn how to: discover high quality apps, websites, and games for students; evaluate the learning potential of these tools; curate tools into useful collections; innovate by reimagining lessons to seamlessly weave in technology using a framework called App Flows; and collaborate by sharing best practices with other teachers on how you're using digital tools in your classroom. Learn how you can achieve these five skill with Graphite, a free service by Common Sense Media. In a hands-on session, you'll practice these important skills and reflect on how they can help you integrate technology into your curriculum.

Making a Better World: Teaching Digital Citizenship and 21st Century SkillsThis session will run from 12:00pm - 3:00pm

• October 16 - Auburn Central Office

• October 21 - Saco Middle School

• October 28 - Harpswell Coastal Academy

• November 7 - Presque Isle Middle School

• November 13 - Jonesport Beals High School

Students grow up in a digital world with potential for communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creation. How can we help students participate safely, responsibly, and ethically in digital spaces? Learn about the 21st century learning skills students need to learn about digital citizenship. You'll learn about free, research-based curriculum to help teach students safe, responsible, and respectful participants in a digital world, while fostering 21st-century skills and meeting ISTE and Common Core Standards. The curriculum is available online as downloadable lessons, and as iBooks textbooks, with interactive activities, videos, and assessments that can be downloaded to computers, iPads and tablets. You'll also learn about Digital Passport, a game-based interactive for students in grades 3-5 that teaches the "rules of the road" for digital citizenship, and how to engage families with the Connecting Families program.  Workshop will include hands–on work by getting familiar with the curriculum, sampling lessons, and much more for classroom work or district planning.

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January/February Schedule