There’s a move to make technology more accessible in Boston public schools. Computer science education in schools is deemed to prepare students for a highly digital future. There’s no denying that there’s truth in this issue. But first, we must make sure that we’re ready to bring technology closer to the young ones.

Before bringing technology in the classrooms, teachers must be steadfast in ensuring that it’s safe and secure for students to use. Technology has innumerable ways to benefit students, but it can also bring dangers that children should face at an early.

At home, parents have direct control when it comes to a child’s use of technology. They can monitor websites the children visit and even install firewall in the system to block harmful sites. Teachers have the same power but often times, their control isn’t as direct and firm as the parents. But it doesn’t mean they can’t make the use of technology safe for students.

More schools are being open to educational technology. And as its embraced more by the educational sector, it’s necessary to emphasize on security measures.

Remind students of the possible dangers of the internet.

Students already have minds of their own, but it’s a teacher’s duty to remind them of the dangerous activities they can do online. After all, many of the scams in the internet may be harmless at first. To be on the safe side, teachers must remind their students of the following:

  • Don’t share their usernames and passwords with anyone, unless they’re their parents. Even sharing it to friends is not a good idea.

  • Don’t click on random ads on sidebars and pop-ups. Though you can block sites and pop-ups, it’s still better to reminded. They can carry this reminder even when they step outside the classrom.

  • Avoid chatrooms in which anyone can enter. It’s where sexual predators lurk, and it’s best to avoid them.

  • Don’t easily trust anyone asking for personal details, especially if it’s a stranger. Giving contact numbers and home addresses is a no-go in any situation.

They can add more to this list and create a set of Do’s and Don’t’s guidelines for their students.

Block unsafe websites from school computers.

As teachers, ensure that computer technicians have blocked unsafe websites from school computers. Not all teachers are tech wiz, and they don’t really have to. But it’s still their duty to understand how they can stop students from visiting websites that can only harm them and provide them malicious information.

Since it’s impossible to check every website a student visits, it’s better to just prevent them from checking sites that aren’t educational and positively enriching. Also, check the most visited websites of students and see if any of these sites aren’t student-appropriate. Knowing fully well about their online activities may sound like snooping, but if it’s in the school premises, it’s only right that teachers are informed of their activities. It’s okay to explore the internet as long as its not self-deprecating or harmful. It’s just that teachers are in charge of ensuring their online safety.

Introduce them to child-appropriate websites.

It’s not enough that teachers take a step forward in preventing access to inappropriate websites, they must also be hands-on in introducing them to educational and informative sites. It’s best if the bookmarked pages in school computers are all about education and learning.

In class, it’s ideal for teachers to introduce websites where students can get references for their lessons. Introducing them to child-friendly search engines for kids is a good start. Teachers can extend their reach outside the classroom by mentioning educational websites such as writing tools, online libraries, academic games, etc. It makes the class more interactive and expands the learning outside the four walls of the classroom.

Talk to parents about the safe use of technology.

The best way to ensure that technology can be used by students without danger, teachers must inform parents on how it can also be safe at home. After all, once students learn technology in school, they can definitely try it at home. Therefore, parents must also be informed and educated on how they can be proactive in ensuring that it’s safe for students to use the internet and other gadgets.

There are many harms a student can encounter when using technology. But it’ll be a pity of their stopped from using it. After all, technology can offer limitless learning opportunities. As teachers, it’s a given that you guide them in the proper use of these innovations.

 

Author’s Bio: Dorothy Hunter is a proofreader and blogger for Best essays.com. She’s an advocate of educational technology and an aspiring writer.

 

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