The Danger is Out There: Steps to Internet Safety

As more and more educators and students use the Internet, the relevance of Internet safety becomes more and more apparent. How do we use the Internet effectively so that students are not wasting time “searching” the Internet? How do we keep students from stumbling upon a porn site or protect them from pedophiles, hate mongers, and/or bullies, and encourage them to take the moral high road and not cheat? This may seem like a tall order, but a little web awareness can go a long way.

Education is key. First, educators, as well as parents, should gain awareness of the potential dangers of the Internet, some of these dangers were just listed. A great site for raising web awareness can be found at the Media Awareness Network. Students’ web awareness can also be developed. Students can be taught the skills to critically assess websites.

Utilising WebQuests are a great tool for keeping students on task, since students are directed to specific websites. WebQuests also protect students from stumbling on inappropriate material. Another method to protect students from inappropriate material is to use child-friendly search engines such as Yahooligans.

In the end the key to promoting web safety is to promote awareness by identifying the dangers and learning the various ways to keep students on task and to protect them from the potential dangers.