Internet Safety

Getting On Board

with the Plan

Introduction

Technology and the Internet offer valuable resources and tools that enhance learning, but present some challenges and risks that require consideration and action. By taking a pro-active approach, educators, parents and the community can reduce risks from potential dangers on the Internet and protect children by encouraging responsible use.

Virginia sets a precedence

July 2006… Virginia became the first state in the country to mandate that Internet safety be a required, integrated component of division’s instructional program.

Legislation

House Bill 58, passed by the 2006 Virginia General Assembly, requires that school divisions’ acceptable use policies “include a component on Internet safety for students that is integrated in a division's instructional program.”

Guidelines and Framework

In response to Chapter 52, § 22.1-70.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Internet Safety Instruction in Schools, the Superintendent of Public Instruction issued guidelines to school divisions regarding instructional programs related to Internet safety.

These guidelines serve as the framework for Portsmouth Public Schools Internet Safety Program .

The VDOE Charge

“The 2006 legislation requires divisions to integrate the new Internet safety component within the curriculum. School divisions need to design the program specifically to each grade level. Students should learn about Internet safety from kindergarten through high school graduation, acquiring new skills each year while being reminded of previous lessons. All instructors, not just library media specialists or computer-lab teachers, should teach Internet safety and take every opportunity to warn of potential dangers and model safe and appropriate Internet use.” (VDOE 2006)

Goal

Implement the Portsmouth Public Schools Acceptable Use Policy and integrated Internet Safety program to promote Internet Safety.

Plan Objectives

The Internet Safety Program includes technical and instructional components and will…

Include integrated K-12, academic instruction

Foster responsibility among all stakeholders to encourage protection of students from potential online dangers.

Address technical concerns (not listed here)

Key Instructional Elements of the PPS Internet Safety Plan

Integration into K-12 curriculum and instruction

Defined roles and responsibilities for stakeholders.

Process for annual review, evaluation, and revision of the program

Professional development opportunities for PPS employees

Outreach programs for community stakeholders

Significant Project Milestones Revise content area curriculum documents to embed

Internet Safety lessons (Ongoing, beginning 2007) Roll-out Internet Safety Curriculum (September 2007) Deploy survey to evaluate Program (TBA 2007- 2008) Submit plan to school board for approval (Spring

2008) Revise Internet Safety Curriculum as needed

(Summer 2008) Deploy revised curriculum (Summer 2008) DOE review of compliance Code §22.1-70.2

(September 2008)

Roles and Responsibilities:

Everyone is involved!

Which means…

By mandate, this is to be an integrated component of instruction, not separate and apart.

TRT’s assist with classroom implementation, not do for or in place of the classroom teacher.

It is a shared responsibility to be borne by all to instruct students.

School Principals

Role: Support, implementation, monitoring, evaluation

Responsibility: Monitor Internet Safety Program implementation in building. Document teacher implementation in classroom instruction. Participate in program evaluation. Provide community outreach for parents.

Teachers, Library Media Specialists, and Counselors

Role: Instruction, documentation, evaluation

Responsibility: Implement Internet Safety program in classroom instruction. Document implementation. Participate in evaluation to determine effectiveness of instructional materials.

Students

Role: Instruction Responsibility: Participate in Internet

Safety Instruction

Parents, Grandparents, Caregivers, Other Community Stakeholders…

Role: Participation in community outreach

Responsibility: Increase awareness of Internet Safety. Have the opportunity to be involved in Internet Safety.

What will the TRT do?

Role: Curriculum Development Team, material selection and development, implementation, evaluation

Responsibility: Assist with material selection and development. Pilot the Internet Safety Curriculum and collect feedback. (Spring 2007) Assist classroom teachers to implement in classroom instruction. Assist with outreach. Assist with evaluation.

TRT’s Assist classroom teachers to implement in instruction Provide faculty training to help them

understand what they have to do, how to do it, and how to document it.

Provide supportHelp them locate and use the

materials and resources.Remind them to document usage.

Use effective practices

Model Remind often

Assist with outreach.

Assist the Principal to provide community outreach for parents by presenting at a PTA meeting or other similar school meeting/function.

Community Outreach

Presentations Videos, brochures, resources Your smiling face!

Two versions presently available:NetSmartz ICAC is about a 30-40

minute presentation (K-12). (Preferred)

Shorter Intro. (Teens)- about 15 minutes

Assist with evaluation.

As you discover new ideas, issues, concerns, voice them!

Encourage staff to complete the survey that will be deployed. Follow up to ensure completion.

The Curriculum

The PPS Internet Safety Curriculum is based primarily on the NetSmartz Program. Currently, it is a separate document, but will ultimately be linked to each content area curriculum.

Includes activities about Personal and Cyber Safety, Cyber bullying, Intellectual Property and Copyright.

PPS Internet Safety Guide

It includes roles, activities, duration, pacing, standards, measure of success, digital files and links.

It is a living document that will undergo revisions.

Internet Safety Resources

The URL on the Internet is: http://pps.k12.va.us/internetsafety/default.aspx

From your web browser, click on “favorites” and select Internet Safety Website from the drop downs.

Summary: Internet Safety Plan

The Internet Safety Ship set sail July 2006 You are one of many deck hands on board Expect some rough seas, pirates, maybe

even a mutiny The journey is daunting But…the manifest indicates that the cargo is

precious… So… it’s worth it!