Guest Post: Internet Safety

Today is the last day of guests posts and then I will be back and hopefully caught up. It is surprising BUT I can actually (FINALLY) see the bottom of my inbox! Even better news is that I am also caught up on homework and the kitchen is unpacked and stocked.

My current course is all about Technology. This week... my final is due. A webquest. I actually had to complete two for this course... both of which I will be sharing in a few weeks when they have been graded and there is no chance that it could be plagiarizism to post it.

So my focus has been on technology. How can we better implement it into our classrooms? What knowledge is needed to be successful? And most important of all... how to keep everyone safe. Please welcome Lewis as he shares his tips of internet safety....

Depending on their age, a classroom full of children on the internet could be a teachers worst nightmare. Especially when you can't keep an eye on everyone at once. Of course, a lot of school networks use special software to block out unsuitable websites, but not all. When it comes to internet safety in the classroom I believe in a combination of software and good guidelines to help keep kids safe.

Teaching kids how to use the internet and informing them of it's dangers and rules is something that should be implemented from a young age. Too easily do some parents let their children use Facebook or Youtube and forget what's lurking around the digital corner after a few misjudged clicks. Parents and teachers should be teaching children about the dangers, and setting down a few simple rules that we all abide by.

These rules include setting secure and obscure passwords when setting up accounts. Or never arranging to meet a stranger that has talked to you in a chat room. Younger children should never be posting their address or telephone number on social media sites. Older teenagers should be taught about the risks of purchasing online, and how you need to be careful when giving over credit card details. As you can see these are all simple rules and guidelines that we take for granted and forget to teach our kids, but can make all the difference.

But teaching kids how to be safe can only go so far, we all know how curious children can be, and as well as informing them of the dangers we need to protect them from themselves. Luckily, software has been developed for this exact purpose; keeping children safe online.

There are two different types of software that can make classroom life easier for the teacher. Each of them applicable depending on the age of the children and the teachers specific needs. The first is 'Parental Control Software' which will filter and block web pages depending on the content. This sort of software will scan a web page before displaying it for things like profanity, alcohol, pornography etc (you can set how strict the software should be yourself) and will block the page if it deems it inappropriate.

The second type of software – which can be used in conjunction with the first – is 'Computer Monitoring Software'. As the name implies, computer monitoring software will keep logs of everything that happens on the machine it's installed on. Screenshots will be periodically taken, and everything from websites visited to keystrokes typed will be recorded in a log for the teacher to look over if anything is suspected. Computer Monitoring Software runs in complete stealth in the background of the computer, so students won't know they're being monitored.

So a combination of a good education of the facts, parental control software and computer monitoring software can go a long way to securing internet safety in the classroom. That being said, nothing beats a teacher with a watchful eye!

If you'd like to take a look at some Computer Monitoring Software, head over to the the Gecko Monitor website athttp://www.geckomonitor.com