Internet Safe Usage
NYS Education Law regarding Instruction on Internet Safe Usage
The recent passage of the New York State Education Law on Internet Safety and Appropriate Use (Ed Law Section 814 | PDF 
(8KB)) requires a better education of students for safe and appropriate use of Internet technology and resources.
Reframing the Debate on Online Safety
The U.S. Senate recently passed the Protecting the Children for 21st Century Act, which focuses on the educational strategies rather than locking up the access. The learning community represented by ISTE applauds Senate's new focus on education for online safety. (more about Reframing the Debate
)
Acceptable Use Policies (AUP) Components
Acceptable Use Policies (AUP) are the guidelines and principles for the use of the Internet services and other web-based products provided by school districts. AUP's are designed to help protect administrators, students, parents, and the Internet community, from irresponsible, abusive or illegal activities. It is also suggested that school administrators include a form of agreement with students and teachers on AUP. The below links provide outline the terms and conditions for AUP's
- Education World Getting Started on the Internet: Developing an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)
This article provides basic key elements to develop AUP. - iSAFE Acceptable Use Policies
This web-site addresses considerations in designing AUP. - Cybercrime.gov. Model Acceptable Use Policy
This web-site offers a sample agreement sheet on AUP for students. - Electronic School . Who's Got Mail: Policy advice on staff and student e-mail
This article focuses on the acceptable use of e-mails. - Sample AUP and agreements adopted by some school districts:
Signature, consent, or release forms and agreements are highly suggested for effective AUP implementation. These forms require signatures from teachers, parents, and students, indicating their intentions to abide the AUP.- New York City Department of Education
Rules for Internet Acceptable Us - Hudson Falls Central School District
Student - Internet Account Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)
Administrator/Faculty/Staff - Internet Account Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) - Los Angeles Unified School District
Acceptable Use Policy for District Computer Systems
This web-site offers policy guidelines and information for students, parents and teachers. - Houston Independent School District
Appropriate Use Policy for Electronic Services for Students
Another model for a school Acceptable Use Policy showing a school district level rules.
- Library Internet Policy
A good example of a library Internet policy to ensure appropriate use of library Internet resources.
- New York City Department of Education
Filtering
The Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) , passed by Congress in December 2000, applies to all schools and libraries that receive E-rate discounts for Internet access and internal connections. On April 5, 2001, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued regulations for schools and libraries receiving non-telecommunications E-rate discounts.
In New York legislation passed by the State Assembly in 2007 required state schools to promote the proper and safe use of the internet. Although not clearly stated, the legislation implies the necessary implementation of proper filtering in all public schools.
The following links provide additional information about filtering options:
- American Library Association Meeting CIPA Requirements with Technology
This article describes basic requirements of CIPA and also offer information of filtering products.
Cyberethics
- U.S. Department of Justice, Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section
This is web-site offers extensive information on cyberethics. - Netiquette Home Page
This web-site covers a substantial amount of netiquette rules and includes an on-line quiz. - Copyright with Cyberbee
This web-site collects key information about copyright issues. - U.S. Copyright Office, Copyright
This web-site offers a comprehensive resources of copyright law and policies. - University of Maryland, The Digital Primer
This Primer focuses on issues relating to copyright in digital works in the use of digital materials for teaching, research and service in educational institutions. E-mail registration required for access. - Crash Course in Copyright
Georgia K. Harper (University of Texas) organizes a course on copyright.
For Teachers: Curriculum and Instructional Materials on Safe Internet Usage
- ISAFE inc.
This web-site provides not only training programs for educators but also a mentor program for kids and teens. Curriculum design for K-4 grades is available at http://www.isafe.org/imgs/pdf/education/Curriculum_Scope_07-08.pdf Registration required. - NetSmartZ Workshop
This web-site provides real-life story video clips about Internet safety such as cyber bullying and meeting unknown adults on-line. Each video clip is provided with activity cards and related news links.
- USA Today Cyber Security Awareness
This web-site offers four brief lessons and materials on cyber ethics, safety, and security. The materials include articles, activity guidance, and discussion topics.
- iKeepSafe
This web-site offers free materials related to education products such as review worksheets and discussion guide. - Safe Teens
This web-site offers guide and tips of safe blogging for teens as well as parents. - PlayItCyberSafe
This web-site provides education materials on particularly copy-right issues of software. - Web Wise Kids
This web-site provides a useful list of statistics on Internet security and safe usage. - NetFamilyNews.org: Kid-Tech News for Parents
This web-site provides a weekly newsletter that covers online safety, new educational resources, research on Internet use, and Internet policies.
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
This web site provides Internet, safety-education resources for children (5-17), parents, guardians, educators, and law enforcement.
For Librarians and Media Specialists
- NY Library Association (NYLA)
In response to the requirement of the CIPA, the New York Library Association has provided sample policy and acceptable use guidance for libraries.
- Illinois Library Association (ILA)
This web page has focused on educating students to become safe and responsible Internet safe users instead of simply blocking access. It includes three Internet safety bookmarks, which have been created to help educate youth and parents to make safe and informed decisions online.
The three topics are: Dealing with cyberbullies (tips for kids), Safe blogging (tips for teens), and Social networking (tips for parents)
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
This web site provides Internet, safety-education resources for children (5-17), parents, guardians, educators, and law enforcement.
For Students: Tips, tools and resources for safe Internet usage
- NS Teens
Two videos on social networking and cyber bullying. The content is mainly provided by teenage comic characters but occasionally real-life teens appear to share their views.
- Chat Danger
This web-site provides information on concerns around communications through mobile phones, e-mail, chat, and messenger, and games.
- Safe Teens
This web-site has helpful considerations on concerns when writing blogs.
- X-Block
This web-site organizes an “ i-MENTOR” program for students in grades five through twelve to promote online safety. Virtual training programs and chatroom support groups are also available.
- iKeepSafe
This web-site provides video clips and other materials on Internet safe usage for kids. - Great Web-sites for Kids
This web-site has an extensive amount of resource for all school subject matters and grade levels.
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
This web site provides Internet, safety-education resources for children (5-17), parents, guardians, educators, and law enforcement.
For Parents: Various resources to protect their children on Internet
- Enough is Enough
This web-site offers comprehensive information about Internet safety. The age-based guidelines are helpful for parents to know how to act on Internet safety concerns.
- Protect Kids
This web-site particularly provides information about the harm of pornographic images on children, and child sexual abuse.
- Safe Teens
This web-site offers guide and tips of safe blogging for teens as well as parents.
- NetFamilyNews.org: Kid-Tech News for Parents
This web-site provides a weekly newsletter that covers online safety, new educational resources, research on Internet use, and Internet policies. - National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
This web site provides Internet, safety-education resources for children (5-17), parents, guardians, educators, and law enforcement.