An On-Line World
Never having known a world without the Internet,
for many children online communication has always been a part of their
world and having their own email address is a natural part of growing up
and learning independence.
If managed well, email can be a great way to
encourage children to communicate in writing. It can also give them some
online independence. Email allows kids to:
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Keep in touch with family and friends
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Make pen pals all around the world
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Get homework help from classmates
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Establish mentoring relationships
However, email is like
sending a postcard through the mail. Anyone can read it along the way.
A message is not secure or private and email addresses are very easy to
harvest.
Email Safety
Having an email address can open the door to a
number of risks. These are
usually found in free adult accounts which can also deliver adult spam and smut.
Kids may receive unwanted computer junk mail,
known as "spam." Pornographic spam is a common problem for all email
users, including children. Another danger is the possibility of
predators targeting children through email. They attempt to gain a
child's confidence and will instruct them to be secretive about the
relationship. This is called cyberstalking, and it's the online
equivalent of real-world stalking. An impressionable child is almost no
match against these devious people.
There really isn't an easy way to make sure
adult email is safe for kids. They can communicate with anyone online if
they have one of these email address.
Australian Internet Safety Survey
A March 2007 Media Release about children's
online safety habits makes interesting reading.
Click here.
Educational Outcomes
In this Computer Room activity, year
5 students
researched and practiced safe email practices then used their Dept. of
Education email account to send, receive, reply to and add attachments
to email messages.
Computer technology skills covered:
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Using a Web Browser (Internet Explorer)
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Using the Dept. of Education
child Internet portal and email module (Authenticated Internet
Browsing and Email)
-
Understanding the general
structure of an email address
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Interpreting features of a
retrieved message, e.g. From, Date sent, Reply, Forward
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Retrieving and replying to an
email
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Interpreting features of an
inbox, e.g. owner, date, subject, size
-
Interpreting features of a new
message, e.g. To, Cc, Subject
-
Sending an attachment with an
email
Curriculum areas include:
English
-
RS3.5 Reads independently an extensive range
of texts with increasing content demands and responds to themes and
issues.
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RS3.6 Uses a comprehensive range of skills and
strategies appropriate to the type of text being read.
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WS3.9 Produces a wide range of well-structured
and well-presented literary and factual texts for a wide variety of
purposes and audiences using increasingly challenging topics, ideas,
issues and written language features.
-
WS3.10 Uses knowledge of sentence structure,
grammar and punctuation to edit own writing.
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WS3.11 Spells most common words accurately and
uses a range of strategies to spell unfamiliar words.
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WS3.12 Produces texts in a fluent and legible
style and uses computer technology to present these effectively in a
variety of ways.
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WS3.13 Critically analyses own texts in terms
of how well they have been written, how effectively they present the
subject matter and how they influence the reader.
Science and Technology
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ICS3.2 Creates and evaluates information
products and processes, demonstrating consideration of the type of
media, form, audience and ethical issues.
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INVS3.7 Conducts their own investigations and
makes judgments based on the results of observing, questioning,
planning, predicting, testing, collecting, recording and analysing
data, and drawing conclusions.
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UTS3.9 Evaluates, selects and uses a range of
equipment, computer-based technology, materials and other resources
to meet the requirements and constraints of investigation and design
tasks.
Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
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IRS3.11 Describes roles and responsibilities
in developing and maintaining positive relationships.
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PHS3.12 Explains the consequences of personal
lifestyle choices.
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SLS3.13 Describes safe practices that are
appropriate to a range of situations and environments.
Reference Websites:
www.netsmartzkids.org
www.chatdanger.com
www.thinkuknow.co.uk/yourcall/
www.mcgruff.com/games/cyberbully.php
www.cybersmartkids.com.au
www.cyberquoll.com.au
www.nettysworld.com.au
www.ikeepsafe.org/
www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/help/safesurfing/dongle.shtml
www.childnet-int.org/sorted/
disney.go.com/webtoons/threepigs/
disney.go.com/surfswell/index.html
Reference is given to the Websites listed above for
material used from their sites.
background from:
http://www.grsites.com
Cheryl Hill © 2007 |
