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Online Safety
The internet and digital media are amazing resources that are now woven into the everyday lives of families. As technology rapidly evolves, tech-savvy students have more access to an ever-increasing flow of information. At the same time more people, organizations, businesses, etc. have access to young people, albeit virtual.
As parents and educators, it is our responsibility to equip our students with the 21st century skills they need to thrive and maintain focus in this digital world. We may think of our kids’ online, mobile, and technological activities as “digital life,” but, to them, it’s just life. Their world is as much about creating media as it is about consuming it. We want our kids to make great decisions so they can take advantage of the powerful technology that fills their lives. But in order to make good choices, kids must know how the digital world works. The very nature of their constantly-connected culture means kids must understand the concept of privacy so that what they post and create won't hurt or embarrass them at some point down the line.
Tools & Resources
You are not alone!
Incarnate Word Academy is committed to building a bridge between parents, students, and educators, to foster media-smart children. By partnering with parents, we strive to assist students to develop appropriate technological habits and oversight for 21st century technology.
The following downloadable and printable materials are age-appropriate resources for families to use and to reference to empower your children with the skills to behave safely, responsibly, and productively in the digital world.
To aid families with information and strategies to teach responsible online and telecommunications behavior, IWA is pleased to provide the internet safety program, “R U SAFE? Protecting Yourself in Cyberspace.” Created by the Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA), “R U SAFE?” is a video series designed to educate children and their parents about online dangers and give them the tools needed to be safe while online.
The videos cover such topics as cyber bullying, social networking sites, chat rooms, inappropriate texting, and online predators. Each part of the four-part video series is 15-20 minutes in length and geared toward a specific age group, helping kids and parents learn how to report suspicious activity and understand the legal ramifications of certain online behavior.
Today young people do not go online; they are always online—anywhere, anytime. Along with the tremendous power that the internet, digital media, and wireless devices offer, comes responsibility of ethical and safe user behavior. IWA is committed to a partnership with parents in the formation of their children—educating students to apply the same cautious, ethical behavior that they use in their everyday lives to their online conduct.
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