Cyber Safety

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Cyber Safety
Cyber Safety
Lauren Van Heusen
EDU 352: Foundations of Educational Technology
Professor Susan Cannon
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Cyber Safety
Cyber Safety
The reason I chose the issue of cyber safety is because I think it is one of the most important
things educators and parents need to think about when exposing children to technology. The online
world is huge and students should know how to stay safe online. According to the article Classrooms and
Cyber safety “It is recommended that schools take a holistic approach to cyber safety education. Cyber
safety practices and issues should be included within the school’s curriculum planning and taught
explicitly” (“Classrooms”, 2017). Some inappropriate behaviors that should be introduced to students
are cyberbullying, catfishing, phishing, accessing inappropriate content, plagiarizing…the list goes on.
Summary
Cyber safety is the responsible use of information and communication technology on the
internet. It is important for students to understand responsible behavior when using the internet
because there are many risk associated that can lead to much larger problems. Cyberbullying is a
common behavior associated with the use of internet. Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over a
digital device such as a computer or cell phone. It can lead the victim of the bullying to have increased
anxiety, depression and even suicide. This negative impact is why teachers need to address the issue so
the problem can be reduced. According to research done by authors Hansen, Buczynski, and Puckett
(2015), “Teachers perceived the following strategies as most helpful in addressing cyberbullying:
increasing parental involvement, creating a system to follow up on reports of cyberbullying, providing
support for the victims of cyberbullying, warning students about consequences for cyberbullying, and
making those consequences significant.” Another form of inappropriate behavior that students need to
watch out for is catfishing. Catfishing is “an online form of Internet or social-media harassment where
predators fabricate online identities to trick people into romantic relationships” (Hansen, Buczynski &
Puckett, 2015). This form of inappropriate behavior is important for discussion because students need to
know the dangers of talking to predators. When using the internet in class teachers should pay close
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Cyber Safety
attention to what their students are doing online. Along with catfishing, cyberbullying and many other
online behaviors teachers also need to watch their students to make sure they are not accessing
inappropriate content such as, sexually explicit materials. There are federal laws that help to protect
children online such as the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). “CIPA aims to protect children from
obscene or harmful content on the Internet. Schools or libraries that are eligible to receive discounts for
telecommunications, Internet access, or internal connections through the E-rate program…must certify
they have an Internet safety policy that blocks or filters access to pictures that are obscene, child
pornography, or harmful to minors” (Cyber Safety for Schools Fact Sheet, n.d.). Other ways educators
can help protect students on the internet is by implementing Responsible Use Policies, “prepare
curriculum plans that explicitly teach safe, responsible and ethical online behaviors” (Classrooms and
Cyber Safety, 2017), and by parental involvement. A Responsible Use Policy is a written agreement that
outlines the terms of responsible use and the consequences of misuse which will be signed by the
guardians and students. Parental involvement is also important. Parents should implement the same
rules implemented by the school when it comes to safe internet use and use parental controls on
devices. Having rules for children that are congruent in every aspect of their lives will help enforce cyber
safety even more.

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Cyber Safety
References:
Cyber Safety for Kids: How to Teach Your Child About Cyber Safety. (2017, April 3). Retrieved
April 25, 2018, from NO Bullying website: https://nobullying.com/cyber-safety-for-kids-
how-to-teach-your-child-on-cyber-safety/
Cyber Safety for Schools Fact Sheet [PDF]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.rems.ed.gov/docs/Cyber_Safety_K-12_Fact_Sheet_508C.pdf
Hansen, C.B., Buczynski, S., & Puckett, K.S. (2015). Curriculum and Instruction for the 21st
Century [Electronic Version]. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/
Net Smartz. (2000). Retrieved April 25, 2018, from https://www.netsmartz.org/Home
On Guard Online. (n.d.). Retrieved April 25, 2018, from Federal Trade Commission website:
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0038-onguardonline
Schools and Cybersafety. (2017). Retrieved April 25, 2018, from Victoria State Government
website:
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/bullystoppers/Pages/princyber.aspx

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increasing parental involvement, creating a system to follow up on reports of cyberbullying, providing

safety even more.

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