MySpace, Facebook and Social Network sites

Barely a week goes by without hearing some story about kids getting into trouble while using sites like FaceBook, MySpace, Youtube, or other social networking sites. Keeping our kids safe online is a huge undertaking and it takes constant vigilance. To help, I am compiling a list of sites dedicated to helping keep your children safe while that are online. One of the major challenges, many parents face is to understand the sites and tools that their children use. I would encourage to view the links below to begin to understand what MySpace, FaceBook and other site offer.

What is social networking websites?
http://onguardonline.gov/socialnetworking.html

Federal Trade Commission
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/tech/tec13.shtm

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
http://www.netsmartz.org/

Working to Halt Online Abuse
http://www.jahitchcock.com/

As I find more resources, I will post them.

"Growing Up Online"

Frontline (PBS) just did a fantastic program on kids nowadays and how using the Internet is a very integral part of their lives. It is worth viewing. If you click on the link below and then on the "Watch The Full Program Online" link, you can view the program on your computer.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/kidsonline/

This program really just begins to scratch at the surface of how kids use the Internet in their daily lives. As importantly, it also raise some interesting discussion points about how our jobs/activities change in relation to the kids use of technology.

James

Welcome

With any luck, I will be able to update this often. I will be using this blog to share important information about technololgy in education. I would encourage you to view the "Did You Know" videos on the www.union30.org/technology page. I believe these are great places to start as we work to address the challenges that face education.

James