Bits and Bytes

Archive for the ‘Social Networking’ Category

The LwICT Leaders Steering Committee has created a resource with helpful lessons and links related to Cyberbulling. The resources and lessons are grade and age range appropriate.

Focus on Cyberbulling_LwICT_Feb11

Please use as needed in your school/classroom to facilitate lessons, discussions and learning regarding Cyberbullying.

social-networking-cards

Young Canadians in a Wired World

Initiated in 2000 by the Media Awareness Network (MNet), Young Canadians in a Wired World (YCWW) is the most comprehensive and wide-ranging study of its kind in Canada. The research project tracks and investigates the behaviours, attitudes, and opinions of Canadian children and youth with respect to their use of the Internet.

From focus group discussions, interviews with parents and national student surveys, MNet has harvested a wealth of information and insights about how Canadian youth, who are among the most connected in the world, are using the Internet. The research raises a number of issues that demand society’s attention and, more importantly, highlights the importance of adult involvement and education as key responses in helping young people make wise online decisions.

Both of the videos in this post are available for viewing on the Teachers.tv web site.

School Matters – Online Social Networks – Friend or Foe?

Synopsis

The rise of online social networking has brought a new dimension to social interaction. In this programme, we look at the technology behind sites such as MySpace, Facebook and Bebo, exploring the issues that they raise for teachers.

This is the first generation that has the technical means to offer a running commentary on every aspect of their lives. This fact has sparked a debate on whether this technology, an ever increasing part of children’s lives, is a force for good, or an opportunity for cyber-bullying to proliferate.

If negative aspects can be dealt with, these technological advances could potentially alter the dynamics of future schooling; transforming the traditional lecture model into increasing group interaction and dialogue, into learning that’s “caught rather than taught”.

Experts and users explain how social networking is affecting the way this generation relates to each other in and out of cyberspace, and how the technology can be harnessed to benefit learning.

Published: 4 February 2008

KS3/4 ICT – Online Safety

Synopsis

This programme outlines simple classroom activities to help teachers to take practical steps to keep pupils safe online and to increase awareness of the potential dangers of internet usage.

E-safety consultant Dr Alan Beecham visits Rhodesway Secondary School in Bradford to work with a group of Year 9 students. Humanities teacher Haroon Gardee and Year 7 inclusion manager Max Crowther join Dr Beecham to gauge pupils’ reaction to a fictitious profile they created on a social networking site.

Another activity highlights the dangers of sharing too much information, while a further task focuses on security and privacy settings.

At Stocksbridge High School in Sheffield, e-safety officers apply an internet safety policy, run parental awareness evenings, and act as a point of contact for pupils.

Published: 12 May 2008