Finding the best way to use the internet safely in school

Miss Minsky

IVDU

minsky.hannah@gmail.com

Introduction

The internet has become such an important part of our lives that many of us find hard to live without it! It helps us with our work, provides us with entertainment and enables us to live a more convenient lifestyle e.g. though online shopping. Although most feel that they can’t manage without the internet, using it can also be dangerous. Unless computers are secure, it is very easy to get viruses on our computers when we use the internet, children can access information their teachers and parents may not want them to be looking at, people can be attempted to do and become addicted to illegal things such as gambling and false information can be spread on it.

Given the pros and cons of the internet, schools and parents are constantly trying to find ways through which the internet can be used for the good things it has to offer without being effected by its dangers. We are going to focus on the issue of accessing appropriate materials. Most schools or parents will either block certain abilities of the internet, or use filters to try and secure computers. As we know, this can sometimes be annoying! Sometimes we can’t get what we need and get signed off in the middle and other times we still get things we don’t want!

So we are stuck with a problem: We need to use the internet, but when we use it lots of inappropriate things come up. In school we use the ‘K9’ filter, this helps us to block inappropriate material but many of you have your own issues with the system and how it limits our use of the internet.

Task

You have been selected by the school to research and find a better way of providing the internet in school. You will need to present your findings and recommendations orally to the class.

Process

Public Policy Steps

• Define the problem
• Gather evidence
• Identify causes
• Evaluate a policy
• Develop solutions
• Select best solution

1) You will each work alone to do your research and make your own power point using the public policy analysis.

2) The problem is that internet access is needed in school, however internet access often enables students to access unsuitable material either intentionally or unintentionally.

3) You need to gather evidence about what people think about the use of internet in school, and the school filter by getting 8 students to complete the online survey about the school internet filter.

Take the survey!

4) Look at the information you gathered from the survey and fill out the survey result form.

5) Evaluate the K9 filter using the worksheet.

6) Using the internet, research for other types of filters that could be used. Here are some links to help you. You can also use google to find some other possible solutions.

http://www.lightspeedsystems.com/products/rocket/collaborative-filter/

http://familyisafety.com/filters/education/

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/internet-safety-schools

http://www.webchaver.org/index.php

7) Record the names of 3 other filters and a reason why each may be better or worse than what we are using. (Filter Worksheet)

8) Think of possible solutions to solve the problem using the worksheet to guide you. (The current system can be a solution if you think it better than the alternatives)

9) Chose the solution you think is best and write why you chose it. (Use worksheet to help you.)

Evaluation

This is how your presentation will be graded: Rubric.

Conclusion

When you have completed the tasks listed above, you should be able to explain to the other members of your class or school why IVDU uses a filter (K9), what the problems are with this filter and a possible solution of another way the school could provide internet access to the students. You will need to explain your findings using the worksheets provided and by speaking clearly.

Looking forward to hearing your findings J

Standards

Standard 1: Language for Information and Understanding Students will listen, speak, read, and write for information and understanding. As listeners and readers, students will collect data, facts, and ideas; discover relationships, concepts, and generalizations; and use knowledge generated from oral, written, and electronically produced texts. As speakers and writers, they will use oral and written language that follows the accepted conventions of the English language to acquire, interpret, apply, and transmit information.

Standard 5: Technology
Students will apply technological knowledge and skills to design, construct, use, and evaluate products and systems to satisfy human and environmental needs