This week’s topics, copyrights and online safety, have taken on a whole new light in today’s world of social sites, portable electronic devices, and ever expanding online content.
Copyrights often apply more to teachers in schools than to students. Teachers are more likely to make improper copies of material they need. So as a teacher I need to be aware that when I make copies of materials that I could be violating copyright law. Aside from graduate students, student work is unlikely to be made available to or scrutinized by the greater public. That as it may students should still be made aware that original works they create are their property and no one has the right to use it without permission.
Online safety is a particularly troublesome subject today. It used to be parents only had to worry about their kids and strangers when they were out of the house walking somewhere or playing. Any other time, they were in the house safe from strangers. With the advent of email, personal cell phones, and now online social sites, our kids can be communicating with a friend from school or a child molester in the next town, all while sitting 10 feet from us in the comfort of our home. The shadier side of humanity has embraced these new technologies as fast as the legitimate users. Our children and students need to be aware that not everything they see online is as it seems. Anyone can be anyone in the world of Facebook and other online social sites. Those students who may not be so popular in school are particularly at risk. They may find a sympathetic ear online and develop a friendship and not really know who is on the other end of the connection. This is particularly dangerous when someone wants to meet in person. Who knows who will be meeting your child online. Falling prey to predators is only one aspect of online safety children and students need to be aware of. Everyone, students young and old and parent, needs to be aware that what they put online is out there for everyone to see. Anything that is written and any pictures posted maybe seen by anyone and everyone. Everyone has seen a You Tube video of someone making a fool of themselves. Everyone need to think about who they want to see their information when they post it. A good rule is, if you don’t want it to be seen by everyone then don’t put it online. Does your future boss need to see the drunk pictures of you at a college party? Do you want your new boyfriend/girlfriend to see the racy pictures of you with your last boyfriend/girlfriend? We as teachers are often left with the responsibility to teach children life skills their parents are unaware of or are unable to teach their own children.
