Posts
Did you know that a website called, Openbook.org points out ALL your shared personal information on Facebook. It's true, that is why it is imperative that you always check your privacy settings within Facebook and make sure that they are set to "Friends Only." If not, all someone has to do is either type in your name (or your child's name) to obtain your personal identifiable information (Personally Identifiable Information includes: first name, last name, date of birth, phone numbers, name of school, instant message username (IM), and home address).
Therefore, I encourage you to visit openbook.org, to see for yourself, if you or someone else is sharing personal information about you or your child (or you are doing it yourself without knowing it). When you visit openbook.org, type in "here is my phone number" and see what happens or "here is my address," you will be shocked as to how many people share that information with everyone.
As always, your feedback is welcome...
Friday, December 10, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Free App Helps Parents Monitor Kids' Online Activity
This is a great tool for those of us who have teenagers using Facebook. It is an "out of sight out of mind" application that one can use within Facebook. The 'Parental Guidance' app, developed in Western Washington by Schakra, allows parents to keep track of kids' online activity on social networking sites like Facebook. Check out the video below to find out more:
If you use it, let me know what you think, as well...
If you use it, let me know what you think, as well...
Monday, October 11, 2010
October is National Bullying Prevention Month
I usually do not just copy and past an article from another source, but this one by Christy Matte from About.com is worth the read to help parents be aware of what Cyber Bullying is how to help your child with this topic:
What is Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is threatening, lying about, stalking or otherwise harassing a person online or via other electronic communication devices like a cell phone. It is becoming a bigger problem as more and more people spend time on the Internet. There are a number of behaviors that are considered cyberbullying, including:
•Sending harassing messages
•Impersonating another person and gaining trust
•Posting someone elses’ personal information
•Posting false or unsavory information about another person
•Posting private or doctored pictures about another person
•Using the Internet to encourage others to bully the victim
Why is Cyberbullying So Serious?
It may seem like cyberbullying is a trivial matter. Even if you believe that in-person bullying is a problem, it might seem like there is little damage that can be done online. This is far from the truth, however. Cyberbullying can be even more dangerous than in-person incidents:
•It can be more difficult to stop an online bully
•Emotional violence can be more damaging than physical violence
•Cyberbullying can have long term effects as gossip, lies, photos and videos stay long after bruises fade.
•Cyberbullying follows people into the home, which would normally be considered a safe haven from this type of activity.
•It is easy to impersonate another person online, gain someone’s trust and then turn on them.
Why is Cyberbullying So Difficult to Stop?
•Traditional bullies might be suspended from school, banned from certain places or activities or even arrested, but cyberbullies are more elusive.
•The anonymity of the Internet makes it difficult to be sure who is doing the bullying
•The anonymity of the Internet makes cyberbullies, especially kids, bolder.
•Cyberbullying can cross state and even international lines, making it nearly impossible to prosecute.
•Cyberbullies may think they can’t be caught or punished.
•Others may trivialize the damage the cyberbully is doing.
How to Prevent Your Child from Being Victimized
Be your child’s support system. The biggest way to prevent your child from being a victim is to keep the lines of communication open. The means walking a fine line between a concerned caregiver and an overprotective parent. Your child needs to feel that he or she can come to you without negative repercussions. If they are afraid you’ll ban them from the Internet or keep them from going out with friends, they will not confide in you. It also means listening carefully and avoiding the tendency to trivialize what they are experiencing. It may not seem like a big deal to an adult that the most popular kids in school made fun of your child’s hair or clothes, but it can be a serious blow to the self-esteem of a child or teen.
Be firm. Set rules regarding when and how long your child can be online. Accessing the Internet is akin to inviting someone into your home, so you may choose to only allow Web time when you’re at home. Use Internet filters, timers, and whatever else you need to do to protect your child.
Know your child. This is very important. Kids who are already suffering from low self-esteem or depression are prime targets for cyberbullying. It can be tempting to assume that your child is just going through a phase or that they’re just in a “bad mood,” but you are better off seeking professional help if there is a problem than simply waiting things out.
Know the danger signs. Your child may become more withdrawn or moody. They may spend more time online, or may refuse to use the computer altogether. They may cut off ties with friends. If your child gives any indication that they are being bullied on or offline, take it seriously.
Educate. Teach your child what to do in cases where they feel threatened or bullied. They should ignore the offender and contact an adult immediately. They should never engage with the person who is threatening them as that is only encouragement for the behaviors to continue. As an adult, if you feel threatened by someone online, contact the police just to be safe. You can also use built-in measures on certain websites, such as ignoring or reporting someone else.
For more information and resources about Cyber Bullying, here is a direct link to Christy's blog.
What is Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is threatening, lying about, stalking or otherwise harassing a person online or via other electronic communication devices like a cell phone. It is becoming a bigger problem as more and more people spend time on the Internet. There are a number of behaviors that are considered cyberbullying, including:
•Sending harassing messages
•Impersonating another person and gaining trust
•Posting someone elses’ personal information
•Posting false or unsavory information about another person
•Posting private or doctored pictures about another person
•Using the Internet to encourage others to bully the victim
Why is Cyberbullying So Serious?
It may seem like cyberbullying is a trivial matter. Even if you believe that in-person bullying is a problem, it might seem like there is little damage that can be done online. This is far from the truth, however. Cyberbullying can be even more dangerous than in-person incidents:
•It can be more difficult to stop an online bully
•Emotional violence can be more damaging than physical violence
•Cyberbullying can have long term effects as gossip, lies, photos and videos stay long after bruises fade.
•Cyberbullying follows people into the home, which would normally be considered a safe haven from this type of activity.
•It is easy to impersonate another person online, gain someone’s trust and then turn on them.
Why is Cyberbullying So Difficult to Stop?
•Traditional bullies might be suspended from school, banned from certain places or activities or even arrested, but cyberbullies are more elusive.
•The anonymity of the Internet makes it difficult to be sure who is doing the bullying
•The anonymity of the Internet makes cyberbullies, especially kids, bolder.
•Cyberbullying can cross state and even international lines, making it nearly impossible to prosecute.
•Cyberbullies may think they can’t be caught or punished.
•Others may trivialize the damage the cyberbully is doing.
How to Prevent Your Child from Being Victimized
Be your child’s support system. The biggest way to prevent your child from being a victim is to keep the lines of communication open. The means walking a fine line between a concerned caregiver and an overprotective parent. Your child needs to feel that he or she can come to you without negative repercussions. If they are afraid you’ll ban them from the Internet or keep them from going out with friends, they will not confide in you. It also means listening carefully and avoiding the tendency to trivialize what they are experiencing. It may not seem like a big deal to an adult that the most popular kids in school made fun of your child’s hair or clothes, but it can be a serious blow to the self-esteem of a child or teen.
Be firm. Set rules regarding when and how long your child can be online. Accessing the Internet is akin to inviting someone into your home, so you may choose to only allow Web time when you’re at home. Use Internet filters, timers, and whatever else you need to do to protect your child.
Know your child. This is very important. Kids who are already suffering from low self-esteem or depression are prime targets for cyberbullying. It can be tempting to assume that your child is just going through a phase or that they’re just in a “bad mood,” but you are better off seeking professional help if there is a problem than simply waiting things out.
Know the danger signs. Your child may become more withdrawn or moody. They may spend more time online, or may refuse to use the computer altogether. They may cut off ties with friends. If your child gives any indication that they are being bullied on or offline, take it seriously.
Educate. Teach your child what to do in cases where they feel threatened or bullied. They should ignore the offender and contact an adult immediately. They should never engage with the person who is threatening them as that is only encouragement for the behaviors to continue. As an adult, if you feel threatened by someone online, contact the police just to be safe. You can also use built-in measures on certain websites, such as ignoring or reporting someone else.
For more information and resources about Cyber Bullying, here is a direct link to Christy's blog.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Sweet Search 2 Day
I found another great article to share with you from Free Technology 4 Teachers on a great website to use in the classroom or at home with your kids:
Sweet Search 2 Day!
Sweet Search 2 Day is a one page stop for good, up to date, web content that can be used in Science, History, and Language Arts classes. I bookmarked it for my son so that he can find it easily the next time he has homework.
Sweet Search 2 Day!
Sweet Search 2 Day is a one page stop for good, up to date, web content that can be used in Science, History, and Language Arts classes. I bookmarked it for my son so that he can find it easily the next time he has homework.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Extensive Directory Maintained By California Educator Anne Bubnic Provides Easy Access to Internet Safety Programs Worldwide
Friday, September 17, 2010
Power to Learn - Hidden Assets (and Some in Plain View)
Here is a great article I found and wanted to share with you as school begins: Power to Learn - Hidden Assets (and Some in Plain View)
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Google Safe Search
Thank you Google for helping make our lives a little easier at keeping our kids safe on the internet. Watch the video below to find out how.
For more information, visit the Google Family Safety Center. Don't forget to lock safe search on each user profile in you household.
And remember: the internet is a great place to play and learn together!
For more information, visit the Google Family Safety Center. Don't forget to lock safe search on each user profile in you household.
And remember: the internet is a great place to play and learn together!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
First Day of School, First Day of School!
Wahoo, I love the start of a new school year (it's probably the teacher in me). Our boys are all at new schools this year (due to our move back to Kent) and have a lot of new faces to get to know.
Our youngest two are at the same elementary school our oldest boy went to for 1st through 3rd grade, so for me, I already know the most of the staff, which is great.
Our oldest is now in 8th grade and at a new middle school, so I'll need to get to know the teachers and staff along with him.
I think it is important as a parent to be involved with our kids' education and work with the teachers in providing the best possible learning experiences for them.
Now that we are in a routine, I look forward to blogging again about internet safety and family fun websites.
Remember, the internet is a great place to learn from and have fun on, but it's even better when we explore it together.
Our youngest two are at the same elementary school our oldest boy went to for 1st through 3rd grade, so for me, I already know the most of the staff, which is great.
Our oldest is now in 8th grade and at a new middle school, so I'll need to get to know the teachers and staff along with him.
I think it is important as a parent to be involved with our kids' education and work with the teachers in providing the best possible learning experiences for them.
Now that we are in a routine, I look forward to blogging again about internet safety and family fun websites.
Remember, the internet is a great place to learn from and have fun on, but it's even better when we explore it together.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Happy Summer!!
Happy Summer, everyone! Our boys are out of school and we are getting ready to move to a new city...needless to say we are going to be very busy. That said I think I will have to take the summer off, until the dust settles. I will start again in September when we are all moved in and the boys are back in school. Have fun with your kids this summer and I'll blog with you soon!!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Teacher Tuesday: StoryCove - A World of Stories
Happy Tuesday! Here is a great site for teachers and parents to visit with kids of all ages, Story Cove - A World of Stories. Story Cove folktales come from a variety of cultures and places. They share timeless values and simple, universal lessons.
The Story Cove format enables children, families and teachers to explore these stories in a variety of ways. As a result, each child is able to develop a more personal understanding of a story while learning about the world.
Children will enjoy watching the Movies and exploring the activities and games that are linked to that story.
Activities are designed for one-on-one, personal play with interactive puzzles, music fun and hidden pictures.
Lesson Plans extend the story elements to explore the original story with projects and activities that require interaction with adults or other members of the family away from the PC.
Registration is required to access all the features on this wonderful site, but registration is FREE, have fun exploring!
The Story Cove format enables children, families and teachers to explore these stories in a variety of ways. As a result, each child is able to develop a more personal understanding of a story while learning about the world.
Children will enjoy watching the Movies and exploring the activities and games that are linked to that story.
Activities are designed for one-on-one, personal play with interactive puzzles, music fun and hidden pictures.
Lesson Plans extend the story elements to explore the original story with projects and activities that require interaction with adults or other members of the family away from the PC.
Registration is required to access all the features on this wonderful site, but registration is FREE, have fun exploring!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Teacher Tuesday: Podcasting in Education Made Simple
I ran across this great presentation by Andi Kenuam. Andi walks viewers (other teachers and educators)through the nuts and bolts of podcasting in education. In this presentation, she covers the who, what, why, and how of podcasting in education. I found the presentation very insightful and really easy to understand, I can't wait to try it out next year when school starts again. Thanks Andi!!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Teacher Tuesday: Xtranormal Text to Movie Website
I found out about this site while reading a blog on educational technology that I read often, The Penguins's Slide.
"Xtranormal is a site where you can create your own mini movies using pre-made 3D characters and sets. When creating a movie, you can control camera angles, actor expressions and movements, and background sounds and music. Have your students re-create a scene from history or a book they just read. You can sign up for a free account and have your students work from that to save their work and progress OR you can download the desktop software called State."
I had my son take it for a test drive to see if a 13 year old could make a movie without any help, and sure enough, he did.
Then I took it for a test drive, too, and this is what I created:
"Xtranormal is a site where you can create your own mini movies using pre-made 3D characters and sets. When creating a movie, you can control camera angles, actor expressions and movements, and background sounds and music. Have your students re-create a scene from history or a book they just read. You can sign up for a free account and have your students work from that to save their work and progress OR you can download the desktop software called State."
I had my son take it for a test drive to see if a 13 year old could make a movie without any help, and sure enough, he did.
Then I took it for a test drive, too, and this is what I created:
Friday, May 21, 2010
Family Fun Friday: Zooburst
This week I had a chance to try my hand at some new technology online at ZooBurst. ZooBurst is a digital storytelling tool that is designed to let anyone easily create their own customized 3D pop-up books. Using ZooBurst, storytellers of any age can create their own rich worlds in which their stories can come to life.
ZooBurst books are completely web-based and can be experienced using nothing more than your browser outfitted with the Adobe Flash plug-in. Books can be inspected from any angle from with a 3D space, and rotating around a book is as easy as dragging and dropping your mouse. In addition, the author of a book can choose to make items "clickable," allowing you to learn more about individual characters within a story. You can choose to experience a ZooBurst book in a number of ways, including in Augmented Reality. If you have a webcam installed on your computer simply click on the 'Augmented Reality' button at the top of the screen and watch as the book appears in the palm of your hand!
It is a lot of fun and a great way to share a story with your kids, by creating it together...
Here's the story I created:
ZooBurst books are completely web-based and can be experienced using nothing more than your browser outfitted with the Adobe Flash plug-in. Books can be inspected from any angle from with a 3D space, and rotating around a book is as easy as dragging and dropping your mouse. In addition, the author of a book can choose to make items "clickable," allowing you to learn more about individual characters within a story. You can choose to experience a ZooBurst book in a number of ways, including in Augmented Reality. If you have a webcam installed on your computer simply click on the 'Augmented Reality' button at the top of the screen and watch as the book appears in the palm of your hand!
It is a lot of fun and a great way to share a story with your kids, by creating it together...
Here's the story I created:
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
SweetSearch
Sweet Search is an educational search engine where all the website that it suggests has been evaluated by a research department for educational content. A simple way to help reduce extraneous search results, especially helpful with students doing their first online research assignments.
They also have:
SweetSearch for School Librarians for content that helps students use the Web effectively.
SweetSites for teachers and students, organized by subject and academic level.
SweetSearch Biographies for profiles of 1,000+ significant people.
SweetSearch Social Studies for our best social studies content.
They also have:
SweetSearch for School Librarians for content that helps students use the Web effectively.
SweetSites for teachers and students, organized by subject and academic level.
SweetSearch Biographies for profiles of 1,000+ significant people.
SweetSearch Social Studies for our best social studies content.
And a great article on Ten Steps to Better Web Research.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Teacher Tuesday: Starfall
This week, I'd like to feature a web site I read about on the Free Technology For Teachers Blog called "Starfall.com: Interactive Reading and Games." Starfall offers free online activities to help young students learn to read. Starfall covers everything from learning the alphabet to learning how to pronounce words. One of the best features of Starfall is in the "I'm Reading" section of the website. In the "I'm Reading" section students read short stories set in a variety of contexts. As students are reading, if they get stuck on the pronunciation of a word, they can click on any word in the story to hear it pronounced. This same concept applies to other activities offered by Starfall.
Check out this great blog at: http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2010/05/starfall-interactive-reading-lessons.html.
Let me know what you think!
Check out this great blog at: http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2010/05/starfall-interactive-reading-lessons.html.
Let me know what you think!
Friday, May 7, 2010
Family Fun Friday: Dinosaurs
Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs!!! My boys love learning about dinosaurs and I have found a great site to help make that learning fun: KidsDinos.com
With KidsDinos.com, Find out which dinosaur was the largest, which was the smallest, which had the most horns, the longest neck, or which ate the most food.  Dinosaurs ruled the earth for hundreds of millions of years. Than suddenly they disappeared. Where did they go?  Want to memorize dinosaurs? This fun and interactive tool will give you an easy headstart. Create a list of dinosaurs you want to study. Review them frequently until mastery is achieved.  Games, activities, and other fun and educational tools. Learning about ancient life should be fun.  |
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Teacher Tuesday: Kidblog
I know from experience, that getting students to write can sometimes be difficult, but here is a website I found that may offer a possible solution.
Kidblog.org, I love it!
Kidblog.org is designed for elementary and middle school teachers who want to provide each student with their own, unique blog. Kidblog's simple, yet powerful tools allow students to publish posts and participate in discussions within a secure classroom blogging community. Teachers maintain complete control over student blogs.
Application: Check out how this 4th grade teacher uses kidblogger in his classroom:
Kidblog.org, I love it!
Kidblog.org is designed for elementary and middle school teachers who want to provide each student with their own, unique blog. Kidblog's simple, yet powerful tools allow students to publish posts and participate in discussions within a secure classroom blogging community. Teachers maintain complete control over student blogs.
Application: Check out how this 4th grade teacher uses kidblogger in his classroom:
"Josh Bennett recently posted an article about using Kidblog with his 4th grade students. He talks about how blogs motivate students to publish their writing for an authentic purpose for a real audience. He discusses his development of a blogging rubric utilizing elements from the 6 Traits of Writing.
Check out his succinct article for a nice taste of how student blogging can be en effective pedagogical tool in your classroom."
Try it out in your classroom and let me know what you think.
Check out his succinct article for a nice taste of how student blogging can be en effective pedagogical tool in your classroom."
Try it out in your classroom and let me know what you think.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Family Fun Friday
If you are a space cadet like I am or have a Jr. Astronomer in your household, for the 20th anniversary of the Hubble Telescope, Google released a new Google Earth tour of imagery captured by Hubble. It's awesome, the tour takes place in Google Earth Sky View. You can download the tour here or watch a preview in the video below.
Have a great weekend and enjoy exploring our beautiful universe together...
Have a great weekend and enjoy exploring our beautiful universe together...
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Teacher Tuesday
This week, I found a really neat resource for teachers and homeschoolers alike, called "Free Technology For Teachers." One of the features from this blog has to do with the 2010 Census and Google Maps, check it out
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2010/04/follow-2010-census-in-google-earth.html
According to his blog, "This Google Earth layer presents teachers with an opportunity to visually show students how much farther their local areas have to go in order to fully complete the Census. In a Civics class you could show students this data then challenge them to create their own campaigns to get people in their communities to complete the Census. Students could create a video or a multimedia collage (try Glogster) to encourage people to complete the Census form."
Let's get the word out, it's only 10 questions and only takes about 10 minutes to finish and mail back free of charge...
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2010/04/follow-2010-census-in-google-earth.html
According to his blog, "This Google Earth layer presents teachers with an opportunity to visually show students how much farther their local areas have to go in order to fully complete the Census. In a Civics class you could show students this data then challenge them to create their own campaigns to get people in their communities to complete the Census. Students could create a video or a multimedia collage (try Glogster) to encourage people to complete the Census form."
Let's get the word out, it's only 10 questions and only takes about 10 minutes to finish and mail back free of charge...
Monday, April 26, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Family Fun Friday
Welcome to the first edition of Family Fun Friday. This is where I will review a website for the whole family to explore and have fun together.
Have you ever wanted to take the kids to a museum, but it's either too far away or closed that day. Never fear, there are a lot of museums that now have virtual tours or activities that you and your kids can do online together.
The National Museum of American History (part of the Smithsonian) is one of those museums. There are a lot of things to discover here. You can make a sod house, invent the light bulb with Edison, and even unlock the door to the "Nation’s Attic" by looking through the Museum’s collections online.
Go check it out and let me know what you think...
Have you ever wanted to take the kids to a museum, but it's either too far away or closed that day. Never fear, there are a lot of museums that now have virtual tours or activities that you and your kids can do online together.
The National Museum of American History (part of the Smithsonian) is one of those museums. There are a lot of things to discover here. You can make a sod house, invent the light bulb with Edison, and even unlock the door to the "Nation’s Attic" by looking through the Museum’s collections online.
Go check it out and let me know what you think...
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Parry Aftab's Blog: Facebook Dangers: Site Upgrades Safety Measures, Rejects Panic Button - ABC News
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Teacher Tuesday
Welcome to my first edition of Teacher Tuesday. Here, I'm going to feature a website to help teachers and homeschoolers learn easy new ways to include technology within their learning experience.
The first website review is Kids' Vid: Video Production for Students. "Kids' Vid is an instructional web site that gives teachers and students the tools necessary to implement video production in the classroom. Video production can be intimidating to the novice. Not to worry. It is nothing more than a method for recording research and expressing creative ideas. Video production, if properly implemented, is more than a new toy for students. It provides the tools and the means for students to create and display serious work in a new, exciting and engaging way that is appropriate for all age groups and abilities. This is a place for serious fun."
What I like about it is that it makes video production easy and fun with easy to use tips, advice from other kids, and classroom ideas to get you started.
I taught video production last year, and the kids had a ball (so did I), but it doesn't have to be a separate class, you can use it in History, Science, Language Arts, Music and more. All it takes is a little know how..
Have fun!!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Where My Students Play Online....
Last week, I asked my previous students (Jr. High age) what some of their favorite online sites are, I then told them they had to be family friendly sites, so that I could review them myself and share them with others.
So where do kids hang out online other than Facebook and MySpace (I told them those two didn't count, because those two were already known about)?
After some discussion over lunch, they agreed on two sites in particular that they really like spending time on.
The first site is called Poptropica.com, I talked about it a little in my last blog. The site is free, but there is also a paid membership that offers more access to the offerings of the site. Check out this brief video on Poptropica...
So, while you are exploring the many islands of Poptropica, collecting different items needed in a game or competing with others, you can also chat with other Poptropicans. However, what I really like about the chatting aspect of Poptropica, is that, "Poptropica uses a pre-scripted chat system. This means that users are provided with question and answer options to choose from in order to communicate with each other. There is purposely no free chat in Poptropica in order to make our virtual world as safe as possible for kids." In my book, the pre-scripted chat system gets two thumbs up from this mom.
What was the other site the kids liked? The boys (mostly) really like hanging out on PlayCrafter.com. What is PlayCrafter? This site allows you to not only play games that others have created, but it allows you to create your own flash based games to share with others. Watch this video to get an idea of how it works...
PlayCrafter.com is a free site, like Poptropica, and like Poptropica, there is also a premium version membership that you can purchase to get more out of the site. The free membership allows you to play the games, chat (although I'm not sure how their chatting works, I couldn't figure out how to access that option), save high scores, save games you are working on and publish games with up to 10 levels.
I would visit both sites with your child, to determine the safety issues or see them in action yourself, before letting your child have free reign on either site. Poptropica does not link to outside sites, but PlayCrafter does, and you may or may not want your child to visit the outside sites (that's why it's always best to explore new sites together, first).
Have fun exploring!!
So where do kids hang out online other than Facebook and MySpace (I told them those two didn't count, because those two were already known about)?
After some discussion over lunch, they agreed on two sites in particular that they really like spending time on.
The first site is called Poptropica.com, I talked about it a little in my last blog. The site is free, but there is also a paid membership that offers more access to the offerings of the site. Check out this brief video on Poptropica...
So, while you are exploring the many islands of Poptropica, collecting different items needed in a game or competing with others, you can also chat with other Poptropicans. However, what I really like about the chatting aspect of Poptropica, is that, "Poptropica uses a pre-scripted chat system. This means that users are provided with question and answer options to choose from in order to communicate with each other. There is purposely no free chat in Poptropica in order to make our virtual world as safe as possible for kids." In my book, the pre-scripted chat system gets two thumbs up from this mom.
What was the other site the kids liked? The boys (mostly) really like hanging out on PlayCrafter.com. What is PlayCrafter? This site allows you to not only play games that others have created, but it allows you to create your own flash based games to share with others. Watch this video to get an idea of how it works...
PlayCrafter.com is a free site, like Poptropica, and like Poptropica, there is also a premium version membership that you can purchase to get more out of the site. The free membership allows you to play the games, chat (although I'm not sure how their chatting works, I couldn't figure out how to access that option), save high scores, save games you are working on and publish games with up to 10 levels.
I would visit both sites with your child, to determine the safety issues or see them in action yourself, before letting your child have free reign on either site. Poptropica does not link to outside sites, but PlayCrafter does, and you may or may not want your child to visit the outside sites (that's why it's always best to explore new sites together, first).
Have fun exploring!!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
A Mom's Perspective on Social Networking Sites for Young Kids
As a Tech Savvy Family, one of the things we need to be aware of is social networking sites for young kids. Kids are social by nature, and companies are working very hard to encourage and even entice kids to get involved with their social networking websites at an early age (usually starting at age 6 and going through age 15 before the kids then switch to the Facebook and MySpace platforms of social networking sites).
What do social networking sites provide? These sites allow kids to blog, chat, listen to music, post pictures and play games with others online, and they all claim to be "ultra safe" (underscore the word "claim," make sure you check for yourself thoroughly before allowing your child to participate in any social networking environment).
Examples of websites designed for kids include (but are not limited to):
ClubPenguin.com, where when you sign up, you adopt an animated penguin to chat to friends, play games, explore, collect coins and even personalize your very own igloo (it is free, but to get the most out of it, you have to pay for a membership).
Poptropica.com, where your child creates an avatar and moves from island to island, changing costumes and collecting a special medal every time you complete a quest (again, it is free, but to get the most out of it, you have to pay for a membership).
MoshiMonsters.com, where you adopt a monster and roam around Monstro City interacting with other monsters (here you have to sign "adoption papers" before participating, giving the site your name, then create a password and provide an email account for confirmation purposes. It is free, but again, to get the most out of it you're going to have to pay for a membership.
Finally, Webosaurs.com, at this site, you get to choose which dinosaur you want to be and interact with other dinosaurs, play games, watch videos and chat with your dino friends (again, it is free, but to get the most out of it, you have to pay for a membership).
As you can see, all of these sites are basically the same, and they are all geared toward kids ages 6 - 15. So, whether you are a penguin, kid avatar, monster or dinosaur your child can interact with other children online for a price.
As a mom, however, my main concern is the "chatting" aspect of each of the sites. Reason being, you really do not know who you are sharing your information with, and kids are very free with their personal information. It does not take much to have a child share their name, what school they go to, where they live, their age, the names of their siblings, the names of their parents, where their parents work and what they do, you just have to ask in just the right way. It is always best to make sure you establish rules with your child as to what is ok and not ok to post online. It is also a good idea to keep an eye on them while they are visiting these various social networking sites and teach them how to report abuse of the site to the site administrator.
What do social networking sites provide? These sites allow kids to blog, chat, listen to music, post pictures and play games with others online, and they all claim to be "ultra safe" (underscore the word "claim," make sure you check for yourself thoroughly before allowing your child to participate in any social networking environment).
Examples of websites designed for kids include (but are not limited to):
ClubPenguin.com, where when you sign up, you adopt an animated penguin to chat to friends, play games, explore, collect coins and even personalize your very own igloo (it is free, but to get the most out of it, you have to pay for a membership).
Poptropica.com, where your child creates an avatar and moves from island to island, changing costumes and collecting a special medal every time you complete a quest (again, it is free, but to get the most out of it, you have to pay for a membership).
MoshiMonsters.com, where you adopt a monster and roam around Monstro City interacting with other monsters (here you have to sign "adoption papers" before participating, giving the site your name, then create a password and provide an email account for confirmation purposes. It is free, but again, to get the most out of it you're going to have to pay for a membership.
Finally, Webosaurs.com, at this site, you get to choose which dinosaur you want to be and interact with other dinosaurs, play games, watch videos and chat with your dino friends (again, it is free, but to get the most out of it, you have to pay for a membership).
As you can see, all of these sites are basically the same, and they are all geared toward kids ages 6 - 15. So, whether you are a penguin, kid avatar, monster or dinosaur your child can interact with other children online for a price.
As a mom, however, my main concern is the "chatting" aspect of each of the sites. Reason being, you really do not know who you are sharing your information with, and kids are very free with their personal information. It does not take much to have a child share their name, what school they go to, where they live, their age, the names of their siblings, the names of their parents, where their parents work and what they do, you just have to ask in just the right way. It is always best to make sure you establish rules with your child as to what is ok and not ok to post online. It is also a good idea to keep an eye on them while they are visiting these various social networking sites and teach them how to report abuse of the site to the site administrator.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Kidzui: Surfing the net kid style (with prescreened websites approved by teachers and parents).
As a computer teacher and a parent, I think the internet is a great place to explore and learn all kinds of fun things. But two out of three of my boys are pretty young, and I’m not ready to allow them to get online with a real web browser and end up who knows where looking at who knows what.
So I started doing some research on other options for younger kids and surfing the internet. That’s when I found Kidzui, a free web browser you can download onto your computer to let your younger kids surf the net just like big brother.
As you can tell from the screen shot, Kidzui is picture based, so you don’t have to read to find a game to play online. And like I said before, the sites are already screened for appropriateness. What I really like, is that I can have a separate account for each of my boys based on their current age. In other words, the games that show up for my 12 year old boy to play don’t show up for my 5 year old boy to play and sometimes even my 8 year old will not have access to the same games my 12 year old does.
My boys like the fact that you can edit your own “Zui” to look the way you want it to and you can edit the background by changing the color to your liking. It’s so simple, if you get lost, just hit the home button and you can start over. If you really like the game you are playing, you can add to a favorites section and the next time you want to play it, just press the star at the top of the screen to visit your favorite sites page (also in picture form).
Check it out yourself; I’m sure you’ll like it, too. Click on the link below and it will take you there. Enjoy!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
What do you get when you combine the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A organization with Microsoft and Parry Aftab?
Answer: You get the best website on Internet Safety for teen age girls, by teen age girls. Now, I was in the Girl Scouts for eleven years and had the opportunity to participate in a lot of great adventures all across the U.S. and I was glad to see that the organization is still doing great things with and for girls across the U.S., and now the organization has embraced cyberspace as well.
The website is called “Let Me Know (LMK), Life Online,” and its mission is simple:
“LMK was created by the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. in partnership with Windows to help you change the world every time you go online. Empower yourself so that you can educate others on the reality of being a teen online and help adults understand the real issues that affect you every day.”
What I really like is that the girls (ages 13 – 17) are the contributing editors to the site and to the newsletter. They talk about such topics as: Privacy, Cyberbullying, Online Sexual Predators, Social Networking, Mobile Devices and more.
At the bottom of each article on the site, girls who belong to the site (membership is free) have a chance to write comments about the article and share their opinions as well.
Parry Aftab contributes on the topics from within the site, too. Who is Parry Aftab, you ask? Parry Aftab is an Internet Privacy and Security Lawyer who works closely with the teen editors on this site to guide them through the “ever-changing maze of online safety.” She’s awesome! So check it out!! Let Me Know (LMK), Life Online.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Internet Safety Presentation
Friday I had the opportunity to give an Internet Safety Presentation at my old stomping grounds. It was great to see my jr/sr. high school students again and to spend time talking with them about how to keep safe online. I know that a lot of them are starting to use sites such as Facebook and Myspace, and I wanted to remind them about what they should and should not post on their sites.
I started by showing them the video on Internet Safety put together by students in Commack posted on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZHq4CQekTY). We then discussed "what was wrong with this picture," i.e. a ten year old girl having a computer in her room with internet access is just asking for trouble. We then talked about what is considered to be private information.
Next we talked about protecting their reputations online. I showed them a video on that very topic so that they would get a better understanding of how the internet search engines work and how once they post something they can't take it back. A little lesson on think before you post.(http://www.commoncraft.com/protecting-reputations-video)
I then took a look at their Facebook accounts (on the big screen) to show them what I could see, not being on their "friend" list. Some of them were surprised to see that I could see everything (along with millions of others using facebook). I showed them where and how to set their privacy settings and gave them a homework assignment (set your privacy to "friends only").
Our final "food for thought" video was Digital Dosier (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79IYZVYIVLA), to show them that even when they are in their mothers' wombs, digital information about them is being collected and stored and it continues throughout the rest of their lives until they die. It is their responsibility to manage what information is made public and to keep their online reputation, well, reputable.
I started by showing them the video on Internet Safety put together by students in Commack posted on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZHq4CQekTY). We then discussed "what was wrong with this picture," i.e. a ten year old girl having a computer in her room with internet access is just asking for trouble. We then talked about what is considered to be private information.
Next we talked about protecting their reputations online. I showed them a video on that very topic so that they would get a better understanding of how the internet search engines work and how once they post something they can't take it back. A little lesson on think before you post.(http://www.commoncraft.com/protecting-reputations-video)
I then took a look at their Facebook accounts (on the big screen) to show them what I could see, not being on their "friend" list. Some of them were surprised to see that I could see everything (along with millions of others using facebook). I showed them where and how to set their privacy settings and gave them a homework assignment (set your privacy to "friends only").
Our final "food for thought" video was Digital Dosier (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79IYZVYIVLA), to show them that even when they are in their mothers' wombs, digital information about them is being collected and stored and it continues throughout the rest of their lives until they die. It is their responsibility to manage what information is made public and to keep their online reputation, well, reputable.
