The #ETCoaches Twitter chat moderated by @SusanWinesmith begins in 30 minutes. Bringing families along for the ride; digital citizenship beyond the classroom
At our school we have a strong Digital Citizenship (DC) program in place. We mostly follow the @CommonSenseEd curriculum for all students 3-8 and will be extending that to our 1st and 2nd graders next year #ETCoaches
We are also developing a family outreach arm to our DC program. We bring experts to the school to talk with families and we have formed a group that come together and support each other as we all muddle through the best way to support our kids digital lives #ETCoaches
Hello #ETCoaches - I am Melissa from PA. I am an online ed tech coach and the educational content manager at Source for Learning. Excited to learn together 2nite.
Q1: What are some questions or concerns that your parenting community come to you with about helping their children stay safe online? How do you respond? #ETCoaches
Start a dialogue, period. :) One thing I suggest is that elementary age students don't necessarily need a smartphone. Find out from your service provider about parental settings, but know that it doesn't guarantee safety. #ETcoaches
Our school showed @screenagers which was a great starting point for us. It was also a good way to have families all together talking about the issues #ETCoaches
#ETCoaches A1cont. My personal tips include waiting until the legal age (usually 13), being "friends" with them on all of the social media outlets, putting a password so the students can't buy apps without the parent reading reviews, age recommendations, etc... STAY INFORMED!
#ETCoaches A2. Yeah, no devices after 8 (or 9pm) depending on the night. They all go to the docking station ;) And they "sleep" until 7 on school days or 9 on weekends. We are more strict with our younger ones and ease up with age.
A good way to step back a little, but not completely is to ask your teen to write down passwords and then seal them in an envelope that you (the parent) would look in only if necessary #ETCoaches
#ETCoaches A3. Yes, we have them at all levels. Parents can come and "tech it out" and try the apps and sites their kids are using, plus have an open discussion about Dig Cit.
A3: We recently had a talking/listening session with parents and Middle school students which was facilitated by myself and an adolescent psychiatrist. It was really powerful #ETCoaches
Q4: Student privacy is a hot button issue with families at our school right now. How do you go about ensuring privacy while still encouraging teachers and students to explore new apps and technologies? #ETCoaches
A4. #ETCoaches - keeping parents informed. Get permission, if needed - but share the tools on your class site or blog. Have an open house night for parents to come in a "tech out" the new tools and have Q/A
A5: I use Children's Technology Review to research apps and they often have a good review of online safety aspects as well. https://t.co/HNLpZ4WXBn#ETCoaches
Q6: As EdTech Coaches, what are the questions that teachers are coming to you with in regards to DC? Are they the same as families, or different? #ETCoaches
Q7: What processes do you use to vet apps and sites for your teachers and students? Do families have the option to opt out of individual app use? #ETCoaches
A7: 1st I think it the app answers my pedagogical needs, then I start a small pilot and if THAT works reccomend it on a large scale. Don't just follow hypes. #ETCoaches
Mainly to remember to get parent permission if there is ANY doubt and keep the lines of communication open. Share the apps or sites on the class blog or site. #ETCoaches
