Technology Safety & Digital Citizenship

Tips for Parents

1. Talk with your students about being safe online and using technology in positive ways.
   1. Parents' Ultimate Guides (Common Sense Media)
   2. Parenting, Media, and Everything in Between (Common Sense Media)
   3. App Info/Reviews (Common Sense Media)
       
2. Conversations to have at home about digital citizenship.
   1. Digital Citizenship Resources for Family Engagement
   2. Keeping Your Students (and Yourself) Safe on Social Media: A Checklist
   3. Do's (Not Don'ts) of Technology (see below)
       
3. Make use of parental controls
   1. Most devices, apps, and website offer parental controls, be sure to enable them on students’ devices at home.

(source:   Common Sense Media)

At-Home Digital Citizenship Activities for Families

• Digital Skills and Parent Tips for the Online World

Do's of Technology

• DO connect with experts via social media

• DO cultivate a positive digital presence
• DO develop coping skills for any negative experience
• DO utilize strong passwords of at least 12 characters
• DO recognize phishing emails and online fakes
• DO be aware of bias techniques
• DO know how to use Google Reverse Image Search and Google Alerts
• DO evaluate the source of all messages
• DO ask yourself “who’s making money from this message?”
• DO recognize your feelings of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) or Compare & Despair
• DO use appropriate manners when communicating online
• DO recognize your audience
• DO acknowledge copyright restrictions
• DO be aware of Terms of Use for apps

(source:   Julie Smith, professor at Webster University)