Journal #3

Morehouse, J. (2011). Learning connections: students dig up dirt to learn about internet safety. Learning and Leading, 39(2), 35. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/issue/Learning_Connections_Students_Dig_Up_Dirt_to_Learn_about_Internet_Safety.aspx

     In this article, Jesse Morehouse, a computer science teacher in Colorado, outlines his lesson on Internet safety. He uses the metaphor of a miner digging up dirt to express unwanted information about a person that is available to the public via the Internet. He says that often times adolescents ignore the dangers of giving out their personal information on the internet because they have the sense that nothing bad will ever happen to them. The lesson leaves them with a sense of “creepiness” as Morehouse says, because after completing the project they realize how much one can learn from only a few bits of personal information. At the end of the lesson, he teaches the students how to change facebook and twitter settings so that their personal information is not exposed to possible predators.

How could I implement a similar lesson in my Elementary School classroom?

By the time I am a teacher, I think that most kids will probably have a Twitter or Facebook. Just warning them about the dangers of the internet will not be enough to educate them on the danger of internet predators. Perhaps I could show them the video Morehouse talked about in his article. I could also find other videos about Internet predators and provide other information on privacy settings. Though since I will be teaching 8 year olds, I would encourage them to use parental guidance while on the Internet. Still, they should understand the danger before they begin to join the world of social networking. 

How can I ensure that my personal “dirt” cannot be found by a future student?

There is nothing worse than being exposed for bad behavior when you are a professional. I have a Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr account. First, I should make sure that all of my profile pictures are school appropriate. No child or parent needs to find me on facebook with a profile picture of me drinking a beer. I need to make sure that my real address, zip code and birth date are not available for public access. And I should make sure that I do not add any of my students, as my school policy might state. In my opinion, its too risky!