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Parent Resources

 

Internet Safety

We are committed to educating our students how to use technology appropriately and will continue to create opportunities to discuss internet safety throughout their tenure as a student of District 211.  In 2009, the Illinois General Assembly enacted Public Act 095-0869 Section 5 27-13.3 which states that school districts must incorporate into the school curriculum a component of Internet Safety to be taught at least once each school year.  The state recommended that the unit of instruction include the following topics: Social Networking; Predators; Personal Information; Communications; Online Harassment and Cyber-Bullying; Illegal activities and communications, and Copyright.   At District 211, we have designed curriculum built on the state recommended topics that we strategically deliver at each school.

Below are resources designed for parents to use to help their child become a responsible, ethical digital citizen.

Learn the Basics of Internet Safety

NetSmartz provides parents with the following tips for helping keep their child safe when using the internet. (http://www.netsmartz.org/InternetSafety)

  • Keep the computer in a high-traffic area of your home.
  • Establish limits for which online sites children may visit and for how long.
  • Remember that Internet technology can be mobile, so make sure to monitor cell phones, gaming devices, and laptops.
  • Surf the Internet with your children and let them show you what they like to do online.
  • Know who is connecting with your children online and set rules for social networking, instant messaging, e-mailing, online gaming, and using webcams.
  • Continually dialogue with your children about online safety.
  • Talk to your child about online dangers. Let them know you are there to help them get out of a bad situation.
  • Educate yourself on the ins and outs of the Internet.

Start a Discussion With Your Child – NetSmartz

  • What are your favorite things to do online?
  • What is personal information? Why should you keep it private?
  • What could you do to be safer online?
  • What would you do if anyone online asked to meet you face-to-face?
  • Besides me, who do you feel that you can talk to if you are in a scary or uncomfortable situation?

Learn the 4 Rs – iSafe

  • RECOGNIZE techniques used by online predators to deceive.
  • REFUSE requests for personal information.
  • RESPOND assertively if you are ever in an uncomfortable situation online. Exit the program, log off or turn off the computer, tell a trusted adult, or call the police.
  • REPORT to a trusted adult any suspicious or dangerous contact that makes you feel uncomfortable.
Privacy and Internet Safety for Teens 13+

 

  • How can I make sure my teenager is being safe online?
  • What’s the easiest way to learn about the privacy settings on Instagram, FB or other sites/apps?
  • Who is collecting my kids’ data and what are they doing with it?
  • My teenagers love using location apps on their phone to find each other.  Is that safe?
    Click here to get the latest research, tips, and tools on privacy and internet safety for teens.
Fifteen Sites and Apps Kids are Heading to Beyond Facebook
Cyberbullying
Facebook, Instagram and Social
Learning with Technology
Screen Time
Parental Strategies for Technology Use at Home

We are committed to integrating technology into the classroom curriculum using research-based instructional methods and ongoing professional development.  To do so, we have initiated the One-to-One Program which has equipped all District 211 students and staff with an iPad device.  However, District 211 understands that students are leveraging personal and household devices to enhance their learning. We believe leveraging this technology is essential so that when our students graduate, they will walk out our doors with the skills needed to be as competitive as anyone in  the world.

While we do not install controls on the student iPads for school use, we have heard from parents that they would like to know what their options are for reinforcing positive behaviors using the built-in restrictions.  In an effort to help parents, District 211 has developed the following list of strategies.

Easing the transition to a digital learning environment at home:

  • Have a family discussion about digital devices and come up with ground rules for timely and appropriate use. Suggestions might include: “technology free” mealtimes; device used only for learning activities during the week; video games only allowed on weekends; limited social media use during “family time.”
  • Set guidelines for appropriate social media use. Social Media and the internet can have long-term unintended consequences. Encourage your students to provide access to their social media accounts and help guide the posting of appropriate information.
  • For younger family members, the iPad allows for enabling an option called Guided Access. This “locks” the device into a single application of the parents choice keeping younger children focused on a single task as well as preventing the ability to get into any other app until the Guided Access is removed or modified. For more information on Guided Access go to this link: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5509
  • Additional limitations can be placed on an iPad through the use of Restrictions (parental controls). This feature is built into iOS and can be accessed through the iPad Settings app. The Restrictions feature can limit the ability to install apps and make in-app purchases, as well as enabling rating controls on websites and media content. For more on this feature go to: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4213
  • Disable/restrict wifi access through the family internet router. Many wifi routers have the ability to set-up automated access “timeframes” for when wireless access to the internet can be used. The wifi router then turns on and off internet access according to that schedule. Other options would be to simply change the wifi password and only provide the new one when deemed appropriate and necessary. Consult the wireless manufacturer’s or internet providers support site for information on whether the wifi router owned is capable of setting up automatic internet access timeframes or for instruction on changing the wifi password/key.
  • Parental control solutions are available for parents to manage internet access on the home network.  Such solutions can give parents the ability to filter internet contents to all devices that connect to the home network.  There are free versions and paid services that will provide more robust control.

We look forward to partnering with families as we strive to prepare our students for their future.

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Palatine, Illinois 60067-7336
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