Welcome to Week 1 of my blog!
Web 2.0 - what is it all about?
Web 2.0 is the second stage of development of the Internet, characterized especially by the change from static web pages to dynamic or user-generated content and the growth of social networking. It provides children with the opportunity to reach audiences, use collaborate tools and develop and enrich on line content.
We looked at blogging as a particular form of reaching an audience. There are many advantages to introducing blogging to children in schools which include:
- promotion of communication skills
- development of writing skills, promoting writing with greater accuracy
- gives children a voice
- easily and instantly accessible
- can be used across all subjects in the primary National Curriculum.
e-Safety
The School’s e-Safety Policy reflects the importance it places on the safe use of information systems and electronic communications.
e-Safety encompasses not only Internet technologies but also electronic communications via mobile phones, games consoles and wireless technology. It highlights the need to educate children and young people about the benefits, risks and responsibilities of using information technology.
The video we watched in the lesson highlighted some potential risks of blogging in schools. Their had safety measures in place to ensure that the children where protected from potential dangers blogging could cause, such as:
- children were made aware of what they can and can not post on their blogs; for example, no clues to where they live
- protection screen in place to ensure no inappropriate information is published
- no personal messages to other pupils.
This school, in particular, highlighted that due to the pupils not being able to comment on others blogs was a limitation as it does not allow the children to interact with each other. This would be a good way of children evaluating and responding to others work. The school is looking at ways in which this can be done securely and safely to allow children to do this.
e-Safety measurements are enforced through a variety of websites which provide information, accessible to all ages, about the potential dangers of instant messengers, mobiles, email and computer games.
There are also helplines for children who feel that they may have been affected by any issues e-Safety has raised, such as Childline.
http://www.chatdanger.com/messenger/
I found this website particularly useful in educating about the dangers of the internet as it tells real-life stories of those that have been affected by miss-use of the internet.
It is important for schools to identify vulnerable groups to inappropriate internet contact. Those that feel socially isolated may be most at risk. Click here for more information about vulnerable groups. There may also be a danger of accidental contact with inappropriate websites or images through search engines. Good planning and preparation is critical in ensuring a safe starting point for the development of web searching skills. Tasks can be planned by teachers that do not require and internet-wide search engine that may bring up some inappropriate content.
You can find an example of considerations, guidance and risk assessment with regards to using social media in schools at this website: http://mdx.mrooms.net/pluginfile.php/90857/mod_resource/content/1/87DA16B8d01.pdf.
templates for schools
e-Safety measurements are enforced through a variety of websites which provide information, accessible to all ages, about the potential dangers of instant messengers, mobiles, email and computer games.
There are also helplines for children who feel that they may have been affected by any issues e-Safety has raised, such as Childline.
http://www.chatdanger.com/messenger/
I found this website particularly useful in educating about the dangers of the internet as it tells real-life stories of those that have been affected by miss-use of the internet.
It is important for schools to identify vulnerable groups to inappropriate internet contact. Those that feel socially isolated may be most at risk. Click here for more information about vulnerable groups. There may also be a danger of accidental contact with inappropriate websites or images through search engines. Good planning and preparation is critical in ensuring a safe starting point for the development of web searching skills. Tasks can be planned by teachers that do not require and internet-wide search engine that may bring up some inappropriate content.
You can find an example of considerations, guidance and risk assessment with regards to using social media in schools at this website: http://mdx.mrooms.net/pluginfile.php/90857/mod_resource/content/1/87DA16B8d01.pdf.
templates for schools
