Online Learning & Internet Safety: What Teachers and Parents Need to Know
With the Coronavirus forcing many students to transition into online learning, America’s youth are spending more time on their devices than ever before. This rise in screen time is almost certain to increase cyber-bullying, and during this time, home isolation presents a great chance for parents and teachers to make sure they are being vigilant.
Teachers have a unique role in students' lives, and that provides them with an opportunity to set expectations for respectful behavior with their students early on in the online learning process. As a teacher, you should keep close tabs on all online interactions that you are able to see, and be sure to make your standards very
clear. Keep in mind that there can still be disciplinary consequences for students who show cruelty toward others, either in terms of grading or in administrative actions when school resumes. Encourage your students to send you screenshots or recordings of any harmful behavior that takes place online. It is also important to convey to your students that they need to stay positive during this time, and that we are all feeling the effects of social isolation.
While teachers can often monitor social activity on apps like Blackboard and Canvas, parents need to talk with their youth about what they are doing and seeing online. As a parent, you want to make sure that you establish an open line of communication so that your child feels comfortable turning to you when dealing with an online crisis. A few questions you can ask your child to get the discussion started:
What social media apps do you use most frequently?
Are your accounts set to private?
Do you get a lot of friend requests from strangers? If so, how do you handle that?
Avoid bombarding them with questions, rather find an opportunity when they are more likely to be open to discussing the topic. If cyber-bullying is happening to your child and the aggressor is someone who attends the same school, be sure to reach out to an administrator first to ensure appropriate steps are taken.
For more information about the increases in cyber-bullying we are likely to see during this time, and what to do about it, please visit https://cyberbullying.org.
-Casey Halferty