Using Common Sense Media to find Reviewed Apps

Common Sense Media has long been the go to for the K-12 Scope and Sequence for digital citizenship and so much more but often we forget about some of the other great features!

As a parent or a teacher it's important that we find quality apps to add to our devices in the classroom.  Using Common Sense Media's Review page, use search options to find and read about apps, websites, book, movies, and more.  I often find myself searching through the lists and being reminded of some great sites that I may have overlooked!

Choose options and see the ratings and level of learning (if choosing an educational app).

Read a brief overview and view screenshots before downloading it for yourself to check out.  

So if you are looking to refresh some options on your classroom devices, spend sometime checking out this resource!  

Teenagers Sexting - What Is Your School Doing About It?

Earlier this week a story broke of high school teenagers from Portland, Oregon taking video of other students engaged in sexual activities, then sending them to peers via Internet resources.  These incidents happened both on and off high school property.

One parent of a high school student feels it isn't just a Grant High School problem, but that the problem exists nationally.

As the police stated, not knowing that sharing a sexual photo or video of a friend who is under the age of 18 is no excuse, and will be considered distribution of child pornography which will have significant impact on the life of anyone.

This discovered behavior prompted immediate action by the school principal to encourage all parents to have conversations with their children regarding the seriousness of their behavior.

When I read that the principal sent home a letter to all parents with resources, I thought about all the other principals of high schools throughout the region, state, and nation.  What are they doing?  Are they encouraging parents to talk to their children about these issues?  Are these discussions happening in schools between teachers and students?  What should be the responsibility of the schools in teaching digital citizenship? 

Common Sense Media is a great resource to find talking points and lessons regarding this issue and many more.  In particular there is an entire lesson they host called "Overexposed: Sexting and Relationships".

Here are resources from Netsmartz addressing the issue, Tips to Prevent Teens Sexting for Parents, Tips to Prevent Sexting for Teens, and a video "Your Photo Fate".

I encourage all teachers to talk to students regarding digital safety, and if you happen to use this topic to get you started, excellent.  If this activity happened in Portland, Oregon, can it be happening in your school?


Sources:

• Police Investigate reports of sec acts filmed at Grant High School - FOX 12 November 17, 2014
• Portland police investigating Grant High students' filming of sexual activity - Oregon Live November 17, 2014
• Grant High School students' filming of sexual activity reflects nationwide issue - Oregon Live November 19, 2014

Professor Garfield Digital Citizenship Apps

 Keeping the conversation going with your students about digital citizenship and teaching digital literacy is important.  The Infinite Learning Lab  has created free apps for the iPad that would be a great tool to add to your curriculum.

• Professor Garfield Online Safety
• Professor Garfield Cyberbullying 
• Professor Garfield Forms of Media
• Professor Garfield Fact or Opinion 

Each app contains a comic strip story which contains click and drag style questions as they move through based on what they are learning in the comic.  Because the comic strips do not read aloud, these would work best for independent readers, upper elementary through middle school.   

The most power would be to incorporate these apps into a discussion on the topic.  Some students may find it too easy to drag through the comic and then click and drag until they find the right answers.

Little Bird - An Internet Security Storybook for Kids

At what grade should you be addressing Internet Security and Digital Citizenship with your students?  As early as possible.

 

Here is a great story book written for elementary students called Little Bird, an Internet Security Adventure which runs as an iPad app.  Little Bird goes on an adventure and meets several characters, each with an Internet Security dilemma. Students can read the book themselves or have it read to them.  On each page touch the characters to have them say additional engaging statements.

With an emphasis being placed on non-fiction reading for younger students, this is a great resource to begin digital citizenship discussions with your students.