How Can We Use Blogging in the Classroom SAFELY?

The Internet is not only a invaluable resource, it can also be a very dangerous place for adults and children if the right precautions are not taken.  Therefore, it is essential to lay some ground work before allowing students to interact with the world of blogging in the classroom. As teachers, it is important that we teach and model these Internet safety tips while we are in the classroom!  I have compiled a list of tips that I think are the most important to teach and model for children in a school or home setting:

1. Be anonymous: do not use your name, address, phone number, location or pictures with strangers
2. Be in control: set up your privacy preferences so that only the people that you want will be able to check out your blog AND so that you are able to control (in some way) the comments that are posted to your page
3. Think twice: about uploading pictures, giving out personal information, opening files or e-mails from strangers or blogging about an issue that may get you into trouble
4. Ask for help: if you find that a stranger is making inappropriate or unwanted comments, ask an adult to help you solve the problem
5. Be true to yourself: blog with your morals and ideals in mind and do not do anything/post anything that you would not do/say in real life

In addition to teaching and modeling these tips for students, I believe parents should be aware that they have a part in this type of educational adventure too.  If students are able to access their blogs at home, parents should be advised to monitor the amount of time their children are on the computer, what types of websites they are visiting and what information they are giving out on these websites.

With these precautions in mind and with effective modeling, students can use the Internet and blogging as an educational tool without any safety concerns.  But, before we let our future adults take control, let's make sure they are aware of the importance of these issues!