Advice for Parents. Please keep this as a resource to use at home At school the Internet is mostly used to support teaching and learning. At home, however, it is often used differently. Not only is it a study resource for students, but it is increasingly being used as a social space to meet, play and chat. The Internet can be lots of fun. If you have the Internet at home, encourage your child to show you what they are doing online. If not, see if you can make a time to visit the school to see their work and how the school uses the Internet. Bullying, stranger danger, gossip, telling the wrong people personal information about yourself have long been issues for young people growing up. These are all behaviours which now present online. These are not “Virtual” Issues. They are real and can harm and hurt. At home we recommend you: o make some time to sit with your child to find out how they are using the Internet and who else is involved in any online activities o ask them to give you a tour of their “space” if they are using a site which allows them to chat, publish photos, play games etc o always get them to set the space to “Private” if they use a social networking site like MySpace, Facebook,You Tube etc – They are then in control of who contacts them and can accesses their information. They can block out anyone at anytime. o have the computer with Internet access in a shared place in the house – not your child’s bedroom o negotiate appropriate times for you child’s online activities and use of mobile phones. o ask questions when your child shows you what they are doing o how does it work and how do you set it up? Can you block out people? o who else is sharing this space or game - did you know them before or “meet” them online? What do you know about them? o why is this so enjoyable – what makes it fun? o can you see any risks or dangers in the activity - what would you say to warn/inform a younger child who was going to start to use the space? o what are you doing to protect yourself or your friends from these potential dangers? o when would you inform an adult about an incident that has happened online that concerns you? Discuss why your child might keep it to themselves. Many students say they will not tell an adult they are in trouble or ask for help because: o they might get the blame for any incident o they don’t think adults “get” their online stuff – it is for students only o they might put at risk their own access to technology by either: o admitting to a mistake o...
Advice for Parents. It is important for parents to understand how students can safely and responsibly use digital technologies and the strategies that can be implemented at home. The following resources provide current information from both the Department of Education & Training and The Children’s eSafety Commission: o Bullystoppers Parent Interactive Learning Modules (xxx.xxxxxxxxx.xxx.xxx.xx/xxxxx/xxxxxxxx/xxxxxxxxxxxxx/Xxxxx/xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxxx) o iParent | Office of the Children's eSafety Commissioner (xxxxx://xxx.xxxxxxx.xxx.xx/xxxxxxxxx-xxxxxxxxx/xxxxxxx) Bring Your Own Device Information can be found in the BYOD Policy. Please sign and return the Agreement on the next page to the College. The Mobile Technology & Internet User Agreement must be signed and provided to the school before the Netbook computer or any mobile technologies can be used at school. MOBILE TECHNOLOGY & INTERNET USER AGREEMENT This sheet must be signed, removed and returned to school. I have read the Mobile Technology & Internet User Agreement carefully and understand the significance of the conditions and agree to follow these rules. I understand that any breach of these conditions will result in internet and mobile technology access privileges being suspended or revoked. Student Name: Year Level: Student Signature: Parent Name: Parent/Guardian Signature:
