Current Issue #3

http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstoryts.cfm?Articleid=7391

Survey: Parents talk to their kids about the web
Strong majority of parents teach their kids how to be safe online--but schools can still do more to help From eSchool News staff and wire service reports

From eSchool News staff and wire service reports

October 1, 2007

Based on a survey from the San Francisco- based nonprofit Common Sense Media and the Washington, DC based education foundation Cable in the Classroom "finds that the vast majority-85 percent of parents talked to their child in the past year about how to behave on the internet." The report also said that fewer parents talk about how to determine the credibility of online info or how to determine if a website is biased. I believe that is where the teachers should come in and fill this gap. The teachers could be working together with the parents on how to pass this type of information along to the children about finding credible information.

83% of parents said the internet helps their children acquire skills and info needed to succeed in school. These parents also said the internet helps them find things that interest them.

More than 93% of parents said they have taken action to make sure the web sites meet parental standards. In a survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, it was reported that American kids between 8 and 18 spend an average of 6.5 hours a day absorbed in media. This included watching TV or videos, playing with computers, or listening to digital music.

About 80% of mothers said that creating an online profile or site such as a blog or MySpace account was inappropriate and only 65% of fathers said the same.

Parents said the interent has helped kids understand current events as well as express their creativity and connect with people who have similar interests.

Although four out of five parents said the internet helps the kids in school, about 3/4ths said they have had issues with their children's online activities. I think teachers should be working with parents and giving students assignments that require them to go online to safe and controlled blog sites created and monitored by the teacher. With those assignments the teacher should offer useful websites to get them started and teach students what a credible website is. Overall, I believe that the majority of parents are aware of their child's computer use but who can watch their activity at all times?