Digital Citizenship

When you think of digital safety you probably think about cyberbullying, identity theft, and hackers... but what about the online dangers your children are exposed to through the data that is collected about them at school? To learn more about how this data is collected and used, take a look at the article How Companies Learn What Children Secretly Want to help safeguard your kids and understand the targeted marketing that is going on while children do their schoolwork.

Many popular books, including many that kids are required to read in school, are now available as audio books. This technology can be a great option for older students who already have learned to read. If you have concerns, take a look at Ki Sung’s article, Listening Isn't Cheating: How Audio Books Can Help Us Learn. In fact, listening is actually a critical component of Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts, and as many dyslexic students who rely on audio books point out, it actually takes longer to “read” a book this way.  This may be a good article to have in your arsenal if you have a child who might benefit from listening to books.

Finding the best educational apps for kids is a two way street, says Monica Burns, a teacher, author and speaker who writes for the Edutopia site. Both parents and teachers need to keep an eye out for things that work and share what they find. Burns says a good place to start is Edutopia’s curated iPad app collections for K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. You can also visit her blog to check out some great apps for mobile devices, as well as a list of her favorite websites.

A memo that was recently put out by the US Department of Education states that virtual public schools must meet all the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Officials say it is the responsibility of the state to provide children with access to a free, appropriate public education and that children with disabilities should be given any support needed to be successful in school - even if that school is online. The memo also states that all students must be included in standardized tests and given the accommodations they need. This memo is important for parents of children with special needs to read if they are considering the option of a virtual school.

Edutopia has an updated list of digital resources for getting into the new school year. The list is broken down into categories including back to school checklists, tech tips, parent involvement, and more. There are even links with information for parents about Common Core and understanding what the expectations are in each grade level.

Big-name technology companies such as Microsoft, Google and Facebook offer educational summer programs for high-school students, but there are more ways to learn about computer science and tech careers. Some great resources are provided in an article on the US News and Word Report site, including information on learning to code online, seeking internships closer to home and researching tech jobs.

Is your school talking about the importance of digital citizenship? Parents can help the discussion by bringing up the topic at PTO or parent council meetings. Parent Teacher Organizations can set up webinars, add resources and articles to email or paper newsletters, and make announcements at school events. Resources like the guide How to Take Digital Citizenship Schoolwide During the 2016-17 School Year from EdSurge can also help administrators, teachers, parents and students understand digital citizenship and the importance of adding the topic to schoolwide discussions.

Is your school talking about the importance of digital citizenship? Parents can help the discussion by bringing up the topic at PTO or parent council meetings. Parent Teacher Organizations can set up webinars, add resources and articles to email or paper newsletters, and make announcements at school events. Resources like the guide How to Take Digital Citizenship Schoolwide During the 2016-17 School Year from EdSurge can also help administrators, teachers, parents and students understand digital citizenship and the importance of adding the topic to schoolwide discussions.

While many teenagers are likely to scroll past advertisements on social media, video ads that feature "micro-influencers" (quasi-celebrities paid by brands to talk about products to their legions of adoring fans) are more likely to grab their attention. Most teens know these influencers are being paid, sometimes in the millions, to persuade their buying choices, but they also say they trust the authenticity of the reviews, especially since many of the spokespersons are forward about their financial arrangements. Marketers are looking more and more to enlist influencers to help capture a portion of teens' $44 billion in annual purchasing power.

Are social media apps all just becoming look alikes? Darrell Etherington’s recent article, The Social App Redudancy Engine, proposes so. Etherington points out that when one social media app boasts a unique feature, the rest soon follow suit. This may be good news for parents struggling to keep with what’s new. The question is, though, which app will come out on top when they all become essentially the same?