The resources listed below provide valuable information that would be ideal for use at PTA Meetings. Be sure to tell parents that the CTAP Cybersafety Project contains six additional modules that specifically address the needs of educators, parents and teens.
Cyberpredator Information - Get the Facts Right!
A growing number of people are promoting Internet Safety Education in effort to keep youngsters safe from Internet sex offenders. But be cautious about some of the statistics that you may find from lectures, pamphlets, videos and web sites. Not all of the data accurately reflects what researchers have learned about cyberpredator crimes. For the real stats and myths vs. realities on child predators, download a copy of: Internet Safety For Teens: Getting it Right . This fact sheet (created by Dr. David Finkelhor at the Crimes Against Children Research Center) is packed with helpful clarifying information for your next presentation.
http://www.unh.edu/ccrc/internet-crimes/Internet Factsheet_portrait version_2-6-08_khf.pdf
Social Networking Basics:
Tutorial produced by MySpace and IKeepSafe.org. [Video Tutorial]
This is a great video to show at PTA meetings. Includes information for parents on contacting MySpace.
http://www.ikeepsafe.org/PRC/videotutorials/myspace/index.html
Common Sense Approach to Internet Safety [Video]
To help families make sure that kids get the most out of the Internet and use it in a safe and smart way, Common Sense Media and Google have teamed up to produce a short video that gives parents easy-to-implement suggestions for making Web surfing safer. This is a great video to show at the start of your PTA meeting. Note that this video appears on YouTube which is commonly blocked at schools. You may need to use a conversion tool like Zamzar to convert it to a stand-alone movie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUyQI0USNSY
http://vodpod.com/watch/773284-a-common-sense-approach-to-internet-safety
MySpace Official Guide for Parents and Families [Handout]
The Official Parent and Family Guide to understanding your teen’s use of MySpace. This can be printed out as a handout for distribution at parent workshops.
http://creative.myspace.com/cms/SafetySite/documents/MySpaceParentGuide.pdf
MySpace Department of Safety & Security
Look here to find videos, tutorials, safety tips and information on safety settings. MySpace also offers a comprehensive Safety & Security Overview that explains how they identify underage users and protect younger users from inappropriate content and inappropriate contact.
ParentCare Software
The MySpace folks put control back in the hands of parents with their new ParentCare Software, a free, simple software tool designed to help parents safeguard their teens. ParentCare determines whether a child has a MySpace profile and validates the age, user name, and location listed by the teen. Currently in beta form and available for Windows users only. Great information for your PTA groups to distribute! Both MySpace and IKeepSafe provide links to the download. The IKeepSafe site includes an additional flash video explaining the software.
http://www.ikeepsafe.org/parentcare/pc.html [flash video]
Internet Monitoring Software & Monitoring Policies for Parents [Video]
MySpace safety and security experts offer advise on accountability software for monitoring a child's activity online and some product choices.
http://www.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=cms.viewpage&placement=safety_pagevideo3
Adina's Deck: School Assembly Program
You've done the school assemblies with the requisite message from law enforcement about predator dangers online. But have you addressed your students on cyberbullying, a far more common problem? Adina's Deck includes a 30-minute film, website and parent/teachers guide to educate middle school students about virtual identity and cyber bullying: harmful uses of text messaging, networking sites, & email. Developed by two graduates of Stanford's Learning, Design and Technology program, this slick production is earning rave reviews at academic conferences and San Francisco Bay Area schools. The team has put together a fabulous school assembly program and travels locally and out of state.
http://www.adinasdeck.com/
http://ldt.stanford.edu/~debbieh/
