Online Safety and the TA-TEKS

Peek at the Tech TEKS Image

In this edition we’ll be focusing on the below TA-TEKS that reference Digital Citizenship.

Strand 5 – Digital citizenship. The student practices safe, responsible, legal, and ethical behavior while using technology tools and resources. The student is expected to:

(C) practice and explain safe and appropriate online behavior, personal security guidelines, digital identity, digital etiquette, and acceptable use of technology; and

(D) understand the negative impact of inappropriate technology use, including online bullying and harassment, hacking, intentional virus setting, invasion of privacy, and piracy such as software, music, video, and other media.

2 Sides of these TA-TEKS

During a dedicated time in the month of October campus librarians will be focusing on this topic. But this is an ongoing TEKS and topic. It is something that is to be properly practiced by us all on a daily basis. These TA-TEKS have two approaches to them. The first, how to protect ourselves from digital threats that are out there. The second, how to be proactively positive while online.

Being Protective

So have you received a Spam Email recently? This is a prime, and very annoying, example of how we always need to be cautious in our online world. Everyone from advertisers to criminals are always trying to make more content enticing enough to click.

We often don’t have this topic come up in the classroom until it’s too late. It’s like constantly telling your students, “Be careful not to randomly trip while walking in the halls.” We would hope no one has that desire and that common sense is there to guide them safely.

When we, the Digital Learning Coaches, train students, we often share a metaphor that passwords are like toothbrushes. You don’t share your toothbrush (hopefully) nor do you seek to borrow others’ toothbrushes (although there was that desperate moment in college…). So you should do the same with passwords. Even if your forever love (because we often find those in middle school) needs your password. Don’t share it. Obviously parents have different rights.

Other Things to Share with students on Being Protective:

Nothing is Temporary Online
Keep your Profile Private – approve of followers
Ignore it and report it – If you feel you’re being attacked don’t engage. It’ll often make it worse. (Can report at cybertipline.com – )
Cool off before responding
Don’t click on it – if it seems odd or out of character, it probably is.

Being Positively Proactive

I’m not going to expand on this too much since there is a ton of great content out there to help students and teachers really push for this. The infographic below provided by ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) is a great representation of proper digital citizenship.