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Interactive Case Studies
Get Certified
The Guide
Online Resources
What Parents Need to Know
ONLINE RESOURCES
The Internet itself is an excellent source of information about all aspects of safe, responsible and ethical Internet use.
General Internet Safety
Personal Information Safety Tips
Demystifying Illegal Music Downloading
Legal Music Purchase Sites
Understanding P2P and File Sharing
Homework Starter Sites
Guides to Citing Internet Sources
Checking the Credibility of Internet Sources
Hoax Site Examples
Tips for Safe E-Mailing
Internet and Email Fraud
Recognizing and Avoiding Computer Viruses
Online Chat Safety Tips
School Projects Involving Internet Chats
Internet Site Ratings and Filters
Setting Up Rules for Traveling in Cyberspace
Benefits of the Internet
Here's a site that makes a case for how the benefits of the Internet far out-weight its risks.
http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/kids/planning
/safety_page2.html
Child Safety on the Information Highway
Well-known child safety online expert Lawrence J. Magid details the benefits and dangers of Internet use by children and puts them into a perspective we can all understand.
http://www.safekids.com/child_safety.htm
Internet Safety Tutorial
Looking for details about positive ways to use the Internet? You'll find just what you're looking for in this Internet Tutorial. It's a quick and easy read.
http://familyinternet.about.com/library/safety/blsafety1.htm
Parents Guide to the Internet
The U.S. Department of Education developed this guide back in 1997, but its information couldn't be more pertinent today. Parents who are serious about making sure their children use the Internet wisely and effectively will appreciate this handy reference.
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/internet/index.html
Guidelines for Parents
Parents know that kids shouldn't be giving out personal information online, but just what information does this include? Should kids use pseudonyms when they are online? What about kids' online friends?
http://www.safekids.com/child_safety.htm#Guidelines
The Interactive Contract
Designed as a way to get kids to realize the importance of safety online, the Interactive Contract is a model for an agreement between parents and kids about their Internet use. It targets 21 different areas of concern. Parents can copy the agreement and modify it as they wish.
http://www.wiredkids.org/documents/interactive_contract.html
FBI Kids Safety
For younger kids, the FBI's Internet Safety tips include rules about meeting people online, giving out personal information such as photos and addresses, and what to do if they encounter something online that scares them or makes them feel uneasy.
http://www.fbi.gov/kids/k5th/safety2.htm
RIAA
RIAA is the site for the Recording Industry Association of America. The site includes information about issues facing the industry and puts a human face on the problem of pirating music.
http://www.riaa.com
Wired Safety
Baffled by the whole music downloading issue? Here's a guide that will make you an instant authority on the topic. Bottom line, piracy is illegal, and if your kids are not paying for songs they download (with very few exceptions), it's time for you to step in.
http://www.wiredpatrol.org/documents/downloadingmusic_parryguide.html
Internet Library of Law and Court Decisions
For brief summaries of court decisions related to Internet use, go to the Internet Library of Law and Court Decisions. You'll find case updates on MP3, DVD, audio files, and a host of others including privacy, shareware, email, and copyright.
http://www.phillipsnizer.com/internetlib2.htm
Apple's iTunes
One of the best places online for legal downloading of music. You'll find the iTunes store convenient and fun and the music inexpensive and easy to download. Both Mac and PC users will feel at home at iTunes.
http://www.apple.com/itunes
Napster (The New Napster)
This is legal the Napster music store with over 500,000 tracks available for downloading. There's also a Napster Radio for aspiring DJs and a Napster community network.
http://www.napster.com
BuyMusic.com
For those with Windows operating systems, BuyMusic is another place to select music online and download tracks and albums legally. It offers, as do Napster and iTunes, a wide selection for downloading.
http://www.buymusic.com
C/Net Peer to Peer
This news piece details the history of peer-to-peer networks and the emergence of peer-to-peer software for individuals after the Napster lawsuits.
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-277478.html
How File Sharing Works
The site "How Stuff Works" is a reliable source for all sorts of information including details on file sharing. In a concise and easy to read format, the site discusses the popularity of Napster, peer-to-peer networks, and copyright infringement.
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/file-sharing.htm
Peer to Peer Networks
NetSafekids tackles peer-to-peer networks with cautionary advice for parents. Such networks, for example, can bypass filtering and can offer access to graphic content such as pornographic images and video.
http://www.nap.edu/netsafekids/how_peer.html
The American Library Association's Great Web Sites
On everyone's best site list, the American Library Association's Great Web Sites features Internet locations for information on animals, literature and languages, the arts, sciences, history and biography, mathematics and computers, social sciences, and reference.
http://www.ala.org/parentspage/greatsites/amazing.html
Power to Learn
All over the Power to Learn site, you'll find links to great homework help ideas. Whether your kids need to write a book report, make a poster, find a map, organize their work on the computer, there's help at Power to Learn.
http://www.powertolearn.com
National Geographic
Need maps or information about locations throughout the world, animals, nature, photography, travel, or explorations ñ you'll find what you want at National Geographic. There's a Kids section, too, for the younger world explorers.
http://www.nationalgeographic.com
Smithsonian
Just about anything your kids need to know can be found at one of the Smithsonian museums. Think about what they'll find when visiting the American History Museum, the National Zoo, the American Indian Museum, the Air and Space Museum, the African Art Museum, and the National History Museum. It just goes on and on!
http://www.si.edu
NASA
Always the site to head to for information on air and space flight, facts on the planets, stars and space, NASA includes places for kids, students, and educators. Sign up to receive NASA news, and you and your children will be linking back to NASA to be treated to the latest news from space.
http://www.nasa.gov
Atlapedia Online
Your children will find loads of information about countries and lots of physical and political maps on this site. There are, in addition, homework resources for teachers and kids.
http://www.atlapedia.com
How Stuff Works
Want to know how something/anything works? This site is the place to go. Find out how electric lights, cell phones, car engines- you name it -work.
http://www.howstuffworks.com
How to Write a Book Report
For kids in Grades 3-8, here's an interactive guide to assist them with writing the "dreaded" book report. Kids can download outlines to help them with their note-taking, writing, and organization of their thoughts.
http://www.childsoftpress.com/ididit/CODE/book_report_000.html
Fact Monster
It's the Fact Monster's job to give facts on just about everything- news, the world, the U.S., people, words, math, science, sports, games, and homework. Features include This Day in History, Analogy of the Day, Word Quiz and more.
http://www.factmonster.com
APA Style
The American Psychological Association's guide to writing is one of the standard styles used in schools and colleges. APA guidelines on electronic references are included on this site.
http://www.apastyle.org/elecref.html
The Purdue University Owl (Online Writing Lab)
The OWL lab at Purdue has long been the place to go for information on writing. This section of the site features details on use of the MLA (Modern Language Association) style for source citing.
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_mla.html
Kids Selection Criteria
How can kids tell if a site is one they'll find valuable and if it contains information they can trust? Kids Selection Criteria lists what they and their parents should look for when it comes to design, ease of use, content, and credibility.
http://www.madison.k12.wi.us/tnl/detectives/kids/selection.html
Using the Internet for School Reports
This feature from the Boston Public Library gives a list of eight questions students should ask themselves about sites they visit. If a site doesn't meet the criteria, it's probably not a good one to use for school reports or to use at all.
http://www.bpl.org/KIDS/Evaluate.htm
Operation Green Cheese
Did our astronauts really land on the moon or was it a Hollywood production? This site is one of several that promotes the idea that the lunar landing never happened and can help kids understand how a hoax site can appear to be real.
http://www.vermilion-sands.com/rantlib/greencheese.html
Buy Dehydrated Water
You'll love this one, and if you didn't know it was a hoax, you might wonder if there was such a thing. This site is misinformation in its most exaggerated form, but it gives kids an idea of how false information can appear valid online.
http://www.buydehydratedwater.com
Internet Safety
Family Internet is always a good place to go for information about safety when it comes to kids and computers. This section of Family Internet offers information on filtering software, spam and general email safety for kids.
http://familyinternet.about.com/cs/internetsafety1/a/safety07.htm
Spam
GetNetWise offers tips, tools, and suggestions for action if you're bothered by unwanted email. The tips help you avoid spam, and the tools and actions give you ideas about filtering mail that comes to your computer and reporting email offenders to agencies who can do something about this problem.
http://spam.getnetwise.org
Looks Too good To be True
This website was built to educate consumers and to help prevent users from becoming victims of an Internet fraud scheme. Site includes victims' stories, information about different types of fraud and other helpful and important information.
http://www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com/about.html
How Computer Viruses Work
Take the mystery out of those sneaky computer viruses by discovering what they are and how they can invade your computer. Best of all, learn how to prevent a virus attack.
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/virus.htm
Internet Viruses 101
Every computer owner needs to know about viruses, how they work and how to defend against them.
http://netforbeginners.about.com/od/viruses101/
Viruses/Hoaxes
You've probably gotten email warning you not to open attachments with certain names. Many of these are hoaxes, which are forwarded to you by innocent people. Paying attention to such messages is not a wise way to protect your computer.
http://netforbeginners.about.com/od/computerbeginnerhandbook/a/lockdown.htm
Symantic Products (Norton AntiVirus)
Symantic has a number of software products to help you protect your computer. Norton AntiVirus is one of the most popular.
http://www.symantec.com/product/
McAfee Security Products
McAfee Security offers a line of software products to help you protect your computer.
http://us.mcafee.com
Virus Hoaxes
The Internet ScamBuster site will help you identify virus hoaxes. According to the Department of Energy Computer Incident Advisory (CIAC), hoax debunking takes more time than fighting viruses.
http://www.scambusters.org/VirusHoaxes.html
NetLingo.com - Dictionary of Internet Terms
Are your kids IMing or e-mailing using acronyms or shorthand that leaves you baffled? Use this site to learn the abbreviations people use when they communicate online, with PDAs, through text messaging, etc.
http://www.netlingo.com/emailsh.cfm
Family Internet
Chatting online can be educational and fun, but it can also be dangerous if your kids don't follow the rules. Check Family Internet for information on chat benefits, dangers, and filtering software.
http://familyinternet.about.com/library/safety/blsafety9.htm
BBC Chat Guide
The BBC (British Broadcasting Company) provides handy chat guides targeted to kids, parents, teens, and teachers. The site lists five golden rules for successful and safe chatting.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/chatguide/
Surfnet Kids List of Monitored Chats
Here's a list of monitored chats for kids. They include Creative Writing for Teens, HeadBone, and NASA Quest.
http://www.surfnetkids.com/chat.htm
Teens and Talk: The Lure of Instant Messaging
Family Education calls Instant Messaging the "21st Century Pizza Parlor" and details information on the good and the bad of teen chatting. Suggestions for rules are provided.
http://familyeducation.com/article/0,1120,4-11432,00.html
Global Schoolhouse
Global Schoolhouse includes a clearinghouse of over 900 collaborative projects. Each project is listed by topic, grade, and date. If you are looking for a project to do with other schools, this is a great place to start.
http://www.globalschoolhouse.com
KidLink
The educators who run KidLink offer chats, activities, and celebrations for kids, young people and adults around the world. And they can publish their own art, music, and learning projects on the site.
http://www.kidlink.org/english/general/irc.html
Schoolnet Global
SchoolNet Global offers the following collaborative projects: The Sustainability Project, The My Culture Project, The My Country Project, and The Road Map to Peace Project. Next on the agenda is the My Languages Project.
http://intuitivemedia.com/eb.html
Internet Content Rating Association
ICRA is an international content rating system for the Internet. Filtering categories include chat, language used on a site, nudity and sexual content of a site, violence depicted on a site, and others areas such as gambling, drugs, and alcohol.
http://www.icra.org/about/
GetNetWise
GetNetWise provides information about products that are designed to help online experiences be safe and rewarding. Finding software that filters and/or monitors what children are doing online is easy with GetNetWise's "Tools for Families" search.
http://kids.getnetwise.org/tools/index.php
Family Internet's List of Filtering Software
At the bottom of the web page, click on "Compare Features of Popular Programs Easily" or "My Top Picks - Filtering Software" to find Family Internet's lists of filtering programs.
http://familyinternet.about.com/library/filter/blfilterindex2.htm
To Filter or Not - American Association of School Librarians
It's hard to decide what to do about filtering, but librarians have some answers for you about the pros and cons of this type of software. The site also includes links to additional information.
http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/schlibrariesandyou/parentsandcomm/filterproscons.htm
Guide to Filtering Software
Several web pages of information on filtering software are provided in this link. You'll find information on how the software works such as keeping track of activities on your computer, capturing pictures of the Web activity on your computer, scanning documents for unacceptable words, entering a list of acceptable sites, etc.
http://familyinternet.about.com/cs/internetfiltering/a/aafilteringsf.htm
Snooping on Your Kids
How do you know what your kids have been doing online? The answer: There are lots of ways, some of which you can do with your Web browser and others with monitoring software.
http://familyinternet.about.com/cs/internetsafety1/a/safety04.htm
Creating a Family Pledge of Online Safety
Yahooligans, the search engine for kids, suggests parents discuss this pledge with their children. Following the guidelines in the pledge will help keep children safe online.
http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/parents/createfamilypledge.html
Safe Kids
Eight excellent rules for online safety from SafeKids.
http://www.safekids.com/kidsrules.htm
Slouch Potatoes
Teaching kids proper ergonomics, which is most important for your children's future health, is featured in this piece.
http://familyeducation.com/article/0,1120,20-21530-0-3,00.html
Options to Limit Time Online
How do you monitor how much time your child spends online? There's software that can keep track of it for you.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/kimkomando/2003-10-27-komando_x.htm
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