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https://gavirtual.instructure.com/courses/2064

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How to Write an Email to your GAVS Teacher

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Could you accept late work if a students reports low screen time on social media? Would you offer an extra credit assignment? Challenge students for easy classroom rewards!

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Save the Tree Octopus!

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Help Save The ENDANGERED

From EXTINCTION!

The Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus

Rare photo of the elusive tree octopus
(Enhanced from cropped telephoto)

The Pacific Northwest tree octopus ( Octopus paxarbolis) can be found in the temperate rainforests of the Olympic Peninsula on the west coast of North America. Their habitat lies on the Eastern side of the Olympic mountain range, adjacent to Hood Canal. These solitary cephalopods reach an average size (measured from arm-tip to mantle-tip,) of 30-33 cm. Unlike most other cephalopods, tree octopuses are amphibious, spending only their early life and the period of their mating season in their ancestral aquatic environment. Because of the moistness of the rainforests and specialized skin adaptations, they are able to keep from becoming desiccated for prolonged periods of time, but given the chance they would prefer resting in pooled water.

An intelligent and inquisitive being (it has the largest brain-to-body ratio for any mollusk), the tree octopus explores its arboreal world by both touch and sight. Adaptations its ancestors originally evolved in the three dimensional environment of the sea have been put to good use in the spatially complex maze of the coniferous Olympic rainforests. The challenges and richness of this environment (and the intimate way in which it interacts with it,) may account for the tree octopus's advanced behavioral development. (Some evolutionary theorists suppose that "arboreal adaptation" is what laid the groundwork in primates for the evolution of the human mind.)

Reaching out with one of her eight arms, each covered in sensitive suckers, a tree octopus might grab a branch to pull herself along in a form of locomotion called tentaculation; or she might be preparing to strike at an insect or small vertebrate, such as a frog or rodent, or steal an egg from a bird's nest; or she might even be examining some object that caught her fancy, instinctively desiring to manipulate it with her dexterous limbs (really deserving the title "sensory organs" more than mere "limbs",) in order to better know it.

Map of estimated tree octopus maximum range, including spawning waters

Tree octopuses have eyesight comparable to humans. Besides allowing them to see their prey and environment, it helps them in inter-octopus relations. Although they are not social animals like us, they display to one-another their emotions through their ability to change the color of their skin: red indicates anger, white fear, while they normally maintain a mottled brown tone to blend in with the background.

The reproductive cycle of the tree octopus is still linked to its roots in the waters of the Puget Sound from where it is thought to have originated. Every year, in Spring, tree octopuses leave their homes in the Olympic National Forest and migrate towards the shore and, eventually, their spawning grounds in Hood Canal. There, they congregate (the only real social time in their lives,) and find mates. After the male has deposited his sperm, he returns to the forests, leaving the female to find an aquatic lair in which to attach her strands of egg-clusters. The female will guard and care for her eggs until they hatch, refusing even to eat, and usually dying from her selflessness. The young will spend the first month or so floating through Hood Canal, Admiralty Inlet, and as far as North Puget Sound before eventually moving out of the water and beginning their adult lives.

Why It's Endangered

Route 101, separating the rainforests of the Olympic Peninsula from Hood Canal

Although the tree octopus is not officially listed on the Endangered Species List, we feel that it should be added since its numbers are at a critically low level for its breeding needs. The reasons for this dire situation include: decimation of habitat by logging and suburban encroachment; building of roads that cut off access to the water which it needs for spawning; predation by foreign species such as house cats; and booming populations of its natural predators, including the bald eagle and sasquatch. What few that make it to the Canal are further hampered in their reproduction by the growing problem of pollution from farming and residential run-off. Unless immediate action is taken to protect this species and its habitat, the Pacific Northwest tree octopus will be but a memory.

The possibility of Pacific Northwest tree octopus extinction is not an unwarranted fear. Other tree octopus species-including the Douglas octopus and the red-ringed madrona sucker-were once abundant throughout the Cascadia region, but have since gone extinct because of threats similar to those faced by paxarbolis, as well as overharvesting by the now-illegal tree octopus trade.

Tree Octopus hat from 1923

The history of the tree octopus trade is a sad one. Their voracious appetite for bird plumes having exhausted all the worthy species of that family, the fashionistas moved on to cephalopodic accoutrements during the early 20th Century. Tree octopuses became prized by the fashion industry as ornamental decorations for hats, leading greedy trappers to wipe out whole populations to feed the vanity of the fashionable rich. While fortunately this practice has been outlawed, its effects still reverberate today as these millinery deprivations brought tree octopus numbers below the critical point where even minor environmental change could cause disaster.

While efforts were made in the past to preserve remaining tree octopus habitat, these were met with resistance by the timber industry, which has traditionally viewed the tree octopus as a nuisance, both because the octopuses favor the valuable, moss-shrouded trees of old growth forests-pitting conservation needs against lucrative sources of lumber-and because octopuses hiding among felled trees often gummed up sawmills and stained pulp vats with their ink.

Traveling sideshow exhibits, such as this one by Glen "Bones" Hartzell from 1942, demonized tree octopuses to the ignorant masses
(Click to enlarge)

These nuisances led many loggers to regard tree octopuses as bad luck, resulting in the pointless killing of octopuses on sight at logging camps in a misguided attempt at eradicating the troublesome species. Anti-octopus sentiment was so strong among loggers that some even began to fear that the octopuses were prone to attacking humans.

These fears were fueled in no small part by gratuitous stories involving tree octopuses harassing lumberjacks and distressing damsels in Northwestern-themed pulp magazines of the 1930-40s and variously "nipping", "entangling", or "suckering the flesh" of the heroes of men's action magazines of the 1950-60s. (The magazine publishers depended on cheap paper made from wood pulp and were glad to contribute to the anti-octopus propaganda campaign of the timber industry.)

To this day, misunderstanding and fear of these gentle creatures can still be found among many old timers, although education campaigns-and special octopus-separators installed at sawmills-have largely halted the practice of tree octopus eradication.

How You Can Help

More Tree Octopus Information

Posters motivate the citizenry to action! Post them!

Tree Octopus FAQs - Frequently asked questions, now with answers.

Tree Octopus Sightings - Includes photos of and behavioral research on the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus and other tree octopus species.

Tree Octopus In The Media - appearances of tree octopuses, both real and fictional, in the media and popular culture.

Research On Other Tree Octopus Species:

The author of this article and its subsections is Lyle Zapato.
This site is not associated with any school or educational organization,
other than the Kelvinic University branch of the Wild Haggis Conservation Society.
Not to be confused with the Pacific Northwest Octopus Tree.

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Information about the endangered Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus and what you can do to save it.

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Here's how to help teens unplug from TV, computer, and cell phone use.
From the WebMD Archives

As the parent of a teen, you know that it's not easy for teens growing up in today's media-saturated world. Although kids share the same concerns about school, friends, and fitting in as you did at the same age, today's teens are never far from their cell phones, computers, TVs, or video game consoles. And that adds up to a lot of distractions that take time away from important things like being physically active and homework.

In fact, according to a recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, over the past five years, kids aged 8 to 18 have increased the amount of time they spend plugged into media by 1 hour and 17 minutes a day, up from 6 hours and 21 minutes to 7 hours and 38 minutes. That is almost as much time as you spend at work -- except that kids keep at it seven days a week. How is all this screen time affecting our teenagers?

"The more time kids spend in front of screens, the more inactive they are," says Gwenn O'Keeffe, MD, a pediatrician and author of CyberSafe: Protecting and Empowering Kids in the Digital World of Texting, Gaming and Social Media. "And it's any kind of screen -- computers, TV, cell phones, or gaming."

The bottom line, experts say, is that whether your teen has weight challenges or not, activity helps children feel better, sleep better, and learn better -- so you'll want to get them away from the screen so they can get moving.

Here's what you can do to encourage your teenager to scale back on screen time and become more active.

Cut Back and Get Kids Active -- Without a Fight

Try these stress-free strategies with your teen to reduce his time in front of the TV or on the computer or phone:

Watch your own screen habits. Although your teen may not seem to pay attention to anything you do or say, you are still her most important role model. So you can't tell her to cut back on TV time if you're watching endless hours of TV, texting while you're driving, or eating dinner with your Blackberry on the table.

Continued

"You have to watch what you do," says Paul Ballas, DO, a child psychiatrist and medical director of the Green Tree School Clinic in Philadelphia. "Parents who have limited TV habits tend to raise kids who will have limited TV habits." In short, if you set household screen-time rules, you also need to follow them.

Remind teens to limit screen usage. Banning electronics completely isn't realistic these days, but it's important to let your teen know you're paying attention to how much time she's on a screen. "Sometimes, you need to give them a gentle reminder like, 'Hey, I think you've used enough technology for now -- it's time to get off and do something else,'" O'Keeffe says. "These kids were born digital, so it's up to us to remind them that there's an unplugged world."

Motivate your teen to exercise. Many kids drop out of sports programs during the teen years. Your teen will be more motivated to move if you let him choose the type of activities he wants to participate in. For example, you may want him to play baseball, but he may prefer swimming at the gym. Show your support for his choice by providing transportation. You can even coordinate schedules so you can work out together.

Another way to help your teen be more active is to use his screen time as a motivation to move more. There are plenty of exercise videos and active video games available that are fun to do and can get his heart rate pumping. Encourage him to play with friends, or get the whole family involved in a little healthy, active on-screen competition.

Encourage activities that involve socializing. Look for activities and clubs that engage your teen socially, so he will get out and be with other people, O'Keeffe says. If you can't convince him to join you at social events, suggest activities related to his interests that involve other kids, such as school or church groups or volunteer work.

Create screen rules together. You'll be more likely to get your teen's buy-in if you come up with screen-time rules as a family. Together you can write up a contract that outlines clear house rules with rewards and agreed upon punishments. Here are some suggestions for rules to implement together:

No texting during meals, either at home or a restaurant

No TV during meals

No TV until after homework and chores are done

The TV gets turned off at a set time at night

The computer stays in a public room in the home

No TVs in bedrooms

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Establishing rules about screen usage limits kids' exposure to TV and other electronic devices, says Donald Shifrin, MD, clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle and a member of the committee on communications for the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Talk about it. Simply setting limits won't go over well with older teens, who need to have rules that make sense to them, O'Keeffe tells WebMD. Explain that the more TV they watch, the less time they have to be physically active and the more likely they are to gain weight. Show them articles or books about the impact of using too much media so they understand that your rules aren't unfounded -- and that you've got their best interests and good health at heart.

Sources

SOURCES:

Kaiser Family Foundation: "Daily media use among children and teens up dramatically from five years ago."

Gwenn O'Keeffe, MD, CyberSafe: Protecting and Empowering Kids in the Digital World of Texting, Gaming and Social Media, American Academy of Pediatrics, 2010.

Paul Ballas, DO, child psychiatrist; medical director, Green Tree School Clinic, Philadelphia, Pa.

KidsHealth: "Fitness and Your 13- to 18-year-old."

Michael Brody, MD, chairman, media committee, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; professor, University of Maryland, College Park.

Donald Shifrin, MD, clinical professor of pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle; member, committee on communications, American Academy of Pediatrics.

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Here's how to help teens unplug from TV, computer, and cell phone use. From the WebMD Archives As the parent of a teen, you know that it's not easy for teens growing up in today's media-saturated world.

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The web is full of questionable stuff, from rumors and inaccurate information to outright lies and so-called fake news. So how do we help students weed out the bad and find what's credible? Help students dig into why and how false information ends up online in the first place, and then practice evaluating the credibility of what they're finding online.

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Finding Credible News | Common Sense Education

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How do we find credible information on the internet? Check out Finding Credible News, a free digital citizenship lesson plan from Common Sense Education, to get your grade 6 students thinking critically and using technology responsibly to learn, create, and participate.

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4 ways to differentiate a good source from a bad source

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Doing online research means having the world at your fingertips, but some sources are stronger than others. Here are 4 ways to ensure your source is good.

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The 9 P's of Digital Citizenship

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Edutopia is a free source of information, inspiration, and practical strategies for learning and teaching in preK-12 education. We are published by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization.

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Cell Phone Weekend Challenge- Check your "Pickups" in your phone settings for one day, then the next day, see if you can cut it in half!

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Cell Phone Weekend Challenge- Check your "Pickups" in your phone settings for one day, then the next day, see if you can cut it in half!

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Additional challenges- limiting apps, "downtime" settings, etc.

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Advantages and Disadvantages with "likes" on Social Media

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Advantages and Disadvantages with "likes" on Social Media

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10 Ways Students Can Avoid Oversharing Online

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10 Ways Students Can Avoid Oversharing Online

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A common mistake teens make is oversharing online when they first start gaining access to social media. If they don't have a solid understanding of what is appropriate to post and what isn't, then they are at risk of posting something that could have a negative impact on their reputation. Parents and educators need to ensure that children are properly equipped to make good decisions online. As adults, we hear time and time again how social media posts affect student opportunities. It's imperative that students understand positive digital etiquette and the impact oversharing online can have on their reputation.

So, how can you make sure your students know what to post on social media before they ever get access to it? We asked 10 experts to share their best tips students can use to avoid oversharing online and on social media.

1. Urge students to only share things relevant to their professional work online

Jennifer Lee Magas, Magas Media Consultants, @MagasMediaPR
Social media has become an integral part of our culture. Unfortunately, it's easily accessible at all stages of life, including the young, the uninformed, and the inebriated. Employers will look up a candidate's social media pages, so it's important to keep it professional.

To avoid oversharing, students should treat social media like a building place for their personal brand. If you wouldn't say it to 60,000 people, don't put it online. If you're upset, avoid posting anything online. Hide photos or comments that reflect poorly on you. Make use of your security settings and only share things relevant to your professional work. Treat social media like a public outing - be succinct, professional, courteous, and kind.

2. Teach students to think before they post

Ruth Carter, Carter Law Firm, @RBCarter
Don't post anything online that you wouldn't put on the front page of the newspaper. This is regardless of privacy settings, and platforms like Snapchat where posts disappear. The same thing applies for emails and text messages. Today's indignation, or what you thought was funny, may be tomorrow's regret.

Assume everything you post or send will be seen by 4 people: your best friend, your worst enemy, your boss/favorite teacher, and your mother. If you don't want one of those people to see what you're thinking about posting/sending, don't do it.

3. Have students customize the security settings on their social media accounts

Emmanuel Schalit, Dashlane, @ESchalit
Prevent oversharing on social media by customizing the security settings for all of your social media accounts to limit who can see what you post.

Think before you post. Be careful not to share posts that could reveal personally identifiable information, like your street address, mother's maiden name, or any information commonly used as an account verification question. If you're headed out of town, share posts about your trip after you return rather than while you are away.

4. Set firm guidelines

Amy Kilvington, Blinds Direct, @BlindsDirectGB
When young people use social media, there is always a risk of information getting into the wrong hands. The best way to avoid this is by setting firm guidelines. Explain to your students or children that they shouldn't type out anything that they wouldn't say to a stranger in person. For example, would they happily give away their phone number to a random person on the street? No, of course not. The same goes for social media. You should not share any information that you wouldn't willingly share 'in real life'. This rule is very effective in ensuring kids stay safe, as it forces them to reconsider their virtual 'friends' as actual people, and think about the consequences that come with giving away information. Finally, it's extremely important to make sure any geo-tags are switched off via Location settings.

5. Explain to students that the internet is permanent

Amanda Jane Saunders-Johnston, CCH Marketing, @AJSJohnston
Teens are notorious for not thinking long-term when it comes to their actions, and that includes social media. Explaining to students that the internet truly is permanent is a great first step. Emphasize that they never know who is reading, even if their account is secure. Share examples of teens who have made statements they thought were funny or private, but reaped the consequences of national attention and lost college admissions or scholarships. With social media, less really is more (except when it comes to clothing), and it's important they learn that now.

6. Remind students to post cautiously on social media

Sage Singleton, SafeWise
It's essential for students to be savvy and cautious when posting to social media. While we all want to post about our new college dorm room, classroom, or campus, it's important to post with caution. Social media gives everyone, including strangers, a clear view into your world and location, leaving you vulnerable and exposed. Don't check in or post your address or location on social media.

7. Encourage students to perform a yearly spring cleaning of their social media

Sarah Donawerth, Social Media Manager, @SarahDonawerth
The role of social media should be a way of connecting friends and sharing your everyday lives with each other. However, students should remember that social media is forever. Facebook now shares memories from your past posts. What will you want to see from your feed in a year? 5 years? 10 years? If you don't want to see your sad face emoji status in 10 years, then you shouldn't be sharing it now. If you really need to share about your breakup or the drama at school, make use of text messages to contact a friend that you can lean on. That way, you're getting advice and comfort from a real person that you know, rather than waiting for an anonymous internet user to chime in on your personal life. Also, consider doing a once-a-year spring cleaning of your social media. If you've found that you tend to overshare and may not want those posts to represent you online, then go back and delete anything that you are not proud of. Social media should be a way to preserve your happiest/funniest/best memories, not your worst. Although it's better not to overshare in the first place, it's never too late to reel it back in!

8. Set a good example as parents and educators

Sue Perry and Velma Ganassini, SOS 4 Kids, @SOSforKids
Not oversharing begins with a good example set by parents. If parents are constantly posting information and photos of their family and kids, they not only set a terrible example for kids, but they can endanger their entire family. Predators learn a lot about the family's habits and whereabouts and use that information for the purposes of select targets. This includes posting on social media, for sale/buy sites, Mom's chat groups, etc.

9. Educate students on the impact social media can have

Chloe Mitchell, The Social Select, @TheSocialSelect
Social media plays such a large role in the lives of students today, and with the temporary nature of popular outlets like Snapchat and Instagram Stories, students often feel that their posts are safe from those outside of their immediate friend group. On the flip side, colleges, educators, and employers are just as interested and active on such platforms, as social media has become a very popular tool for scouting applicants and ensuring they are a good representation of their school or company.

Students can avoid oversharing online by simply being mindful of what they post. It is important to educate students on the impact and consequences of their shared posts. A good rule of thumb is if you wouldn't want your grandmother to see it, don't post it.

10. Remind students that it only takes one data breach to have personal info open to the public

Cristina Escalante, The SilverLogic, @TheSilverLogic
Consciously log out out of Facebook after you check it. This prevents you from getting sucked in, should you instinctively open Facebook. Schedule a social media-free day or evening during your week to practice living without constantly status checking and updating. Apps like RescueTime are great for setting time limits on desktop computers, while Kidtrol is effective when setting limits on apps on iOS devices.

Before sharing anything, remind yourself that anyone working at the platform you're posting on can access all of your pictures, read your private messages, and knows your phone number and email address. We're all one data breach away from having our personal data open to the general public.

Conclusion

Your social media content is tied to your digital footprint and oversharing something online can have a major impact on your future opportunities. Understanding the consequences of oversharing on social media is the first step in learning how to prevent a mistake from happening.

Some helpful tips to avoid oversharing on social media are:

Only share things relevant to your professional/school work.

Don't post anything online that you wouldn't put on the front page of the newspaper.

Think about the consequences that come with giving away personal information.

Remind yourself that you never know who is watching your social media posts (it could be a college admissions officer, coach, or future employer).

If you really need to share about your breakup or the drama at school, make use of text messages to contact a friend that you can lean on. That way, you're getting advice and comfort from a real person that you know, rather than an anonymous internet user.

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10 Ways Students Can Avoid Oversharing Online

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A common mistake teens make when they first get access to social media is oversharing in their posts. Learn what students should focus their social media posts around, how students can consistently clean up their social media, steps to protect students before they gain access to social media, and more.

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Use this video as an introduction to digital footprints.

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This is a great video to share with students regarding the dangers of oversharing online.

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Pinterest Board: Digital Citizenship Videos and Scenarios

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Pinterest Board: Digital Citizenship Videos and Scenarios

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Do you feel like you have a healthy relationship with social media? Could you make it better?

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Do you feel like you have a healthy relationship with social media? Could you make it better?

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Great online resource with tips and links to lesson plans and classroom resources

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The purpose of this resource is to provide teachers and parents with a guide for teaching digital citizenship and netiquette to students. Here, you'll find the definition of " digital citizenship" as well as its application in the classroom and beyond. You'll learn how to teach safety and privacy in an online learning environment, and about cyberbullying and how to prevent it. Furthermore, we'll cover digital property and copyright laws, with an emphasis on preventing plagiarism and encouraging fair use online.

The internet can be a dangerous place for students, where mistakes can have grave consequences. Alternatively, the internet can be a great place for students to learn, get a jumpstart on the future, and connect with each other.

With proper education on the issues covered in this guide, students can learn about internet safety and may be better prepared to reap its benefits, while steering clear of the potential pitfalls.

As a teacher or parent (or both), you know that an interactive dialogue with students is essential to education. Students learn when they are engaged and thinking critically about the material. To teach kids about digital citizenship, you must spark their interest and engage them in a dialogue. Fortunately, kids are usually intrigued by the internet. Educating a child on digital citizenship is a matter of relating the interest they already have with your knowledge on this important subject.

What Does 'Digital Citizenship' Mean, and How Does It Apply to the Classroom?

Ann Collier of NetFamilyNews defines digital citizenship as, "Critical thinking and ethical choices about the content and impact on oneself, others, and one's community of what one sees, says, and produces with media, devices, and technology."

As it applies specifically to the internet, digital citizenship is the set of best practices that describe how a person can navigate safely, ethically, and appropriately on the World Wide Web. This includes efficacy - a digital citizen who adheres to best practices is able to use the internet effectively, for whatever lawful purpose, without compromising their security and that of others.

A good digital citizen knows which types of websites, apps, and online interactions to stay away from, as well as what types of websites are reliable sources of information. They also know what a digital footprint is, and that visiting certain websites and downloading certain files compromises it.

When it comes to cyberbullying and privacy, a good digital citizen follows something akin to the golden rule of the internet: when you engage with others online, treat them the way you want to be treated. This brings us to netiquette.

What Is Netiquette?

Netiquette is a portmanteau of network and etiquette. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, netiquette is a set of "guidelines for courteous communication in the online environment." Netiquette guidelines include rules for both social interaction and technical activities on the internet.

Albion, the longest-running commercial site on the web, includes a resource on the core rules of netiquette, from Virginia Shea's book, Netiquette. The core netiquette rules are:

1. Remember there's a human on the other side of your digital interaction, whether that interaction takes place on social media, email, or forum.

2. Apply your normal standards of behavior to your behavior online.

3. Be aware of context, and tailor your communications accordingly. Different forums, websites, blogs, and social media platforms have varying community standards, which are often stated onsite.

4. Shea says to "respect other people's time and bandwidth." This means users shouldn't post content that doesn't belong on a particular website or forum, nor should they post spam or needlessly long content.

5. Don't post something that will embarrass you and make you look bad. Posting tone-deaf, inappropriate, profane, or unlawful content is one of the major social media mishaps you should avoid.

6. Prioritize and share content from verifiable, expert sources. Avoid sharing content that is questionable in its veracity (fake news).

7. Avoid excessive trolling and "flaming" - flaming is intense, heated, and argumentative discussion, while trolling is abusive and subversive comments.

8. Respect human privacy; don't use digital technology to spy on other people.

9. If you're in a position of power, don't abuse it. Moderators and administrators must not shut down certain users arbitrarily.

10. Be graceful and forgive people their mistakes.

Just as proper table manners are a part of dining with a group, netiquette is a part of digital citizenship. Unfortunately, many members of the online community don't have proper table manners. However, children are now digital natives from a very young age - teachers and parents are well-equipped to influence them positively.

The classroom is the training ground for digital citizenship and netiquette. Through primers, exercises, and discussion, students learn the best practices of digital citizenship in a structured environment. They learn how to use the internet to accomplish goals, and how to be critical of content. Teachers accomplish this through curriculum and hands-on exercises specifically tailored to match practice to curriculum.

Digital Citizenship Curriculum Overview

Any discussion of digital citizenship should include " Vicki Davis' "9 Key P's." Teachers and parents can use the 9 P's to shape and curate digital citizenship curriculum. Because the 9 P's cover a lot of important ground, there are many corresponding resources you can use to create your curriculum.

Here are the subjects that the 9 P's address:

1. Password protection: Students must understand how to create secure passwords, lvary them, and store them safely. For a good place to start, the Cyberbullying Research Center has a teen-specific resource you can easily adapt to younger age groups.

2. Privacy: When it comes to internet safety, kids need to know if and when it's appropriate to share private information that entities can use to identify them. However, they may not be concerned about this issue. The Common Sense Media curriculum helps you answer the question, "what's the big deal about internet privacy?" (grades 9-12).

3. Personal content: Predators and bullies can't necessarily identify students through their personal information, such as their favorite color or the name of their dog. However, it's still not wise for students to share too much information, particularly on social media platforms. Parentinfo.org helps separate the myths from the facts.

4. Photographs: Alert students to the fact that prying eyes can use photos they upload to determine their location and software can identify them through facial recognition technology. Here again, they should think carefully before sharing on social media. Davis' Location Based Safety Guide addresses this issue.

5. Property rights: When it comes to images, digital citizenship requires students to respect copyright laws. Cult of Pedagogy has a resource on teaching students to use images legally online.

6. Permission to use images: Students must attribute the image's source to obtain permission for its use. Here's more information on copyright, fair use, and creative commons, as well as a usable curriculum on proper image attribution.

7. Protection against cyber hackers: Due to the growing prevalence of cyber hackers, it's important to educate students about them. The Department of Homeland Security has a good cybersecurity starting point for educators. Additionally, educators with an online bachelor's degree or an online master's degree in cybersecurity are well-prepared to tackle this subject.

8. Professionalism: Middle school and high school educators can begin informing students on professional standards, including citing sources and using proper grammar.

9. Personal branding: The Huffington Post explains that building a personal brand is important for any high school student seeking to go to college. PwC provides a workbook on personal branding.

The above resources provide a starting point for the 9 P's - there's a wealth of information about these topics available on and offline. Next, we'll delve into one of the most important subject for kids who are active on the internet: safety and privacy.

Teaching Safety and Privacy in an Online Learning Environment

Being able to navigate the internet safely is a necessary computer skill for kids. Internet safety applies both to human users and the information and equipment they leverage online. There are hackers and cyber bullies who seek to compromise networks at schools and in homes. At the same time, there are users who seek to gain access to personal information and try to lure people into vulnerable situations. Staying safe requires an understanding of responsible behavior and responsible use of equipment and resources.

Understanding Digital Footprints

To begin, students should be aware of their digital footprint and its implications. A digital footprint is the unseen record of a user's activities online, including the websites they visit and the files and apps they download. The footprint exists in passive form, as when a website records a user's IP address as a "hit" - which includes information about how long they spent on the site and the pages they visited - or in active form, as when a user logs in to a site and makes changes to their profile and/or the content they post.

The implications of a student's digital footprint are as follows:

If your student posts inappropriate pictures or comments on social media or elsewhere, the content will remain online indefinitely unless removed.

Predators and hackers can access location data through social media pictures and - via the dark web - can purchase data on browsing history and other sensitive data in an effort to target users.

Colleges and potential employers can look at a student's digital footprint - including their social media footprint - to determine whether they want to admit or hire the student.

Social media is just one place where people can examine a student's digital footprint. A simple search on Google and any other search engine can reveal information a student doesn't know is still there, such as profiles they created on old sites.

To schools, teachers, and future employers, the records of a student's online activities - especially their social media posts - provide a picture of the student's digital citizenship, which reflects on their ethics and everyday interactions.

Teaching Middle School Students About Their Digital Footprint

To teach middle school students (grades 6-8) about their digital footprints, consider the following best practices and resources:

Acquaint them with the nature of digital media: "Digital Life 101" provides students with a primer on the always-on nature of digital media and helps them analyze why it's important to engage in online relationships responsibly.

Encourage them to respect others' privacy: "Secret Sharer" encourages students to take a proactive approach in understanding the importance of online privacy.

Encourage safe talk: "Safe Online Talk" provides a short video, a guided class discussion, and a handout to help students understand the importance of avoiding risky conversations online.

Help them think about how they present themselves online: "Which Me Should I Be?" poses the prospect of assuming a different identity online, provides a video to prompt discussion, and includes a handout to help students think ethically about posing as someone else.

Teach them the common sense basics of internet safety: Common Sense on Internet Safety for Middle School Kids is a resource teachers and parents can share in your efforts to teach them the essentials of internet safety. It includes information on

What information they shouldn't share

Which emails they shouldn't open

A basic rule for sharing photos

Password privacy (parents should have access)

Encouragement to tell a trusted adult when something weird happens

Additionally strategies for internet safety

Middle schoolers are just beginning to step out into an intriguing online world where they can potentially talk to anyone and be anybody. Impart critical thinking skills so they can realize newfound independence without stepping into the danger zone.

Teaching High School Students About Their Digital Footprint

To teach high school students (grades 9-12) about their digital footprints, consider the following best practices and resources:

High schoolers are confident digital natives who want to hear the facts and solutions concerning their digital footprints so they can decide for themselves. Parental and school filters aren't necessarily going to keep them from illegally downloading files and engaging in risky interactions online. It's the educators' and parents' job to help them think critically and ethically about internet safety, in part by modeling digital citizenship.

How to Model Digital Citizenship

Modeling digital citizenship is about giving attention to good behavior and "walking the talk" that students hear from authorities on this subject. In other words, if you see a student practicing digital citizenship, commend them for it, and do your best to be a digital citizen they look up to.

As students practice digital citizenship, help them build self-confidence in the classroom by engaging them in activities that help build self-esteem. Combining digital citizenship with confidence-boosting activities helps students build associative pathways that link a positive self-image with digital citizenship and netiquette.

Furthermore, since your students are undoubtedly on social media, consider the best practices for modeling positive interaction on the medium. Nikki Robertson, president-elect of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Librarians Network, recommends the following:

Walk students individually through safe social media usage, from creating a profile to curating friends and followers to posting content.

In the classroom, access your own social media account for the students to see and show how to connect with experts, authors, and positive influencers.

Set up a classroom social media account and give each student the chance to "take over," meaning they get to post pictures and videos of their favorite educational activities. Make sure the rules are well established.

Monitor students' social media usage, and when they make a mistake - such as accepting a friend request from someone they don't know - use it as an opportunity to create a discussion about digital citizenship.

The key is to embrace social media, model positive usage, and set clear expectations and boundaries.

Next, study the Educator's Guide to Social Media, which provides "a framework for thinking about how to best use social media." The guide covers ways to protect your privacy on various social networks, how best to interact with students on social media, protecting student privacy, and a host of other relevant topics, including cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying Awareness and Prevention

Cyberbullying is the use of digital technology to harass, intimidate, threaten, or humiliate a victim. A cyberbully may use texts, social media, email, websites, or website comment boards and forums to troll and bully victims.

In a survey conducted by educators from the Cyberbullying Research Center, nearly 61% of students said they had been bullied online, to the extent that their "ability to learn and feel safe" was affected. Of those who had been cyberbullied, 10% said they had stayed home from school because of it.

To promote internet safety, digital citizenship, and netiquette, it's crucial to curb cyberbullying. Because cyberbullying affects a student's psychological well-being and can lead to physical abuse, you must be prepared to help students deal with it.

Teaching Middle School Students About Cyberbullying

To help middle school students handle cyberbullies, consider the following best practices and resources:

Middle schoolers know all about bullying, but many of them may not be aware of cyberbullying yet (even if they've experienced it), because kids are used to thinking of bullying in the physical sense. Give them illustrations and solutions, and help them engage in a discussion to recognize the different forms bullying, and cyberbullying, can take. Most importantly, work to gain their trust and encourage them to tell you if an incident occurs.

Teaching High School Students About Cyberbullying

To help high school students handle cyberbullies, consider the following best practices and resources:

Help high schoolers understand they can get help and help others fight cyberbullying. Remind them to save evidence of cyberbullying and report incidents to a trusted adult.

Cyberbullying can include incidents in which a bully steals another student's identity or digital property with malicious intent. In that sense, it's helpful to acquaint students with the idea of digital property and its importance.

Copyright and Digital Property

As any teacher knows, plagiarism is a major issue, and any discussion of digital citizenship and netiquette inevitably must answer the question, "What is plagiarism?" To answer this question in a way that is relevant to the internet age, you must first establish the idea of digital property.
Digital Property
Digital property is any data someone can access digitally, including any kind of file, website and social media accounts, images, intellectual property (such as articles and blog posts), software, and contracts. Unless data is marked as fair use and available to the commons, it is someone's property and is subject to digital copyright law.
Copyright Law and Digital Property
Copyright law applies to any digital work that is fixed in a tangible medium (i.e. on a hard drive, in the cloud, on a USB drive), original, and creative. The law specifies that creativity can be very minimal and elementary (e.g. a stick-figure cartoon or game). For your work to qualify for copyright, it must be entirely your own. If you plagiarize a blog post and post it on your own site, you are responsible for copyright violation. The second you create an original work under your name, whether online or off, it's subject to copyright law, meaning other people can't use it without your permission.

For students, the common issues are plagiarism and illegal downloads. There's also the issue of making hard copies and sharing documents that do not have a Creative Commons license, or using copyrighted works under the auspices of fair use.

What Is Plagiarism?

Plagiarism isn't just the act of using another person's words and claiming they're your own - it's the act of appropriating another person's ideas or thoughts as well. In short, plagiarism is the act of stealing someone's work and passing it off as your own.

This applies to images, blog posts, songs - any sort of data that qualifies as the creator's original work. Even if a creation is licensed under the most lenient Creative Commons stipulation (CC BY), and the student can "distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon" the creation, a student must attribute the source of the creation.

What Is Fair Use?

U.S. copyright law permits the "unlicensed use of copyright-protected works in certain circumstances." In layman's terms, students and educators can most likely use a copyrighted work if:

It's for educational purposes

It's a factual or biographical work rather than an artistic, creative one

It's a small portion of the work that doesn't capture the "heart" of it, or the way in which the student uses the entire work is such that it creates a brand new, original thing (collage or parody)

It doesn't affect the work's current or future market value

Courts determine whether the use is fair on a case-by-case basis.
Fair Use Resources:
Creative Commons: Search portal for all content with a Creative Commons license

Canva: Free online tool that enables photo editing and graph creation, and houses a wide variety of document templates

Clipchamp: Free online tool that enables video editing

Illegal Downloads

In one case, a student had to pay $675,000 for illegally downloading and distributing 30 songs. Under federal law, the penalty is anywhere from $750 to $30,000 per copyright infringement. Students may be tempted to illegally download the type of digital property most stringently protected by copyright law: songs, movies, and other creative, original work. They should be reminded of their digital footprint and the penalties they could face for downloading.

Teaching Middle School Students About Copyright and Digital Property

To teach middle school students about copyright and digital property, consider the following best practices and resources:

Help them understand what qualifies as "fair use": "Rework, Reuse, Remix" is a hands-on lesson that teaches students about the four points of fair use by incorporating critical thinking, and students create an original work through fair use.

Use a story to help them think about the responsibility of a creator: "A Creator's Responsibilities" tells the story of a cut-and-paste artist, examines further case studies, and helps students consider the ethical implications of this type of artistry.

Encourage students to view themselves as both consumers and creators: Copyright & Creativity for Ethical Digital Citizens provides a middle school curriculum with sections that explain students' role, how to acquire and share content legally and ethically, and how to create new content via fair use.

Help them understand the difference between plagiarism and paraphrasing: "Exploring Plagiarism, Copyright, and Paraphrasing" is a lesson plan that emphasises the importance of avoiding plagiarism and, through interactive practice, shows students the difference between plagiarism and fair use, as well as paraphrasing.

Middle schoolers are at critical time in their lives where they must gain a clear impression of digital ownership boundaries. Help them understand the problem with plagiarism by impressing upon them how it would feel if someone stole their work, as well as the consequences they could face from educators and authorities. Additionally, acquaint them with the flexibility and possibilities of appropriate fair use.

Teaching High School Students About Copyright and Digital Property

To teach high school students about copyright and digital property, consider the following best practices and resources:

High schoolers are enamored with much of what they see online, and they want freedom. Give them plenty of preparation on fair use and provide them with resources to promote it.

The internet is a powerful tool for social networking, research, and education, and it has become almost ubiquitous in modern schools and households alike. Like any tool, though, it has potential for abuse and requires thoughtful use. Students and educators at every level can benefit enormously from learning to be more conscientious users, and understanding the risks and responsibilities of going online in the modern internet age.

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Digital Citizenship and Netiquette | Maryville Online

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The purpose of this resource is to provide teachers and parents with a guide for teaching digital citizenship and netiquette to students. Here, you'll find the definition of " digital citizenship" as well as its application in the classroom and beyond.

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Digital Citizenship Classroom Resources

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To submit a resource, please complete the DigCitCommit resource application below. Resources will be curated based on their alignment to the five competencies, as well as additional simple criteria.

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Visit this Kathleen Morris site for tips and activities on teaching students about the importance of their digital footprint.