Learning About Password Protection from Netsmartz

It is never too early to start teaching kids how to be safe online.  Second graders are already using computers to play online games.  Many of these games require accounts with user names and passwords.  I love to use the site, Netsmartz Kids with our younger students.  Here is a second grade class learning about the importance of keeping their passwords private with the eBook, The Princess's Password..  

Afterwards we had a great discussion and also listened to The Password Rap.  That song gives great tips about creating a good password.  Later on we'll practice creating our own passwords.

Becoming Good Digital Citizens

An important part of my job is teaching the students at Magee to be good digital citizens.  I really like the online tool, Common Sense Media.  They have a great digital citizenship curriculum that has a scope and sequence and have recently added in online assessment tools.  Today with 5th graders we talked about what being a good digital citizen means, watched a video clip on Brain Pop about digital etiquette, and worked on adding our own thoughts to a Digital Citizen Pledge.

Here's the pledge we used from the Common Sense Media site.

Here are some 5th graders working in groups, talking about what they think they should add to our Digital Citizen Pledge.

After coming back together as a whole group and deciding as a class what to add to our class pledge, students filled out a Google Form I created to get their feedback.  I wanted to know if they found value in creating and signing a digital citizenship pledge and what part of the pledge had the most meaning to them.

I got some very thoughtful responses.  Here are a few:

"I think it is important because then you know what you should put online and what not to. It helps people to understand that you shouldn't put stuff online that you wouldn't want your parents, or teacher or anyone you might know in the future."

"Yes. I think this because then people can do it instead of learning the hard way. Also I think this because then everyone can learn together instead of only one person learning it at a time."

"The most meaningful part of the pledge is to treat people how you would want to be treated."

One of Our Favorite Online Tools, Kerpoof!

First graders were using Kerpoof this week.  They used it last year as kindergartners and when I told them what we were going to be doing, I got cheers!  Kerpoof is an online tool that allows students to be creative.  Kids can draw, make movies, and much more! First graders are going to be making class online books starting next week.  They will be illustrating their book with Kerpoof.  Stay tuned for more posts as we get started.

Students were told to experiment with the tools and many of them drew Fall pictures.  I saw some great pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns!

One of their favorite things to do is design the avatar to look just like them!  I have to admit that I like that part too!