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Internet Safety
 
Loudoun County Public Schools Internet Safety Program
 
Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS), in collaboration with parents and community members, strives to educate and support students to take advantage of the Internet’s benefits while reducing its risks so that all students understand how to navigate the Internet in safety.
LCPS Internet Safety Program - This is a .pdf file and will require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view.
Understanding the Internet
 
How the Internet Works
How Does the Internet Work? by U&I Learning (commercial site—no advertising) - http://hwi.uni.be/archief/en/index.htm
Animated modules that explain how the Internet works
 
How Internet Infrastructure Works by Jeff Tyson for HowStuffWorks - http://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet-infrastructure.htm
An illustrated article that explains the underlying structure of the Internet
 
HQ: Introduction by For Kids By Kids Online (Cyberspace Research Unit-UK) - http://www.fkbko.co.uk/EN.php?lang=EN&&subject=1&&id=0&&level=0
An illustrated explanation of how the Internet works in the context of Internet Safety for kids
 
The Internet Tutorial  by Dynamic Web Solutions (commercial site—no advertising) - http://www.dynamicwebs.com.au/tutorials/history.htm
Tutorials that explain the workings of the Internet
 
E-mail
BeWebAware: Spam by Media Awareness Network - http://www.bewebaware.ca/english/spam.aspx
Tips for parents regarding spam

GetNetWise: Risks by Technology: Email by Internet Education Foundation - http://kids.getnetwise.org/safetyguide/technology/email
Basic overview of spam and junk mail

Help Keep Spam Out of Your Inbox by Microsoft - http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/email/fightspam.mspx
Tips and filters for blocking junk mail

OnGuard Online: Spam Scams by Federal Trade Commission - http://onguardonline.gov/spam.html
List of popular scams and recommendations for avoiding problems
 
Sorted: Keep Your Information Secure Online by Childnet International - http://www.childnet-int.org/sorted/
Maintaining student safety and privacy
 
Social Networking  - Blogs, Personal Web Pages, Chats
Blogsafety by Childnet International  - http://www.childnet-int.org/blogsafety/
Excellent site with advice for all stakeholders

ChatDanger: How to Keep SAFE While Chatting Online by Childnet International - http://www.chatdanger.com/
Social networking true stories

ConnectSafely Forum by Tech Parenting Group - http://www.blogsafety.com/
Information for kids, parents, and teachers about how to use blogs safely, including acronyms

GetNetWise: Chat by Internet Education Foundation - http://kids.getnetwise.org/safetyguide/technology/chat
Suggestions for avoiding problems in chat rooms

GetNetWise: Social Networking Sites by Internet Education Foundation - http://kids.getnetwise.org/safetyguide/technology/socialnetworking
 Suggestions for parents and children

A Guide to MySpace for Parents with Teens by MySpace - http://creative.myspace.com/safety/safetyguideparents.pdf
Guide to using MySpace safely, sponsored by MySpace and

Seventeen magazine Safety Tips by MySpace - http://www1.myspace.com/misc/tipsForParents.html
Safety Tips posted on the MySpace Web site
 
Safety Tips for Chat Rooms by Microsoft - http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/online/chatsafety.mspx
Recommendations for both parents and kids

7 Things You Should Know About Virtual Worlds by EDUCAUSE - http://www.educause.edu/LibraryDetailPage/666?ID=ELI7015
PDF handout covering the basics on virtual worlds and their use in higher education

7 Things You Should Know about Wikis by EDUCAUSE - http://www.educause.edu/LibraryDetailPage/666?ID=ELI7004
PDF handout covering the basics on Wikis and their use in higher education

Social Networking and DOPA by the Young Adult Library Services Association - http://www.leonline.com/yalsa/positive_uses.pdf
Overview of social networking, including positive uses for education

Social Networking Sites: Safety Tips for Tweens and Teens by Federal Trade Commission - http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/tech/tec14.pdf
Tips for socializing safely online
 
2 SMRT 4U home page by The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children - http://www.2smrt4u.com/
Social networking safety site specifically designed for young girls
 
Instant Messaging
10 Tips for Safer Instant Messaging by Microsoft - http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/online/imsafety.mspx
Suggestions for using instant messaging
 
Understanding the Risks
 
What Are The Risks by SafeKids.Com - http://www.safekids.com/risks.htm
Brief overview of potential risks
 
GetNetWise: What are the Risks for Children Online? by Internet Education Foundation - http://kids.getnetwise.org/safetyguide/danger/
Overview of various Internet risks
 
Cybercrime by National Association of Attorneys General - http://naag.org/publications_cybercrime.php
Online articles about different aspects of cybercrime
 
Identity Theft
Fighting Back against Identity Theft by Federal Trade Commission - http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/
Resources about identity theft, including a printable brochure and PowerPoint slides

Keep Your Identity To Yourself by National Crime Prevention Council - http://www.ncpc.org/media/Identity_Theft.php
Free download of  Preventing Identity Theft: A Guide for Consumers

 
Be Web Aware: Challenging Cyber Bullying by Media Awareness Network - http://www.bewebaware.ca/english/CyberBullying.aspx
Legal overview, role of Internet service providers, and taking action
 
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullies by National Crime Prevention Council - http://www.mcgruff.org/Advice/cyberbullies.php
Tips for avoiding and handling cyberbullies
Cyberbully home page by Cyberbully.org (Nancy Willard) - http://www.cyberbully.org/
Very helpful information with several downloadable handouts
 

Cyberbullying: Research by Cyberbully.us - http://www.cyberbullying.us/research.php
Research and other helpful information

 
Mitigating the Risks
 
Filtering
BeWebAware: Get the Most out of the Internet: Technological Tools by Media Awareness Network - http://www.mediaawareness.ca/english/teachers/wa_teachers/safe_passage_teachers/getmost_techtools.cfm
Checklist for evaluating content-management products and related issues
 
Filtering and Blocking by WiredKids - http://www.wiredkids.org/safesites/filtering.html
Information about filtering, blocking, and outgoing software
 
FilterReview.com by National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families - http://www.filterreview.com/index.htm
Background for selecting the most appropriate filters
 
Ethics and Acceptable Use Policies
Acceptable Use Policies: A Handbook by the Virginia Department of Education - http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Technology/AUP/home.shtml
Virginia’s handbook for creating acceptable use policies with links to resources on cyberethics and filtering

Cyberethics by U.S. Department of Justice, Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section - http://www.cybercrime.gov/cyberethics.htm
Links to sites about cybercrime

RespectCopyrights.org by Motion Picture Association of America - http://www.respectcopyrights.org/content.html
Issues involved with illegal downloads
 
Parental Oversight
Parenting Online by WiredKids - http://wiredkids.org/parents/parentingonline/index.html
                                              http://wiredkids.org/resources/documents/pdf/parentingonline.pdf (printable version)
                                              http://www.wiredkids.org/parents/parentingonline/parentingonline-ES-v1.pdf (Spanish version)
Internet positives and negatives, plus tips for avoiding problems
 
The Positives and Perils of the Internet: Working Together to Make Your Family’s Online Experience Safe and Fun by Donna Rice Hughes for ProtectKids.com - http://www.protectkids.com/parentsafety/positive_peril.htm
Safety tips for parents and children
 
Family Internet Safety by Attorney General of Virginia - http://www.oag.state.va.us/KEY_ISSUES/FAMILY_INTERNET/index.html
 
Teacher Education and Resources
NetSmartz Workshop by National Center for Missing & Expoited Kids - http://www.netsmartz.org/
                                                                                                    http://www.netsmartz.org/espanol/ (Spanish)
LCPS Internet Safety Program
 
 
How the Internet Works
E-mail
Social Networking -blogs, personal pages, chats
Instant Messaging
 
 
What are the Risks
Cybercrime
Identity Theft
Cyberbullying
 
Inappropriate Content - Filtering
Ethics and Acceptable USe Policies
Parental Oversight
Teacher Education and Resources