Ever since my last post (http://brianlynchblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/blog-safety.html), I cannot stop thinking about about how crucial and necessary it is to be careful when using blogs and wikis with students (or anywhere for that matter).
I've only briefly reviewed the link that Priscilla Norton sent us in an e-mail (http://cybersmartcurriculum.org/), but perhaps this site will shed a little more light on the subject for me. I'd fear that students might engage in cyberbullying, and ruin the fun for everyone else in class.
What could I do to prevent this from happening?
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I think that the first thing to do to avoid cyber-bullying in your class wiki is to tell students that you are aware of it happening out there in other cyber-outlets. Second, I would keep the first wiki project exclusive to the class and you. Third, I would ask the students to create pen names that would help them to remain anonymous. I know that isn't a big barrier, but I think they would enjoy it too. Also, I would encourage the students themselves to be aware of the bullying possibilities and to report it, but to also ignore it on a personal level. You know, striving for maturity. And last, for now, by keeping the wiki exclusive to the class, and having the posts being emailed to you (like Dawn does) you should be able to track the good, bad, and the UGLY! Later Twan. Hope you stretching goes well.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Frank's comment above that keeping the wiki private is a good idea to keep all safe. I did an Internet Safety curriculum project over the summer and reviewed the CyberSmart curriculum as part of this. It has great resources/lessons to teach kids about the dangers out there. Using your wiki in the classroom would provide that teachable moment to talk about these issues or integrate one of those CyberSmart lessons. I'm in the process of doing a wiki with my kids (I've kept it private) and the biggest issue I've run into is their love of social networking. About five kids wasted an entire class commenting back and forth, rather than adding to the content on the wiki. Ugh! Live and learn, I guess. It is of course one more teachable moment for me.
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