March 2007 — Security
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Patrolling Web 2.0
Safety First
Like it or not, districts are ultimately responsible for where
teachers, staff, and students spend their time online while at
school. To protect students from the risks associated with
social networking sites, a first step is the creation of an
acceptable internet use policy that dictates where each and
every constituent is and is not allowed to go online. The most
effective policies are those that are created and agreed upon
by the administration, understood by the students, and then
monitored and enforced by robust filtering and reporting tools.
At Denver, we’ve also asked parents and teachers to discuss with children the hazards that exist on the internet, and we have coordinated parent and student education programs to address online safety. In addition, the data our reporting tool generates enables us to formulate a comprehensive policy on how to handle our most commonly accessed sites. And we work with teachers and administrators to determine the websites that they most need to be given access to.
No system is fail-safe, particularly when we’re operating in territory where the kids are likely to be a step ahead of the adults. But making the safety of the school’s online experience a priority can pull us even, and ultimately help us get ahead in the drive toward ensuring our students are safe from the risks and dangers lying in wait on the internet.
Robert Losinski is an information security administrator for Denver Public Schools.
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