Today's kids have been dubbed the information generation, brought up with technology and the Internet. They're very often the ones some grown-ups call on when they're stuck with tech related questions, and do so on a regular basis. Just as children need to learn table manners, good behavior and how to cross the street safely, they also need to learn how to safely and responsibly use the technological resources available to them.
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Common Sense Media is working towards that end. The non-profit organization, which already provides information and education for parents, is working with the Harvard School of Education to bring educational programming and learning experiences into schools. To that end, they've created a curriculum that can be used by educators to teach students in K-12 about safe practices such as strong password creation and smart sharing techniques. It's currently used by more than 100,000 students across the U.S.
Common Sense Media has just launched Digital Passport, a web-based interactive learning experience geared toward 3rd through 5th graders. The service uses videos and games to encourage responsible practices while using the Internet.
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Digital Passport allows teachers to set up groups of students with accounts to an online "Passport." Over time, students earn badges while progressing through game levels. Each game section begins with a short video of an older teenager discussing a situation where their online practices landed them in trouble. Through answering questions throughout each level, students advance through the game.
At the completion of a level students are given "What if?" scenarios where cartoons depict the outcome of good online practices.
One such scenario asks what to do if you get an email from money@win.com? Instead of sending the link to your friends or clicking on the "claim now" button, children should first consult their parents. Teachers can then track the scores of students as they advance through each level so they may hone in on what each student may be struggling with.
"Our focus is on making sure kids have that basic behavioral piece that they need," Mike Lorion, vice president and general manager of education told Mashable. "We think in order to take advantage of what's available in a digital world, you have to behave responsibly in a digital world."
Lorion tells us they're working on Digital Passport curriculum for older ages as well.
Do you teach your kids about safe online practices? What do you think about them learning about it in school as well? Let us know in the comments.
This story originally published on Mashable here.
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