Internet Safety
Keeping Your Student Safe Online
By Guest Blogger on June 25th, 2020
For parents, online safety reminders are equally important as they are for students! Every year, the daily activities we complete online seem to increase – from checking social media to scheduling appointments to even grocery shopping. The internet is one of our most useful tools, but it can also be one of the most dangerous.
Here are our top five tips to protect you and your family. Continue reading
5 Best Practices for Students When Using the Web
By Guest Blogger on October 28th, 2019
The internet plays a huge role in the daily lives of students, from social media to games to online storage. It’s important to have the tools and knowledge you need to protect yourself online.
We’ve compiled these tips to help our students protect themselves and their information on the web. Continue reading
Social Media Use Could Come With A Price!
By Amy LaGrasta on May 15th, 2015
Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Vine, Instagram, and Pinterest are all ways teens stay connected.
Social media allows us to connect with those near and far and opens doors to a variety of opportunities. According to the Pew Research Internet Project, 73 percent of Americans use social networking sites as of September 2013. Pew Research also shows that 95 percent of all teens ages 12-17 are now online.
While connecting and expressing one’s self on a global scale may be something we’re all entitled to, exercise caution. Posting inappropriate, vulgar, or disrespectful content comes with a price. Not only can you lose your admission to college and/or your scholarship, but you could also lose your job. Continue reading
Internet Safety Month: Protect Your Digital Footprint
By Guest Blogger on June 17th, 2014
Today’s teens consume Social Media every day – perhaps every five minutes in many cases! How often, though, do they consider the implications of their online activities?
The Social Media course at Florida Virtual School has been compared to “Driver’s Ed for the Internet” – teaching students about the safe and responsible operation of Social Media. Here are the top five tips from the course:
1) Protect your Digital Footprint – it’s the sum of every interaction involving you, and it lives FOREVER. While it’s obviously important to control what YOU post (photos, status updates, etc.), it’s also important to discover who ELSE is influencing your digital footprint – tagging you in photos, mentioning you in posts, etc. Keep your eyes open. Continue reading
Developing Digital Citizens
By Guest Blogger on October 23rd, 2013
Photo credit: Common Sense Media
We beat stupidity celebration cones. #zimmerman #defense #dadkilledit
Over the summer, George Zimmerman’s defense attorney Don West had to apologize to the media for his daughter’s immature and insensitive Instagram post in the middle of a very heated George Zimmerman trial. After receiving national media attention, the photo of the lawyer enjoying ice cream cones with his daughters instantly went viral, and Molly West’s Instagram account had to be shut down the following day.
#whatwasmollythinking
How do we help teach kids that something they do online today could potentially affect the future in ways they can’t even imagine? We need to help them understand the power of their digital footprint. Everything they post, share, or like is a direct reflection of themselves and their values. And it’s potentially out there for the world to see forever. Just ask Molly. Continue reading
Celebrate National Internet Safety Month
By Guest Blogger on June 3rd, 2013
Get ready to post your party photos on Instagram because The National Cyber Security Alliance is recognizing June as National Internet Safety month.
This is no big deal for teachers and students living in the virtual school world because they celebrate Internet safety every day. However, for the rest of you, I offer up a few helpful tips to keep you safe online (tips courtesy of the new Social Media course offered by Florida Virtual School). Continue reading