Communicate .. Create .. EdTech

As teachers, we have the ever-growing responsibility to teach Internet safety and appropriate online behavior to our students. February 11^th is Safer Internet Day – a global initiative to promote online safety.  This year’s theme is “Let’s create a better internet together”.

Safer Internet Day was created by the European Commission in 1999, and has grown to over 100 countries since then.  Their site includes a lesson gallery teachers can access (tip: filter by language, not country) and use in their classrooms. 

We have other phenomenal resources that promote Internet safety.  Check out:

• Common Sense Media
• NetSmartz
• InternetSafety101
• iKeepSafe
• BrainPop
• DigitalID  (Informational webpage focused on digital citizenship by our MERIT colleagues Gail Desler and Natalie Bernasconi)

Digital Learning Day is February 5^th.  The goal of the program is to highlight how technology can be an effective tool to improve student learning.  According to their press release, “Digital Learning Day recognizes innovative teaching and common-sense, effective applications of education technology that support teachers, improve learning, and help students achieve at their highest potential.”
Check out the site, it’s full of resources to help educators infuse their lessons with technology.  If you’ve been apprehensive and need some motivation to take that step, the materials available for Digital Learning Day are a good jumping off point.