Student Email ... Promises & Pitfalls

Saturday March 3 @ 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Smoketree DE

Scott Smith

• Students use telecommunications to collaborate, publish, and interact with peers, experts, and other audiences.
• Students use a variety of media and formats to communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences.

The Governing Board intends that technological resources provided by the district be used in a responsible and proper manner in support of the instructional program and for the advancement of student learning.

... The Board desires to protect students from access to harmful matter on the Internet or other on-line services. The Superintendent or designee shall implement rules and procedures designed to restrict students' access to harmful or inappropriate matter on the Internet. He/she also shall establish regulations to address the safety and security of students when using electronic mail, chat rooms and other forms of direct electronic communication.

Students in grades 7-12 are the most active users of IM, the study found. In fact, 70 percent of all students in grades 7-12 have at least one email address and multiple IM screen names, and 18 percent have more than four names, according to the survey. Significantly, 54 percent of students surveyed knew more of their friends' screen names than home phone numbers.

Regarding one technology 7-12 graders would find most useful for learning in schools, students said that if they could change one thing about technology at their school, it would be to allow the use of IM and email at school. This response outpolled online classes and online textbooks nearly 3 to 1

Most students do not view IM and email solely as social tools. Instead, many rely on the technologies to complete group projects and discuss assignments handed out in school.

LAUSD, Indianapolis Public Schools, Fresno UD, Moreno USD, Pajaro USD, Visalia USD

• 55% of students have given out their personal information over the Internet.
• 42% of students report having been bullied while online; 35% of students report having been threatened online.
• 23% of students have online access in their own bedroom while 20% of these students report they have bypassed the family filter.
• 40% report having registered to a website using personal information other than name.

• 94% of parents say they have a good idea of their child's Internet use.

• 54% of students report they don't share their online activity with parents.

• 93% of parents state that they have rules in place for their children’s Internet use.

• 36% of students report that there are no Internet rules in place at home.

• 25% admit that their parents would disapprove of their Internet use if they knew.