Safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology.

In the "internet age" we have access to almost everything we could possibly want or need via the world wide web. Due to the extraordinary availability of information and technology, many people assume everything they find on the internet is theirs to use, and anything they do on the internet is their own business, and therefore free of scrutiny. It is important to teach students that this is simply not the case.
Safety:
The internet provides a virtual existence, and thus the dangers of it seem as abstract as the concept of the internet itself. For kids these dangers are even harder to grasp because they lack many of the developmental components to recognize the abstract dangers that await them. It is important to teach children how to keep their information fairly safe on the internet, as well as imparting the knowledge that nothing is entirely private, so they need to be cautious. It is not an option to keep technology and web access from children, so we must teach them how to use it in ways that minimize risk. This involves teaching students how to make sure their privacy settings are strong, what good websites look like (for instance .org or .edu), and who is safe to talk to and not safe to talk to online.
Legal:
Just because it is on the internet does not mean it is free to clam as your own. It is important to teach students that all information they find on the internet must be cited just like a book. It is important to inform students of copyright and patent laws, so they know what they are allowed to use and do on the internet.
Ethical:
One of the most important things to teach children about the internet is that although it may seem like a virtual world, they are communicating with real people. This applies to the safety section as well, as you never know who you might be talking to. As a teacher, it is important to help your students understand that their behavior on the internet should be just as polite and kind as it is in person. Just because they cannot see the damage being done, does not mean they are not hurting someone's feelings. They need to be truthful, kind, and respectful on the internet as well as in real life.