Internet-safety

=Internet Safety =

Hi again, It's time to talk about "cybersafety"! - "Oh No! Mr Moran, that's really boooring!" I hear you say. Luckily for you, it doesn't have to be. I'm just going to put some easy rules up on this page, but I will let Hector the Protector say the rest! For many of you this will be the first time you have used an interactive site, especially where you have your own "voice" - a place where you can say what you think, and many other things. Like I said to you in class, whatever you write on your space can be read anywhere at anytime, by anyone! It's just as if you had left your diary open on your desk in class. Anyone can walk by an read it. This is good if you want to show as many people as possible the fantastic work you have been doing in class, but **not** good if you have too much information about yourself there.

The sad truth is that some people would like to cause us harm. One of the ways that they can find us, is through discussion sites such as Facebook, Myspace and Bebo. On your own wikispace there is some protection, but we all still need to be careful.

P.S. you have to be 13 years old or more to use Bebo, - so that's out for you guys anyway! **; )**  Enough bleating on from me. Have a go at "[|Hectors World] " - it's got some brilliant cartoons to watch, games to play and activities.
 * Keep photos of yourself off the sites, wikis included.
 * Do not give out any details to people you do not know - there is no way of telling that they are who they say they are!
 * Only post messages that you would be happy for your Grandma to read.
 * If you are taken to a website that you are uncomfortable about - GET OUT! Careful though, make sure you click the x at the top, and **not the "cancel" button** that is provided on some pop-ups. Often this will take you somewhere even worse!

http://www.hectorsworld.com/

**Parents and Caregivers bit: [[image:netbasics_eyes.jpg caption="Keep an eye on the kids"]]**
As you have already heard, wikispaces is fairly new to Hill School, but we are trying hard to catch up with things. We care deeply about how kids use these new digital opportunities, and as such we are building a base of knowledge about how it's all going to work. An organisation called "[|Netsafe]" has already done a lot of groundwork on this. Clicking on this [|hyperlink to Netsafe] will take you to the part of their website that explains things in greater detail to responsible elders. Hectors World is sponsored by Netsafe, and is an internationally acclaimed New Zealand creation specifically designed to educate kids about Internet safety. For a slightly more grown-up animation, try http://www.netbasics.org.nz/ It's a new site put together by netsafe, designed to target the whole family. It looks at the habits of the different users in one family - the Jonses.

Thanks for your interest, I hope that your kids continue to share as much as possible with you online. Mr Moran.