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We need to stop talking cyberbullying and start talking cybercitizenship. Flip to the positive. Our focus in schools needs to shift towards responsible, positive use of social media. We need to stop ignoring and blocking and start embracing and amplifying. It is our duty to our students to start modeling responsible use of social media and encouraging them to follow our lead.

Don't Hit Send Just to Fit In tells the story of a group of tweens who become victims to cyber bullies. On their way to discovering more positive ways to deal with these new found issues, the tweens become bullies themselves. Through the help of positive adults and a magical keyboard, they learn not to succumb to the lure of cyber bullying and realize that there are better ways to fit in and make friends.

Over the last few months everyone has weighed in on the question of "Why Don't Teens Tweet" - except, it would appear, teens. We recently ran a survey of 10,000+ US teens aged 13 - 17 to see if we could add anything new to the question.

The Job Search is hard enough as it is. Don't make it harder on yourself. You are NOT saving time by using the same resume for every job you apply to. Each resume should correspond with each position you are applying for. Some positions might require different skills than others. Match the skills you have with the skills each job requires. Know each company you are applying for as well. Make sure each resume corresponds with the company that will be receiving the resume. OR ditch the paper resume and create a video resume!SHOW your interpersonal skills, tech ability, and winning personality instead of writing it on a resume and hoping employers believe you. Check out www.GoJobio.com for more info!

Been using Smart Keyboard For Ipad 7th Generation for a week, will update the review with durability and longevity comments after more time has passed… Felt like nobody mentions some things that are worth knowing… There are magnets in places that make this thing more functional than they tell you. You can wrap the cover to the backside of the iPad and use it as you would normally, and magnets will hold it in place. When you use it as a stand, you can use it like a tilted drawing pad. Magnets will hold it in this position so it's actually fairly secure. If you're opening it or changing the configuration, magnets hold the keyboard in, so you can treat it exactly like a regular smart cover without the keyboard annoyingly flopping out. And finally, you don't have to worry about accidentally pressing keyboard buttons when it's in any position other than "laptop mode." The magnets let it know and the keyboard won't function unless it's specifically in this mode. Would have bought it sooner had I known, instead of just taking a chance.

Very important document!! The NASSP Position Statement is the cornerstone for all of our work in cybersafety education at CTAP4. Click on "expand" to see their recommendations.

NASSP recommendations for school leaders 1. Familiarize themselves about all aspects of computer technology, including the mechanics of the Internet, blogs, social networking Web sites, and the liability issues associated with the use of these technologies 2.Form a technology team that comprises staff members, parents and students to act in an advisory capacity to the larger school community 3.Educate staff members and students on using technology within the boundaries of the law 4.Guide teachers and students on how the Internet can serve as effective educational tools 5.Formulate clear guidelines to protect students and teachers against cyber bullying and other criminal activities 6.Conduct orientation sessions for parents regarding student use of the Internet 7.Reinforce these guidelines with parents and encourage vigilance of Internet use at home, including the elimination of derogatory statements against other students or staff.

Note dana boyd's position that "Most anti-bullying assemblies are ineffective, and the messages of well-meaning advocates tend to fall on deaf ears". Students need to learn empathy, sensitivity and respect, all of which are life skills.

When it comes to the Internet, teenage girls, particularly those with low self-esteem, don't always present themselves honestly. Girl Scouts of the USA conducted a national survey in June 2010 of 1,026 girls ages 14 through 17. The survey found that girls often downplay their positive characteristics on social media networking sites, and many choose to portray themselves as sexy or crazy.

Cyber Bullying: A Prevention Curriculum for Grades 6-12 is a curriculum that deals with attitudes and behaviors associated with cyber bullying. This eight-session curriculum is designed to:
1. Raise student and parent awareness of what cyberbullying is and why it is so harmful
2. Equip students with the skills and resources to treat eachother respectfully when using cybertechnologies
3. Give students information about how to get help if they, or others they know, are being cyber bullied
4. Teach students how to use cyber technologies in positive ways.

Talking on cellphones is passé for students who use them for networking and sending photos. Mobile Social Networking Software - the next wave of virtual community - is already appearing on cellphones, beginning with college campuses. These under-25s (the target market for early adoption of hot new gadgets) are using what many observers call the next big consumer technology shift: Mobile Social Networking Software, or Mososo. The sophisticated reach of cyber-social networks such as MySpace or Facebook, combined with the military precision of GPS, is putting enough power in these students' pockets to run a small country.

When school starts today, Broward County schools will be armed to take action against you.A new district policy, adopted July 22, allows a range of punishments, from "positive behavioral interventions" to suspensions for students, to sanctions against teachers' certificates for "egregious acts of bullying." Included are cyber-stalking and cyber-bullying, which experts say are becoming more common among South Florida students.

This book was written by three school psychologists, all certified in Olweus Bullying Prevention training. They have applied their knowledge in that area to "cyberbullying." If you are an educator or a parent of an adolescent, this book is a must read. As the authors have stated, the impact of students using computers, etc. has had not only a positive but also a negative impact on the learning environment and safety issues within our schools. Cyberbullying in its infancy is creating an epidemic of problems. Awareness of the problem, what schools and parents should do to address cyberbullying, how the different states and schools systems view cyberbullying, and current resources are discussed by the authors. It is a compilation of the most current research.

MISSING, from Web Wise Kids, is designed to SHOW rather than TELL children about online safety. It's a fun and positive way to teach children how to avoid danger on the Internet. The interactive software adventure tells the story of Zack, a kid in Vancouver, Canada who forms an online friendship with Fantasma. This guy is so cool - he has an online magazine about beach life in California and he sends Zack great stuff, like graphic arts and software. Little does Zack know that he is a predator. After Zach agrees to go to San Diego to be with Fantasma, players work with a detective to find and rescue Zack and arrest Fantasma. Available both as a home edition and a school edition. [Windows and Mac OSX versions available]. Note: Local middle school science teachers have successfully worked this program into their science curriculum since solving the game involves researching and collecting clues.

How much are your friends worth? That is the question behind the big debate going on around social networks and data portability. In the last ten days, Facebook, Google, and MySpace have all announced ways to let people access their data (including friends lists) from other sites, except that what they are really trying to do is erect new walled gardens by positioning themselves as the primary repository of that personal and social data.

Thought-provoking article by Scott McLeod. If a district has decided to figure out ways to facilitate technology usage and empower students and staff, the policies will follow accordingly. Conversely, if a district is determined to treat technology from a fearful or wary standpoint, its policies will reflect that position as well.

Copyright Infringement or Not? The Debate over Downloading Music
Students discuss their own experiences and conduct further research on the controversial topic of sharing music and other audio content on the Internet. Based on their research, students take a stand on the controversy and develop persuasive arguments on their position that they present in a class debate on the subject of downloading.

We need to use what we've learned about social norms to align kids and ourselves with the positive examples of responsible behavior, rather than be transfixed and drawn towards the portrayals of the worst of the web. It may be true that one in five kids have been involved in sexting, but that means the vast majority exercise good judgment and make wise choices online. The social norms field is ripe with possibilities and guidance in how to foster good digital citizenship.