Technology Tips For Parents
E-Parenting
More than ever before, today's kids need their parents to help them acquire the skills to use time wisely. Technology has opened many doors to vast amounts of information, social networks around the world, and new career development opportunities. Parents can help kids be selective in using technology for learning as well as for entertainment purposes by modeling lifelong learning skills and monitoring their kids' use of software and the Internet. In order to do this, parents need to be technology savvy.
Surfing the Net
According to Don Tapscott in an article titled The Net Generation and the School (available online at www.milkenexchange.org/feature/tapscott.html), 88% of today's adolescents agree that it is "in" to be online. Surfing through the resources on the Internet provides opportunities for exciting discoveries as well as encounters with the unknown. Teach youngsters to navigate through this global network of information and online groups safely by establishing household "Net Rules" such as:
- Have an action plan for using your time online.
- Remember that homework on the Internet comes before playing games and socializing.
- Respect yourself and others during online chats. Do not engage in discussions with individuals or groups that you do not know.
- Keep your password a secret.
- Do not give your full name, address, telephone number, social security number, or other personal identification information to anyone or any organization online, unless you first have your parent's permission.
Techie Terms
A Chat Room is an online service that allows users to communicate with each other about an agreed upon topic in "real time" as opposed to delayed time, as with e-mail.
Download means to copy a file from one computer system to another. From the Internet user's point of view, to download a file is to request it from another computer (or from a Web page on another computer) and to receive it.
E-mail refers to a way of sending messages electronically from one computer to another, generally through a modem and telephone line connected to a computer.
The Internet is a worldwide collection of computer networks that allows people to find and use information and communicate with others.
Netiquette refers to social rules of decorum for interacting with others online.
Search Engine is a program that performs keyword searches for information on the Internet.
Surfing is the act of browsing through the Internet looking for topics or groups of personal interest.
Usenet Newsgroups is a system of thousands of special interest groups to wihich readers can send or "post" messages; these messages are then distributed to other computers on the network. Usenet registers newsgroups, which are available through Internet Service Providers.
Source: Adapted from ParenTech's Parenting in a Digital Age CD-ROM by Mary L. McNabb. Copyright ©1999 North Central Regional Educational Laboratory.
Are You a Tech Savvy E-Parent?
Use the following list to find out just how technology savvy you are as a parent. Simply answer "yes" or "no" to each of the following statements by marking your answer with a check in the appropriate column. Then total your number of "yes" answers to determine your score.
| Yes | No | |
| | | I use e-mail to communicate with teachers about my youngster's academic progress. |
| | | I enforce Internet safety rules ("Net Rules") within my household. |
| | | I provide my youngster with appropriate technology to complete homework tasks. |
| | | My family has guidelines for selecting and purchasing software. |
| | | I monitor my youngster's use of technology for entertainment and learning purposes. |
| | | I use technology to keep informed about important parenting issues (such as participating in parenting listservs or researching information on Web sites). |
| | | I help my youngster use technology resources to reach his or her unique learning goals. |
| | | I attend training sessions to enhance my own ability to use technology. |
| | | I am familiar with the technology standards that my youngster is expected to meet at school. |
| | | I am familiar with my school community's technology plan. |
Total Number of "Yes" Answers: ____
If your score is between 1-2 you are barely technology savvy. If your score is between 3-5 you are somewhat technology savvy. If your score is between 6-8 you are very technology savvy. If your score is between 9-10 you are remarkably technology savvy.
Web Sites for Parents
- Visit the ParenTech Web site to learn more about parenting in the digital age.
- The National Parent Teacher Association has initiatives in educational technology signed to help parents be involved in their schools' technology activities.
- How Can I Be Involved in My Child's Education by Lynn Liontos is an article on the ERIC Web site that has many suggestions for parents wishing to become more involved in the education of their children.
- Discovery Channel Online is an added resource to the television programming on the Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel, and Animal Planet. The site also has great science and history resources and games.
- The Public Broadcasting Service Web site includes information on their programing as well as sources for teachers and links to information on the arts, technology, history, and science.
- Ask Dr. Math is a Math Forum Project that provides homework help. It is maintained by Swarthmore College.
- Bilingual Books for Kids is a commercial site that distributes materials written with Spanish and English appearing side by side.
- Think College Early is a Web site sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education that provides young adolescents with online resources for examining their choices in preparing for an occupation.
Technology Tips for Parents is published by National Middle School Association (NMSA) as part of its ongoing mmitment to Month of the Young Adolescent. For more information about Month of the Young Adolescent, please call 1-800-528-NMSA or write to us at 4151 Executive Parkway, Westerville, Ohio 43081.