The Technology Coordinator's Role in Promoting Internet Safety

By: Kim Blackenburg

        Technology coordinators have many responsibilities when it comes to successful technology integration in a school district. In fact, I was surprised to learn just how many laws and regulations they are required to understand and adhere to. One of the most important and largest jobs is to promote internet safety for both employees and students. It is paramount to keeping the network safe from viruses or other nefarious software. In fact, a recent breach of PowerSchool data has highlighted this real and present danger. 

    

    So, what can be done to help mitigate this danger? Employee training and awareness are key. "Professional development offerings need to be enhanced in order to more comprehensively address the issue of privacy and provide teachers and decision makers with the background and information necessary to understand the issue and make effective decisions" (Frazier & Hearrington, 2024, p. 124). Many teachers are not aware of specific laws or policies regarding safe technology usage. Even if the policies are in place in a district, professional development should be given to ensure that all teachers understand their extremely important roles with regard to internet safety. "Another role of the technology coordinator should be to make sure that teachers and students understand the importance of guiding policies such as the Acceptable Use Policy and to ensure that teachers are reinforcing these policies when they teach" (Frazier & Harrington, 2024, p. 125). Teachers that are aware of policies and well-informed about digital safety are more likely to adhere to them and teach them to their students. This is also true for technology integration in the classroom. "Teachers with greater knowledge of digital safety guidelines were more likely to attribute high importance to digital safety skills and were more likely to integrate these topics into their classroom instruction" (Martin, Bacak, Polly, Wang, & Ahlgrim-Delzell, 2022, p. 563). "Teachers support the digital safety of their students by developing their own professional knowledge of digital safety, modeling best practices for students, and teaching students about how to stay safe online" (Martin et al., 2022, p. 563).

    

    In order to support digital safety, technology coordinators must ensure that teachers are well informed and trained on the issues most pertinent for themselves and for their students. Privacy laws are extremely important and every teacher should be trained on their meaning and application. "Online safety education should be based on recognizing, acknowledging, and understanding students' rights and responsibilities in the digital age" (Walsh, Pink, Ayling, Sondergeld, Dallaston, Tournas, Serry, Trotter, Spanos, & Rogic, 2021, p.9). Once students and teachers understand the policies that are in place for their own protection, they can extend that knowledge to their own behavior and interactions while online. "Online safety education involves more than digital and media literacy or teaching about privacy protection. It extends to intentionally enacting behaviors that support healthy, respectful, and safe online interactions" (Walsh et al., 2021, p.1). The following video is a good explanation of the ways in which teachers can effectively model and teach internet safety to their students. This will of course look different depending on the age of the student. However, understanding and intentional behavior while interacting digitally is paramount to the safety of all users. 

    

    

References

Frazier, M. & Hearrington, D. (2024). The technology coordinator's handbook: A guide for edtech 

    facilitators and leaders. International Society for Technology in Education. 

Martin, F., Bacak, J., Polly, D., Wang, W., & Ahlgrim-Delzell, L., (2022, October 7). Teacher and 

    

    school concerns and actions on elementary school children digital safety. TechTrends, 67, 

    561-571.

Walsh, K., Pink, E., Ayling, N., Sondergeld, A., Dallaston, E., Tournas, P., Serry, E., Trotter, S.,

    

    Spanos, T., & Rogic, N., (2021, February 14). Best practice framework for online safety 

    education: Results from a rapid review of the international literature, expert review, and 

    stakeholder consultation. International Journal of Child-Computer Interaction, 33, 1-12.