Safe Search Kids - Education, Parenting, Internet Safety for All

As online learning becomes more prevalent with the growth in technology related to communication, students can often feel more stressed out working apart from friends within a classroom environment. A fall in grades may result if special attention is not paid to potential problems related to virtual education.

However, teachers and parents can work together to help students minimize their distractions and improve their remote learning experience. While technology itself can also divert the student’s attention away from curriculum during eLearning hours, there are practical things that can be done to help.

Remove Distractions

Disabling phone notifications and turning on “do not disturb” mode can help. A step further, Apple’s “screen time” and Android’s “focus mode” can help limit distractions. Screen time allows users to set time limits on specific apps and features, and focus mode allows users to block access to specific apps on a set schedule. 

Setting a new life schedule can be helpful, too. It’s easy to let normal schedules slip when everyone is home, but you don’t have to keep your old schedule to have a consistent routine. Students with schedules built around a type of activity rather than specific plan may have greater success improving each child’s focus during online learning.

Furthermore, a schedule with announced transitions to keep your child engaged when switching tasks.

Give time warnings before a transition, and stick to them.

Get your child’s attention, give directions, then say “go.”

Using a visual timer can help your child understand how much time is left before switching gears. Try the “Time Timer app” for this.

Incorporate Fun

When learning is fun, it’s easy to get kids engaged. Schedule virtual playdates for your child to catch up with friends, let students collaborate and help each other with school work through digital, and keep in touch with other parents to share ideas on what works.

Find more tips to enhance home learning in the infographic below.

Lost Learning Time during the Covid Era, how worried should parents be?

Most parents can easily come up with a list of potentially harmful elements on the Internet that their kids could be exposed to. But as long as that list gets, most will not even think about malware. Precautions to block certain content from causing lasting damage in young minds includes making sure malicious software (malware) does not invade our child’s privacy.

Malware can secretly infect any computer through infected websites, bad software, music and movie file sharing sites and even seemingly innocent online video games. It can expose kids to harmful materiel and at the very least reek havoc on computer. And like any type of virus, it can spread to other computers.

In this article, we’ve collated some of the best ways to take measures regarding Internet security and privacy in order to keep your children’s browsing and gaming safe. Most of these precautionary measures include having an open dialogue with kids about the unseen dangers of malware. Additionally, software solutions a necessary.

Get an Anti-Malware Program

An anti-malware program will save you from future headaches. It protects your browsing and gaming from unwanted viruses and malware; an effective anti-malware program will keep the Trojan virus away. Trojan viruses are a class of code or app that seems to be innocuous when downloaded, but once it’s part of your computer system it goes to work to cause mayhem.

Malware protection blankets your computer against most threats, including Trojan horses which even top of the line antivirus systems do not have. It does it’s best to block “suspect” programs, as well as conducts daily scans to subsequently removes threats that are attempting to change the way your computer behaves.

Google “Malwabytes free download” so do a free scan of your computer.  If data and privacy is compromised due to a scammer, it can also block a brute force attack.  

Setup Digital Boundary rules

This is where effective communication comes through. Setting up digital boundary rules with your children is fundamental in making them understand that while the Internet is a great place to obtain information, play games, and communicate with their friends, it can also be a dangerous place for someone vulnerable.

Talk to them about rules that you’ve decided upon, or better yet, allow them to participate in the decision-making process. For example, ask them what their stance on no Internet or gadgets after a certain time on weekdays. If you prefer they go to bed before 10:30 PM, it’s wise to set up no Internet by 9 PM or thirty minutes earlier. It’s also a great decision to tell your kids what sites they can or can not access. If they ask, answer them honestly.

Create a Safe Space for Kids via Parental Controls

Teaching kids to make good decisions about online use can only go so far. Any device you have in your home should have parental controls installed. This includes smartphones, laptops, iPads and of course, desk top computers and laptops. Once installed, parental controls can be customized to automatically block sites according to the age of your child. You can also monitor what your kids are doing online.

Effective parental control will also allow you to set usage restrictions according to the time of day. In addition to blocking websites, monitoring social media and filtering content, it can also track location. You may decide to set up rules with your kids to adhere to without setting up blocking features. Leave up to them so make the right decision, but you’ll know if they went online after hours for example, thanks to monitoring. This will help them build self control skills.

Always Communicate with your Kids Regarding their Internet Concerns

Even when you already have set up everything and it’s all going very well and smoothly, encourage your kids to express concerns they may have about their Internet use. Re-enforce why staying away from harmful content is for their own benefit. Slowly give them responsibility to “do the right thing” within the safe confines of your parental control settings.

You can’t protect your children from mature and adult content forever, as well as keeping kids safe from inappropriate YouTube videos. That’s why keeping the lines of communication open is essential to nurture a strong relationship of trust between you and your child. When kids feel listened too, they feel less of a need to rebel from the rules.

Takeaway

Parental supervision is only the start. No parent should feel inadequate for not being able to monitor their child’s activist online all the time. Most computer systems do a good job of preventing virus infections. But malware is much more deviant. It is not uncommon to install a anti-malware program for malware protection, even from innocent website, software programs or video games. The same goes for parental control software which blocks access to the worst parts of the web.

College may be a long way off for your young kids, but what will higher education look like in the future? Technology and the availability of virtual learning is already changing how teens view education. At the time of this writing, 1 in 6 high school seniors who planned on attending full-time college are now rethinking their decision.

The vulnerable state of many universities combined with the psychological effects on students who may feel disconnected from others are primary fuelers to this. For a few years now, kids, teens and young adults have been experiencing the replacement of personal human interaction with ease of communication through technology. As a result, the value of traditional education may be fundamentally affected.

Education Interupted

Worldwide, as of April 2020, 1.6 billion students saw their education interrupted. Despite drastic changes to the college experience and a move to online learning, the price hasn’t shifted. In March 2020, the American Congress allocated nearly $350 million of a Relief Fund to colleges with “significant unmet needs.” However, this was only able to help less than 3,000 students, leaving prospective students stressed over how they will afford higher education.

On top of that, the psychological effects of remote learning presented the graduating class of 2020 with many challenges. For example, isolation has led many to experience PTSD and depression. Even more catastrophic, younger adults have experienced a 10x increase in serious mental distress. The fuelers behind the mental obstacles? No physical classes or guidance toward their career of interest.

Knowing this, the future of education for your teens may be different than ever before. Not only will the economical value of education change, but also the classroom dynamic. Prepare your student for the future of education by becoming privy to how future classrooms will operate before they step into them.

Integration of In-Person and Online Learning

For example, mixed-location classrooms. Several experts predict a surge in integration of in-person and online learning. Now that the convenience of living and working online as been introduced, many tools like Zoom and Slack may be crucial in the future of online and in-person classes. 

Furthermore, colleges may take a major shift towards innovation. Some teaching methods were old-school and based on outdated technology. However, many are now quickly searching for innovative methods for distance learning. In China, for example, 120 million students now access learning material through live TV. However, students report feeling isolated, overwhelmed, and helpless in these scenarios. Expect this to be re-imaged in the future.

According to the American College Health Association, colleges can expect changes for at least the next 12-18 months. In the meantime, keep an eye out on the higher education economy for the best approach in preparing your teens. Pay attention to the dynamics of online learning, credit transfers, and avoid falling for scams.

Redefining the Role of Educators in Virtual Learning Environments

As virtual learning becomes more prevalent, the role of educators will undergo a significant transformation. In traditional classroom settings, educators play a central role in facilitating discussions, providing guidance, and imparting knowledge. However, in virtual learning environments, educators may need to adopt new strategies to engage students effectively.

In the future, educators may become facilitators of knowledge, leveraging advanced technology and interactive platforms to create immersive learning experiences. They may utilize virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to simulate real-world scenarios, enabling students to apply theoretical concepts in practical settings. Additionally, educators may focus on personalized instruction, tailoring learning pathways to individual student needs through adaptive learning platforms and data-driven insights.

Embracing Skill-Based Education and Lifelong Learning

With the evolving landscape of job markets and the demand for specific skill sets, colleges may shift their focus towards skill-based education and lifelong learning. Traditional degree programs might become complemented or even replaced by shorter, more targeted courses or certifications that emphasize practical skills. This shift aims to equip students with the necessary tools to adapt to rapidly changing industries and navigate a dynamic job market.

Colleges may collaborate closely with industry partners to design curricula that align with the current and future needs of the workforce. These partnerships may include internships, apprenticeships, and mentorship programs, providing students with real-world experience and enhancing their employability.

In addition, the concept of lifelong learning may become deeply ingrained in the educational system. As the pace of technological advancements accelerates, individuals will need to continually update their skills throughout their careers. Colleges may offer flexible learning pathways, allowing students to upskill or reskill at any stage of their professional journey.

Technology definitely has a time and place in our schools and we owe it to our pupils to teach them proper ways to use their devices for learning and communicating. However, we can also probably agree there are some downsides to all of this tech in our student’s lives.

Technology which opens our students up to a variety of pitfalls of dangers that range anywhere from cyberbullying to the health consequences of inactive lifestyles.

As educators, it’s no great surprise today’s technology is changing the way we monitor our children, communicate, interact, and engage with our students and, everyday we are on the frontlines watching and coping with the consequences as they unfold.

This makes it essential that we slow down and re-evaluate the role we allow technology to play in our classrooms. This is especially vital when we consider teens are digitally connected for 9 hours everyday! Yes, that is almost the same amount of time spent in school. If that statistic isn’t jaw dropping enough, we need to factor in that their younger counterparts clock in over 6 daily hours and children younger than 8 net nearly 3 hours a day!.

This data inevitably means that our children are missing out on important opportunities and activities to interact, explore, observe, and learn about the world around them. Instead of building new relationships or mastering valuable life skills, our boys and girls are inevitably living a distracted life. This is difficult for us to face, because we can only control what our students do during the hours we have them entrusted to our care. One simple way we can counteract too much technology is by examining the importance of outdoor activities and find ways for kids to strike a happy balance.     

Why Outdoor Activities are Essential for Kids

Over the course of the last few decades, a lot has changed in education as we strive to include more technology and teach for the test. While this has helped push in more STEAM activities and HAL opportunities, it has also led to a significant decrease in the amount of time allocated for recess, physical education, and the fine arts. To put this trend into perspective, according to the National Wildlife Foundation, today’s children are spending approximately half the amount of time outside than we did when we were kids.

Why outdoor activities are essential for kids:

• Poor indoor air quality is common in many schools. Fresh air is healthy!

• There is an increased risk for obesity, hypertension, and more that comes with reduced exercise and sedentary lifestyles.

• Green spaces have been proven to reduce stress and anxiety levels in children- and even adults. 

• The outdoors provide exposure to dirt, germs, and bacteria which boost a child’s immune system.

• Activities like gardening in the outdoors can help students develop observational skills and learn science concepts.

• Sunlight provides beneficial vitamin D which can help energy levels and strengthen bones.

• Adequate exposure to sunlight also helps set a child’s circadian rhythms, which will help them develop a proper sleep schedule to enhance social and educational performance in school.

• Outdoor activities and green spaces naturally improve many of the symptoms related to ADHD in children.

The Dangers of Too Much Technology

The reasons why outdoor activities are essential for kids is pretty solid, but we can’t overlook the possible dangers associated with too much technology. Our students’ devices might be entertaining, but there are real reasons educators need to be concerned. The following list shows why we need to help students find a healthy balance with technology in their lives:

• Direct links between overuse of social media and increases in depression, feelings of low self-esteem, and anxiety have been documented in young people.

• Devices can interrupt or cause distraction during key learning times in a classroom.

• Our kids might be set up for a lifetime of joint and neck pain if they don’t embrace proper ergonomics.

• Digital devices and fast paced stimuli can actually physically alter a child’s brain.

• The glow from our screens and constant notifications can disrupt circadian rhythms and sleep schedules leading to poor sleep.

• Overusing technology limits one-on-one communication opportunities for kids which may inhibit relationship and social skills development.

Benefits of Being Outside

Technology is obviously here to stay, and we can’t feasibly ban all devices from our schools. However, a little mindfulness and proactive planning can go a long way. With a little creative thinking we can help students find a healthy balance with technology and nature. Encouraging your children to play outdoors regularly needs to be more then just talk.  Give them ideas and take part in the fun as often as possible.