Cybertraps Podcast

Graig Erenstoft, known as Officer E, is the digital safety expert for Connected Class. He has been presenting to parents and students for over 24 years and is currently a police lieutenant in Florida. In this episode, Officer E and host Ross Romano talk about:Defining digital safety for kids and its critical importance in the connected worldThe “Take Three for Digital Safety” video series for parentsCommon questions parents have about digital safetyFacilitating parent-child conversationsThe fast-shifting digital landscapeMental health challenges from social mediaTips to foster good, safe habitsOn Thursday, November 9 from 7-8 p.m. Eastern, Officer E will present a free webinar for parents and educators. If you’d like to attend, RSVP below:Take Three for Digital Safety: Tips for Keeping Your Child SafeRSVP Here or at https://connectedclass.com About our guestOfficer E serves as the digital safety expert for Connected Class. He hosts the series “Take Three for Digital Safety” which provides valuable resources and tips to help parents navigate the challenges presented by the latest technology and social media trends. He has been presenting to parents and students for over 24 years and is currently a police lieutenant in Florida. Prior to his law enforcement career, Officer E worked as a youth director for 12 years before making the leap into law enforcement. As a law enforcement officer, he has served as a School Resource Officer, Field Training Officer, and among other duties, as a leader in the youth Police Athletic League. He enjoys engaging with students and parents to provide them with tools and resources to make good choices and stay safe. Officer E uses his training and experience as a police officer, husband, and father of two boys to relate to the challenges parents face each day in an ever-changing world on optics such as bullying, drugs and alcohol, and technology and social media. About today’s hostRoss Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies LLC. He hosts The Authority Podcast, on which he interviews leading authors from the education world and beyond to draw out their invaluable insights on leadership, culture-building, transformation, and student & educator success. Listen here: https://authoritypodcast.net Ross is a leadership development and performance coach for professionals in a range of industries and consults with organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry to help communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on Twitter @RossBRomano and LinkedIn We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

Tod Johnston, a Senior Education Content Manager at Sphero, discusses how his company uses robots to teach cybersecurity concepts to middle school students. Their robotic balls help students visualize abstract cybersecurity topics like man-in-the-middle attacks. Tod explains how they developed lessons in collaboration with cybersecurity experts to give students an initial understanding of cyber threats and how to act responsibly online. Tod hopes to expand these lessons to younger students in the future. The discussion also touches on the challenges of educating both students and adults about cybersecurity given that technology is evolving rapidly and privacy policies are often difficult to understand.Sphero - Blueprint- basics of engineering Educators need to think about cybersecurity from a student’s perspective, rather than a technology perspective. We should be inviting students to learn about their privacy policies to help them make better choices. Sphero programmable balls are good for teaching programmable, algorithmic skills, but it’s always difficult to teach cybersecurity. An example of a man in the middle attack Can’t damage other people’s property Student in Miami-Dade who hacked the school district. Dr. Pauline Mosley collaborated on Sphero’s curriculum The hope for the future of designing software and hardware and what they should look like. - How GDPR has ruined the webAbout Tod JohnstonTod Johnston is a Senior Education Content Manager at Sphero, leveraging over 10 years of experience in classroom settings. With a focus on classroom technology, math education, STEM, and the environment, Tod applies practical teaching expertise to positively impact technology integration in schools. He also has experience as a Learning Experience Designer – designing curriculum, presenting at conferences, and researching educational technology and math education trends. He is dedicated to transforming education through innovative approaches. We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

In Cybertraps 157, the APLUS Framework for adopting AI in schools is discussed. The framework emphasizes Accessibility, Privacy and Ethics, Learner-centered approach, Usability, and Sustainability. The irony of principals wanting AI to assist them while trying to prevent students from doing the same is highlighted. Examples of AI policies, including a plagiarism policy, are mentioned. The importance of viewing AI as an ecosystem rather than just a tool is emphasized. A blog post is referenced, stating that 73% of something is discussed.APLUS Framework for adopting AIA - AccessibilityP - Privacy and EthicsL - Learner-centeredU - UsabilityS - SustainabilityThe irony of principals asking for AI to do their jobs while simultaneously trying to find ways to prevent students from doing the same.Example 1: (I only have it in Email form) Plagiarism PolicyExample 2: much betterPeninsula school district: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zM7qJbgPc01JG5d63XSLuJnRILaKdj2vvSGFqjWrrkw/editAI is an ecosystem, not a tool.73% of what blog post: https://world.hey.com/jason/73-of-what–80e24c13 We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

In Cybertraps 156, the podcast discusses the potential dangers of AI-fitted teddy bears. These toys have the ability to read children personalized bedtime stories using private information they have overheard. The episode highlights a news item that warns about the privacy concerns associated with these “scary” gadgets.Harry Harrison – “I Always Do What Teddy Says” – https://www.deviantart.com/aegiandyad/art/I-Always-Do-What-Teddy-Says–259013944Jethro’s Copy from the book: https://www.dropbox.com/s/brrf8hkt3zbm2l8/I%20always%20do%20what%20Teddy%20Says.pdf?dl=0Amazon link: https://amzn.to/44JeusZNews Item: “Beware of the AI-fitted teddy bears: ‘Scary’ gadgets could read children personalised bedtime stories using private details they have overheard, leading toymaker claims” – https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article–12233551/ChatGPT-style-teddy-bears-read-bedtime-stories-toymaker-claims.html (scroll down for story) We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

In this episode, Jethro and Fred discuss chatbots and artificial intelligence. The episode covers the history of chatbots, including the Turing Test and the development of Large Language Models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT, Bing, and Jasper. The potential uses and issues with chatbots are explored, including incomplete or misinformation, theft of intellectual property, inappropriate uses, and threats to various types of jobs. The episode also touches on the impact of chatbots on education and the potential for weaponization of disinformation, cybersecurity, and more emotion-targeted advertising.Beginning of Cybertraps Podcast Episode IndexWritebettr.com - test out AI with your poorly written emailsAILeader.info - learn about AI and how to use it to save time with 3 minute masterclasses.Today’s Topic: Bot’s Up, Doc?Keynote delivered at last minute for Alaska Society for Technology in EducationArtificial Life and Artificial IntelligenceWhy chatbots are NOT “artificial intelligence” – yet“The Father of Chat”The Turing TestAlan Turing OBE FRS [1912–1954] – British mathematician and computer scientistLeader in development of computer and algorithmic theoryAt Bletchley Park, helped design a machine to crack the Enigma code1950 – Turing devises The Turing Test:Can a computer produce answers indistinguishable from a human?The Imitation Game1954 – Turing commits suicideLarge Language Models (LLMs)ChatGPT (esp. 4)BingJasperembedded AIPhotoshopGoogle Workspaceincredibly rapid changeCurrent ChatGPT IssuesIncomplete Data or MisinformationTheft of Intellectual PropertyInappropriate UsesResponse to MSU ShootingThreat to a Various Types of JobsMid-to Lower-Level TechMedia / PR ProfessionalsCustomer ServiceParalegals / Attorneys?Religious Leaders?MonetizationA Quick Object LessonCensorship Is a Biz-KillChina Was a Tech Leader in 2010sWeChatAliPayBeijing (CCP) Got NervousParty Officials Took Corporate SeatsGoal Was to Limit Social InfluenceChinese Tech Companies Slashed Investment in Pure ResearchChatGPT and EducationA Flawed Resource for StudentsIncomplete InformationMisinformationKids Will Use Technology to CheatNot the First Time …Several Schools Have Had Cheating ScandalsNYC Blocked, then Unblocked, Access to ChatGPTResponses and SolutionsTools for Identifying Chat-Generated ContentIncorporate Chat Critiques into CurriculaThe Revenge of the Palmer Method?Create Assessments that ChatGPT Can’t AnswerThe Parade of HorriblesWeaponization of DisinformationCybersecuritySocial EngineeringScams and SpamsManipulative SuggestionsIntegration with Other TechnologiesMore Emotion-Targeted AdvertisingDisplaced Emotional RelationshipsPersonalized Chatbot (“Amanuensis”)Fasten Your Seat Belt. It’s Going to Be a Bumpy Night. We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

In this episode, Fred Lane interviews Amos Guiora, a law professor at the University of Utah. The bulk of the interview centers on Professor Guiora’s recently published book, "Armies of Enablers: Survivor Stories of Complicity and Betrayal in Sexual Assaults". In his book, Professor Guiora attempts to answer a difficult question:“What do sexual assault survivors expect of the enabler-bystander? In this powerful book, Amos N. Guiora shares the stories of survivors to expose how individual and institutional enablers allow predators to perpetrate their crimes through silence and other failures to act. He then proposes legal, cultural, and social measures aimed at the enabler from the survivor’s perspective.” In addition to his work at the University of Utah law school, Professor Guiora has been active in S.E.S.A.M.E., the organization led by Terri Miller that is working the so-called “passing of the trash.”Frederick Lane is an author, attorney, educational consultant, and lecturer based in Brooklyn, NY. He is the co-founder of The Center for Cyberethics and is a nationally-recognized expert in the areas of cybersafety, digital misconduct, personal privacy, and other topics at the intersection of law, technology, and society. Lane has appeared on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, the BBC, and MSNBC.He has written ten books, including most recently Cybertraps for Educators 2.0 (2020), Raising Cyberethical Kids (2020), and Cybertraps for Expecting Moms & Dads (2017). He is currently working on his newest book, _The Rise of the Digital Mob_ (Beacon Press 2022). All of his books are available on Amazon.com or through his Web sites, FrederickLane.com and Cybertraps.com.With Jethro Jones (The Transformative Principal), Lane co-hosts “The Cybertraps Podcast.” He is also the publisher of “The Cybertraps Newsletter” (newsletter.cybertraps.com). We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

Update from Ghana - #2023–03–13_1100 Meeting with the Cybercrime Unit of the Ghana Police Service - #2023–03–14_1200 Visit to 5/6 classroom at Primus Hybrid School - #2023–03–19_1400 Pan-Africa webinar for parents - How can parents and carers monitor their children’s online activity without infringing on their privacy? - What are the long-term effects of excessive technology use on children’s mental and physical health? - How can parents and carers stay informed about new technology trends and potential risks? - What should parents and carers do if they suspect their child is being cyberbullied or harassed online? - How can parents and carers effectively communicate with their children about technology use without creating conflict or tension? - How can parents and carers address their own technology use and set a good example for their children? - What is the role of peer pressure and social media in shaping children’s online behavior, and how can parents and carers help children navigate these pressures? - How can technology be used to enhance learning and development for children, and what are some best practices for incorporating technology into education? - How can parents and carers help children build healthy relationships with their devices and encourage offline activities and hobbies? - What is the role of technology companies and platforms in promoting safe and responsible technology use, and how can parents and carers hold them accountable? - The Growing Problem of Deepfakes - News Item: New York students create a deepfake video of middle school principal saying racist things “https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/03/14/racist-deepfakes-carmel-tiktok/” - Details - Target of the malicious attack was George Fischer Middle School - In late January or early February, multiple videos were released on Tiktok, with a male voice laid over videos of Principal John Piscitella - The voiceovers contained racist statements and threats of violence - TikTok quickly took the videos down but not before they were seen by multiple students - Carmel Central School District sent out a letter on February 13, 2023, alerting parents to the videos and saying “that three high-schoolers had “used artificial intelligence to impersonate the staff” and made them appear to make “inappropriate comments” in videos.” - The school did not describe the videos, nor did it specifically mention the racist comments or threats of violence - Simultaneous, local police closed their investigation after determining that no crime had been committed - The District defended its response to angry parents, saying that “they were trying to balance disclosing sensitive information without generating panic” - But parents accused the District of minimizing the videos - The videos raise many issues, most controversial: - Racism - Student Privacy - The Use and Abuse of Technology (particularly AI) - Threats of Gun Violence - Disciplinary action was taken against three students but District refused to say what action was taken - Analysis - Schools need to be more transparent about the nature of incidents like these - We may need to consider the cost of student privacy - These were relatively crude deepfake videos; the technology exists now to make much more convincing videos - Additional Resources - #2023–03–09 Principal appears to spew racist threats in disturbing video — but it never actually happened “https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/principal-appears-to-spew-racist-threats-in-disturbing-video-%E2%80%94-but-it-never-actually-happened/ar-AA18qImu” - #2023–03–08 High Schoolers Made a Racist Deepfake of a Principal Threatening Black Students “https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kxzk9/school-principal-deepfake-racist-video” - #2023–03–02 TikTok videos threatening Black students have Carmel parents on edge, district promising change “https://www.lohud.com/story/news/education/2023/03/02/racist-tiktok-videos-threaten-black-kids-in-carmel-ny-worry-parents/69941181007/” - Fred’s presentation at ASTE about Chatbots We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unloc

Fred is in Africa until April 1. Sign up for updates from Fred Interview with Awo. US State Department sponsored trip through Fullbright Specialist Program SchoolAI Fred’s Presentation about ChatGPT at ASTE. Jethro’s chat with Damon Hargraves RE: ChatGPT on Transformative Principal Rise of low level betting in rural areas. Ho, Ghana - Tech forum and fair for women. Statistic - In Africa, adoption of Smartphones is about 30% in high school and 10% in middle school. We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

TONY BRASUNAS, independent journalist and author of the forthcoming RED, WHITE & BLIND: The Truth About Censorship in America and the Rise of Independent Media, which aims to explore media distortion and disinformation in the U.S. as well as the upswell of independent media that has risen up to combat it. Corporate media vs independent media “How 5 Companies Control All US Media” New trends: corporate media trying to maintain control Factcheckers as part of corporate media Astroturf independent media (not actually independent) Tremendous bias from corporate media Innocent bias, Systemic bias, Nefarious bias. Operation Mockingbird - Journalists being fed info or were agents, or were public figures Impact of the internet on corporate and independent media. The New Enlightenment No intermediaries Disinformation - building up false perspectives Censorship - hiding information Origin of COVID Weapons of Mass Destruction Ambassador’s daughter in Congress pretending to be a nurse. Are there bad and nefarious people in corporate media or are many people just being hoodwinked. The role of big corporations and perverse incentives. The Narrative Corporate media has the “power to deliver that narrative” Corporate media sees their biggest threat as corporate media Journalist - we’re all journalists. Balanced media diet - 40 sources to give you an idea of what is really going on. Tony’s Media Pyramid Watch for confirmation bias. The media narratives are the water that we swim in. How to share media effectively. Use the internet to share ideas you think are good. Science is not a set of answers, it’s a way to question. Censorship is anathema to science and democracy. We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

This interview is from a recent conference that Fred and I attended called Professional Practices Institute. We had the chance to talk with some great people from around the country. I hope you enjoy this episode. Fitting that for our 150th episode, we would have Dr. Glenn Lipson join us on the program again. - Forming a bucket brigade instead of a single bucket - Help others know their role. - Connecting across the country. - Intervening early prevents people falling down a slippery slope - Recognize the path of many interventions. - Find a champion - Anything worthwhile you’re doing should be comfortable sharing. - Guilty, Angry, Loneliness, Embarrassment. GALE forces - Empowering youth voices - Lonliness and isolation leads to perversion when people can’t find ways to self-soothe. We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

This interview is from a recent conference that Fred and I attended called Professional Practices Institute. We had the chance to talk with some great people from around the country. I hope you enjoy this episode. Felicia Villalobos - Hawaiian Language permit - technology issues. We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

This interview is from a recent conference that Fred and I attended called Professional Practices Institute. We had the chance to talk with some great people from around the country. I hope you enjoy this episode. 148 Brytton Sorgenfrei & Justin Darling - 2 people for the whole state - Teaching administrators to start taking snapshots - How to investigate social media. We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

This interview is from a recent conference that Fred and I attended called Professional Practices Institute. We had the chance to talk with some great people from around the country. I hope you enjoy this episode. meet 6 times a year, over 100 cases each year. Different in what they can take action for. Teachers growing up with social media, using it for everything. Boundaries Virtual life vs real life We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

This interview is from a recent conference that Fred and I attended called Professional Practices Institute. We had the chance to talk with some great people from around the country. I hope you enjoy this episode. Terri Miller: President of SESAME - Dirty Secrets Pittsburg Post Gazette - NV criminalizing sexual acts with students over the age of consent - SESAME Act designed to prevent passing the trash - Dr. Billie-Jo Grant - board member at SESAME - ESSA bill prohibits separation agreements and confidentiality We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

This interview is from a recent conference that Fred and I attended called Professional Practices Institute. We had the chance to talk with some great people from around the country. I hope you enjoy this episode. Investigative Reporter for Business Insider - Twitter Investigating grooming of high school students by teachers Grooming the community, then grooming the family, then grooming the victim. We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

This interview is from a recent conference that Fred and I attended called Professional Practices Institute. We had the chance to talk with some great people from around the country. I hope you enjoy this episode. Jamie Boyd, Southern Arkansas University - Online K–6 coursework that leads to licensure targeted at paraprofessionals - Only university where enrollment has gone up. - Valued as professionals - How to solve the problem: - Pay - Focus in great teaching and providing autonomy We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

This interview is a recap from the conference that Fred and I attended called Professional Practices Institute. We had the chance to talk with some great people from around the country. I hope you enjoy this episode. In this episode Fred talks with Quinton “Q” Dale fro Massachusetts. We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

This interview is from a recent conference that Fred and I attended called Professional Practices Institute. We had the chance to talk with some great people from around the country. I hope you enjoy this episode. Arizona School Risk Retention Insurance Trust - You can Never be Safe Enough. - Rise in the tools, use, manipulation - Secrecy and ability to keep up. - Easier to hide it now. - Handled with deliberate indifference - Someone could have stepped in. - Groomers start by grooming the community, then grooming the family, then grooming the individual. We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

This interview is from a recent conference that Fred and I attended called Professional Practices Institute. We had the chance to talk with some great people from around the country. I hope you enjoy this episode. We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

- Will your costume cost you your job? - Halloween will be celebrated on Monday, October 31, 2022. - Jethro’s Best Halloween Costume - Prediction: By mid-November, at least one teacher will have been fired for an inappropriate costume - Great article on the history of Halloween at History.com - Celebration dates back roughly 2,000 years, when the Celts lit bonfires and wore costumes to ward off ghosts. They called the celebration Samhain (pronounced “sow-in”) - “To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities. During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other’s fortunes.” - “In the late 1800s, there was a move in America to mold Halloween into a holiday more about community and neighborly get-togethers than about ghosts, pranks and witchcraft.” - “Parents were encouraged by newspapers and community leaders to take anything “frightening” or “grotesque” out of Halloween celebrations. Because of these efforts, Halloween lost most of its superstitious and religious overtones by the beginning of the twentieth century.” - “Between 1920 and 1950, the centuries-old practice of trick-or-treating was also revived. Trick-or-treating was a relatively inexpensive way for an entire community to share the Halloween celebration. In theory, families could also prevent tricks being played on them by providing the neighborhood children with small treats.” - “Thus, a new American tradition was born, and it has continued to grow. Today, Americans spend an estimated $6 billion annually on Halloween, making it the country’s second largest commercial holiday after Christmas.” - “One quarter of all the candy sold annually in the U.S. is purchased for Halloween.” - Halloween Is Increasingly Popular Among Adults – Fascinating article in The Conversation - Between 2005 and 2018, the number of adults celebrating Halloween rose from 50% to more than 70% - Halloween is particularly popular among younger adults (18–34), who spend 2x older adults on costumes - “Halloween celebrations have changed, too: less trick-or-treating and more parties and bar hopping. Today, alcohol is as important as candy to the Halloween economy.” - But why? “If Halloween has become more popular among adults, it’s because traditional markers of adulthood have become less clear and less attainable.” - “Halloween, with its emphasis on identity, horror and transgression, can tell us about who we want to be and what we fear becoming.” - “For example, urban legends about razor blades in apples in the 1970s reflected cultural anxieties about loss of community and fear of strangers.” - Fred – “Operation Goblin” - “More recently, debates about skimpy costumes tap into broader concerns about young girls growing up too quickly.” - “Traditional markers of adult responsibility and independence – family, career, home ownership – have either been delayed or abandoned altogether, by choice or necessity. Transitions to adulthood have become uncertain, drawn out and complicated.” - “So why might an emerging adult be drawn to Halloween? Most obviously, Halloween costumes let them experiment and explore self and identity. The possibilities are endless. Witch? Robot couple? Sexy Robot? Emoji? Banksy’s shredded art? Young adults I’ve spoken with often identify this as their favorite part of the holiday – the chance to be, at least for a night, whatever they wish to be.” - “And young adults don’t do it alone. Some have told me that they’ll test out different costumes on social media to see which gets the best response. Others will look to others online for inspiration.” - “In this way, Halloween meshes with modern networked culture, in which young adults are using social media to navigate the world and make choices. Sociologists have found that many young adults build “collaborative selves” by continuously looking to others online to reinforce and evaluate their identities.” - “Halloween has always promised the chance to be creative and to become something else. But in embracing the holiday, emerging adults are doing more than reject traditional adulthood. They’re playing with identity in a way that puts their skills and cultural competence to work. They’re defining new ways to be – and become – an adult. And in the process, they’ve changed the way Halloween is celebrated.” - The Tensions of Halloween - An Opportunity to Play with Identity vs. Cultural/Racial Appropriation - Role Model vs. Individual Choice - Role Model vs. Halloween’s Themes of Gore, Violence, Horror, etc. - Freedom of “Speech” vs. Empathy and Respect - Model Code of Ethics for Educators “https://www.nasdtec.net/page/MCEE_Doc” - The professional educator demonstrates responsibility to oneself and the profession by: Refraining from professional or personal activity that may lead to reducing one’s effectiveness within the school community -

News Item: Molly Russell, a 14-year-old girl living in London, committed suicide in November 2017. Earlier today (Sept. 30, 2022), a senior coroner ruled that her death was the result of depression and “the negative effects of online content.” Inquest A two-week inquest into the cause of Russell’s death focused on her use of Instagram and Pinterest Process was very slow due to lengthy response time by tech giants Evidence showed that she viewed a variety of graphic content in the months before her death “Molly viewed more than 16,000 pieces of content on Instagram in the final six months of her life, of which 2,100 were related to suicide, self-harm and depression. The inquest also heard how she had compiled a digital pinboard on Pinterest with 469 images related to similar subjects.” “Algorithms, which curate a user’s online experience, recommended 34 Instagram accounts to Molly that were either “sad or depressive related”, while Pinterest sent a message to Molly’s email address recommending “10 depression pins you might like”.” The coroner found that some of the sites she viewed were “not safe” because they allowed her to view content inappropriate for a 14-year-old Ian Russell, Molly’s father, said “his daughter had reached out for help on Twitter to personalities with thousands or even millions of followers, who would not even necessarily notice a tweet from someone like Molly.” “One message, sent to US actress Lili Reinhart, which was read to the court, said: ”I can’t take it any more. I need to reach out to someone, I just can’t take it." “It is likely that the above material viewed by Molly, already suffering with a depressive illness and vulnerable due to her age, affected her in a negative way and contributed to her death in a more than minimal way,” the coroner said. “Elizabeth Lagone, the head of health and wellbeing policy at Meta, the owner of Instagram and Facebook, admitted Molly had viewed posts that violated its content policies and Lagone apologised.” “A senior Pinterest executive also apologised for the platform showing inappropriate content and acknowledged that the platform was not safe at the time Molly was on it.” An Enormous Problem Research in the UK showed 45% of children aged 8–17 have seen harmful content, including self-harm and suicide, pornography, sexualised and violent imagery, anonymous trolling, and content featuring images of diet restriction. According to the report, "[C]hildren rarely sought out this content. “It is promoted and offered up to them by highly complex recommendation algorithms, which are designed to capture and retain their attention. When harmful content is reported to platforms, children tell me that little is done in response.” Platforms self-regulate, “using a mixture of human moderators and artificial intelligence to find and take down illegal or harmful material proactively or when users report it to them.” “[P]latforms struggle with moderating the sheer scale of content being posted and the balancing act of allowing users to express themselves while trying to keep their online spaces safe.” Activism and Governmental Response Russell’s parents have become outspoken advocates for greater regulation of social media The family has set up the Molly Rose Foundation, which is dedicated to connecting under–25s with mental health services The UK is drafting an online safety bill, which will place a “duty of care on tech companies to shield children from harmful content and systems.” Tech companies must do a professional assessment of how their platforms may harm children and what they can do to mitigate the risks. “Ofcom, the communications watchdog, will vet those proposals and monitor the companies’ adherence to them. Breaches of the bill can be met with fines of up £18m or 10% of a company’s worldwide revenue. Instagram’s owner, Meta, recorded a turnover of $118bn (£106bn) last year.” Legal Issues The UK does not have a First Amendment, so greater latitude in terms of regulating online content The First Amendment in the United States guarantees freedom of speech, making regulation much more difficult In addition, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act offers legal protection to online service providers who distribute “user-generated content” One possible avenue is to focus on the regulation of algorithms as a “product,” and then apply consumer safety regulations Suicide Prevention In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1–800–273–8255. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123, or email [email protected] or [email protected]. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org. Resources - #2022–09–30 Molly Russell: Harrow schoolgirl died as a result of ‘self harm’, inquest finds “https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/molly-russell-harrow-schoolgirl-died–25145910” - #2022–09–30 Molly Russell: how family are helping shift narrative on

This is a preview of Fred’s general session presentation at PPI on October 19 in Boise, ID Carrie Goldberg’s Thread about her lawsuit against Amazon The full title of the presentation is “The Cybertraps of Emerging Technologies: “Deep Fakes,” Augmented and Virtual Reality, the Metaverse, and Whatever AI Has In Store for Us” Outline Introduction The March of the Eduverse: A Brief Overview What Is Reality, Really? “Augmented” Reality “Virtual” Reality The Metaverse: The Avatar’s Playground Artificial Intelligence “Deep Fakes”: Old Concept, Terrifying Potential Fred’s live DALL-E 2 rendering Risk Factors for Educators Insufficiently Understood Technology Further Shared Space with Students Student Technological Edge Challenges of Supervision Potential Cybertraps Personal Distraction Inappropriate Content Professional Inappropriate Friendships Favoritism / Virtual Gift-Giving Invasions of sTUDENT Privacy Cyberharassment and Cyberbullying Virtual Assault Resources - #2022–09–27 This Artificial Intelligence App Wants To Make You A Better Teacher “https://www.forbes.com/sites/emmawhitford/2022/09/27/this-artificial-intelligence-app-wants-to-make-you-a-better-teacher/” - #2022–09–23 Opinion: The metaverse could be transformative, but it’s a legal and ethical minefield “https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/23/opinions/metaverse-transformative-ethics-thomason-spc-intl/index.html” - #2022–09–12 Metaverse Beckons A New Avatar Of Education But Are We Ready? “https://www.outlookindia.com/business/metaverse-beckons-a-new-avatar-of-education-but-are-we-ready–news–222843” - #2022–09–06 How artificial intelligence can be a force for good in schools “https://www.tes.com/magazine/teaching-learning/general/how-ai-artificial-intelligence-good-schools” - #2022–06–01 The Metaverse Is Already Here, and K–12 Schools Are Using It for Education “https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2022/06/metaverse-already-here-and-k–12-schools-are-using-it-education” - #2022–05–11 The Metaverse: 5 Things Educators Should Know “https://www.techlearning.com/news/the-metaverse–5-things-educators-should-know” - #2022–04–25 What Is the Metaverse, Exactly? “https://www.wired.com/story/what-is-the-metaverse/” - #2022–02–15 Why you can’t have legs in virtual reality (yet) “https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/15/tech/vr-no-legs-explainer/index.html” - #2021–11–29 Teaching in the ‘Metaverse’? Roblox Looks to Make It a Reality “https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/teaching-in-the-metaverse-roblox-looks-to-make-it-a-reality/2021/11” We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

News Item: A recent New York Times article reports that an increasing number of parents are buying Apple watches for elementary school kids Smartwatches for children are a booming sector of the tech market Hundreds of different models with a range of features Some smartwatches are tied to particular cellular companies, others are “unlocked” A 2020 survey showed that 31% of American teens owned a smartwatch, compared to 21% of adults Features and Selling Points of Smartwatches Limited apps / less distraction than phones Voice calls and basic texting (with cellular connectivity – typically part of family plan) Importance of Communication with Child for Schedule Changes, Emergencies Location tracking by parents Geofencing for alerts Can help delay requests for smartphone Some watches come with apps to help with time management and to encourage physical activity Apple introduced “Family Setup,” which gives parents the ability to supervise a range of data on the phone and limit notifications Smartwatch Issues to Consider Cost Durability/Fragility of Device Maturity / Development of Child Plan time to educate child on using device Will child wear it every day? Battery / Power management Brand Capture Safety and Etiquette Teach children to avoid distracted walking Don’t be distracted by watch when interacting with other people Understand risks of strange messages or calls Privacy Is the child’s information on the watch protected? Does the watch company comply with COPPA? Does the CHILD understand that his or her location is being tracked? Transparency is important. If smartwatch has a camera, child needs to understand privacy boundaries for themselves and others How Are Schools Reacting? Generally positive Fewer restrictions than smartphones Less distraction Recommended Brands Verizon GizmoWatch2 (~ $100) TickTalk4 (~ $190) Xplora X5 Play (~ $200) Apple SE (~ $300) Resources - #2022–09–01 How tech can help keep your kids safe at school - #2022–09–01 An Apple Watch for Your 5-Year-Old? More Parents Say Yes. - #2022–08–31 The Best Smartwatches For Kids (And Parents) To Stay Connected - #2022–08–30 Smart watches in schools, do they make kids safer? - #2022–08–23 Best Smartwatches for Kids - #2022–08–06 The 6 Best Smartwatches For Kids To Help Keep Them Active, Connected, & Entertained - #2022–08–03 EARLY YEARS: Smart watches for kids could be smarter, safer alternative to cell phones - #2021–10–26 The Best Smartwatches and Phones for Kids - #2021–09–16 The Best Smartwatches for Kids, According to a 9-Year-Old and His Mom We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

News Item – Students at Davisville Middle School in North Kingstown, RI set up a Discord subchannel to document inappropriate behavior by a teacher North Kingstown School District is a hot mess In April 2022, a series of lawsuits were filed against the District, high school administrators, and former boys’ basketball coach Aaron Thomas. The suit alleges that Thomas ordered boys to strip naked and then used calipers on their thighs to allegedly measure body fat percentage Complaints were made about Thomas’s behavior in 2017 and 2018, but the suit alleges that nothing was done Players felt coerced to cooperate because they were competing for spots on the team and playing time Defendants named in the lawsuit include: School committee members North Kingston finance director Former district superintendent Philip Auger Former HS principal and assistant superintendent Denise Mancieri Former teacher/coach Aaron Thomas A second lawsuit alleges that the District was slow to take action against a different coach who stalked a young student for weeks Parents complained repeatedly to school officials but received little cooperation Eventually, the teacher was removed from the district but went on to work in two other districts and is still licensed in Rhode Island Retired judge Susan McGuirl conducted an independent review of the District’s response to the Thomas complaints and concluded that the District and several of its employees had failed to take appropriate action When a school fails, they lost the trust of the community that they serve. Schools must recognize their failures and making the necessary changes to prevent something like this from happening again. That trust must be rebuilt, and that will take time, To rebuild this trust, they must be candid and transparent with the community they serve regarding the changes they are making and any future situations they may encounter. Following the report, administrators Auger and Mancieri resigned. In addition, the U.S. Attorney for the state of Rhode Island opened an investigation In July, six statements were filed with the U.S. Attorney regarding inappropriate behavior by two former North Kingstown coaches. They were accused of finding excuses to watch middle school girls in dance classes, inappropriate comments, encouraging sexualized dancing in class, and overly intimate spotting and assisting during gymnastics and exercise classes In his statement, a current Davis Middle School male student alluded to a “log regarding the comments and conduct that bothered us.” The Boston Globe obtained a copy of the log and reported on it in early September 2022 Several sixth grade boys were uncomfortable with how a teacher was treating their female classmates By seventh grade, they decided to take notes, and tried to tell adults (parents? other teachers? administrators?) what was going on. They did not feel anyone was taking them seriously. In January 2021, decided to electronically document different incidents They set up a Discord subchannel, named it after the teacher, and labeled it “Pedo Database.” The kids took notes in real time: “During COVID, as they attended class online, they’d open the Discord channel on a split-screen and document the teacher’s comments …” “Once they were back in class in person, the boys jotted down notes to add to the channel later…” “The “Pedo Database” is in the hands of the US attorney’s Office, the state Department of Children, Youth, and Families, the state Department of Education, and with lawyer Matthew Oliverio, who is conducting the school’s internal investigation.” Screenshot shows Discord conversation and the savvy with which the boys took notes: teacher comments, students at whom they were directed, date/time [Discord.png] Takeaways Decent kids; great of them to look out for their classmates Adults should do a better job of listening to kids Kids are increasingly sophisticated about the world and how technology can be used to interact with it Kids are not necessarily fully cognizant of the harm that can be caused by casually using or misusing certain words Kids are not trained investigators nor are they necessarily unbiased observers Technology continues to shift traditional power dynamics; kids have access to endless communication and collaboration tools, many invisible to adults Potential for abuse by students is not insignificant; false accusations are not uncommon Resources S.E.S.A.M.E. (Stop Educator Sexual Abuse, Misconduct, and Exploitation) “https://www.sesamenet.org/ ” - #2022–09–12 New England Teacher On Leave After 8 Middle School Boys Keep Log Of His Alleged Harassment “https://dailyvoice.com/connecticut/hartford/schools/new-england-teacher-on-leave-after–8-middle-school-boys-keep-log-of-his-alleged-harassment/843375/” - #2022–09–11 A Rhode Island teacher is on leave after a group of middle-school boys who thought he was a ‘creep’ used a ‘pedo database’ to keep track of how he interacted with girls in their class “https:

News Item – On August 29, 2022, the California Senate unanimously passed the Age-Appropriate Design Act. It previously received unanimous approval in the State Assembly It is currently awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature People expect him to sign it but it could anger tech companies, who might then be less inclined to support a Newsom run for president in 2028 Earlier this summer, the legislature rejected a proposed bill called the Social Media Platform Duty to Children Act It “would have allowed the state attorney general and local prosecutors to sue social media companies for knowingly incorporating features into their products that addicted children.” The California law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP (see resources) has an excellent summary article regarding the Age-Appropriate Design Act The California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act is modeled after the United Kingdom’s Age Appropriate Design Code, which went into effect in September 2021 If signed, it will be the first piece of U.S. legislation "that imposes a number of novel restrictions and data protection obligations on businesses providing services to users under the age of 18, including: requirements to conduct a data protection impact assessment before any new services are offered, configure all default privacy settings to a high level of privacy (unless there are compelling reasons to suggest it is otherwise in the best interests of children), and provide an obvious signal to the child when they are being monitored or tracked by their parent, guardian or another consumer." The bill prohibits businesses from: profiling a child by default unless certain criteria are satisfied using the personal information of any child in a way that is materially detrimental to their well-being and using dark patterns to lead or encourage children to provide personal information beyond what is reasonably expected. Motivations Legislative and parental concern over impact of online services and products on children’s wellbeing The desire to create safer online spaces for children “The Act emphasizes that the best interests of the child should be taken into consideration by all businesses that develop and provide online services, products or features (“Services”) that children are likely to access and, in the event of a conflict between the businesses’ commercial interests and the best interests of children, the privacy and well-being of children must be prioritized.” Key features of the Act: It’s very broad in its application. Applies to online products and services “(i) specifically directed at children and (ii) that are “likely to be accessed” by children.” Prior to any new Services being offered to the public which are likely to be accessed by children, the Act requires that the business complete a Data Protection Impact Assessment and maintain documentation of this assessment for as long as the Services are likely to be accessed by children. Default privacy settings must be high Business must provide clear, age-appropriate privacy information There must be an “obvious sign” that a business or service is tracking a child’s activity or geolocation Businesses are required to provide prominent and effective tools “to help children exercise their rights and report concerns.” Restrictions on the use of collected data, including: Cannot be used in any way that is “materially detrimental” to a child’s mental or physical health Profiling only under limited circumstances No use of “dark patterns,” i.e., design choices that trick a user into performing some unintended behavior Businesses are required to estimate the age of child users "with a ‘reasonable’ level of certainty The Act establishes the California Children’s Data Protection Working Group, aimed at developing best practices Penalties Negligent violations can result in civil penalties of up to $2,500 per affected child Penalties for Intentional violations are $7,500 per affected child Businesses in substantial compliance otherwise have 90 days to cure No private right of action National Relevance As with so many other things, California is so large that the states rules and regulations have ripple effects around the country Resources - #2022–09–06 California Senate Approves Landmark California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act “https://www.akingump.com/en/news-insights/california-senate-approves-landmark-california-age-appropriate-design-code-act.html” - #2022–09–06 California lawmakers approve groundbreaking internet privacy law for kids “https://www.ijpr.org/media-society/2022–09–06/california-lawmakers-approve-groundbreaking-internet-privacy-law-for-kids” - #2022–09–01 Twit.tv Episode with Leo Laporte, Jeff Jarvis, Stacey Higginbotham, and Ant Pruitt, with guest Mike Masnick “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvpjSoFiu-g” - #2022–08–25 Op-Ed: Regulate social media? California still has a plan for that “https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2022–08–25/social-media-kids-safety-california” - #2021–06–

In this episode we talk with Scott Rabinowitz about the ethical implications of advertising to GenZ. We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

News Item – The Boston Globe Publishes an Editorial Urging Schools to Prohibit Student Phone Use at School “https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/08/22/opinion/sorry-kids-no-more-phones-school/” Overarching Questions / Issues This is a global issue 2022/2023 freshman are the iGen – born after introduction of iPhone in 2007 (!) Is this part of a move to de-emphasize screens in education generally? Will strict private schools scare away tech-savvy students? Justifications Distraction / Loss of Focus On average, kids unlock their phones 50 times each day Impact on Grades Many educators report improved performance when access to devices is restricted Post-Pandemic Need for Non-Phone Socialization Kids who engage more face-to-face are generally happier Less spontaneity and real-world creativity Teaching self-control should be part of school’s social-emotional curriculum “I think great ideas come from boredom.” – John Kalapos, Buxton history teacher and tech committee chair Methods Complete on-campus bans – no smartphones at all Partial bans – students allowed to use phones between classes and at lunch Lockbags / Pouches In some schools, teachers and administrators have a tool for unlocking containers Other schools have unlocking magnets at each exit; kids tap the bag on the magnet as they leave Partnership with Yondr [ https://www.overyondr.com/ ] Originally founded in 2014 to limit use of phones in music venues Cabinets (“Cellphone Hotels”) / Lockers / Hanging Shoe Organizers Some schools permit “dumb” phones and the use of laptops to access the internet One private school is promoting the Light Phone [ https://www.thelightphone.com/ ] Teachers encouraged to model good behavior by observing school bans Objections and Concerns Parents want to be able to contact their children In 2015, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio abandoned a policy against phones in schools Kids are NOT enthusiastic Protests and fire alarms pulled at Torrington High School in Feb. 2022 Kids ignore school policies (as many as 2/3 disregard bans, according to a national survey) Efforts to police bans may also be damaging to learning and student mental health For some students, a phone may be their only technology Concerns over security of devices during the day Some teachers and school board members want to have schools incorporate phones (and especially social media) into curricula Schools need to upgrade phone systems to make it possible for parents to reach children Schools need a plan for digital withdrawal; phones, apps, and social media designed to be addictive American Academy of Pediatrics dropped screen time limits for kids 5 and older because the impact of screen time varied based on the personality and circumstances of each kid Resources - #2022–08–22 Sorry, kids, no more phones in school “https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/08/22/opinion/sorry-kids-no-more-phones-school/” - #2022–08–21 Boston high school teacher wants city to implement smartphone ban “https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/08/21/opinion/boston-high-school-teacher-wants-city-implement-smartphone-ban/” - #2022–08–18 “They don’t interact with each other.” The growing movement to ban phones in high schools. “https://www.mamamia.com.au/mobile-phone-ban-australia/” - #2022–08–15 Utah middle school bans phones from entire school day “https://kslnewsradio.com/1973508/utah-middle-school-bans-phones-from-entire-school-day/” - #2022–08–14 High school phone ban ‘more urgent than ever’ amid pressure on teens “https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/high-school-phone-ban-more-urgent-than-ever-amid-pressure-on-teens–20220809-p5b8dp.html” - #2022–08–13 Some Mass. high schools adopt strict cellphone-free policies this school year “https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/08/13/metro/mass-high-schools-adopt-strict-cellphone-free-policies-this-school-year/ ” - #2022–07–16 A boarding school in the Berkshires is banning smartphones for students and teachers “https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/07/16/business/boarding-school-berkshires-is-banning-smartphones-students-teachers/ ” - #2022–05–09 Chicopee High principal says cell phone locking has resulted in better student performance “https://www.masslive.com/news/2022/05/chicopee-high-principal-says-cell-phone-locking-has-resulted-in-better-student-performance.html” - #2022–02–25 Police respond as high school students protest phone policy “https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/02/25/metro/police-respond-high-school-students-protest-phone-policy/ ” - #2018–06–01 How one local high school teacher got his students to actually put away their phones “https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/west/2018/06/01/students-check-their-devices-cellphone-hotel/LuoA4LUJ807R0t5BsVnKTL/story.html ” We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopki

- News Item -- On June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. - The Court expressly overruled Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992) - Each state is now able to adopt its own laws regarding the practice of abortion - Overview - An important reminder: Roe was a privacy case - The Court was trying to balance three separate constitutional principles - A woman's right to privacy - The State's interest in protecting the health of a pregnant person - The State's interest in protecting the life of a viable fetus - Roe was an extension of two earlier privacy cases: Griswold v. Connecticut (1965), which established a federal "right to privacy" with respect to a married woman's ability to obtain contraceptives from her doctor, and Eisenstadt v. Baird (1972), which extended that same right to unmarried women. - How Might Cybertraps Arise? - Suspicious Circumstances - It is often difficult to tell the different between a spontaneous miscarriage and a self-medicated abortion - Approximately 30% of all pregnancies end in a spontaneous miscarriage - Criminal Investigations - Abortion is now banned in six states - Alabama - Arkansas - Mississippi - Missouri - Oklahoma - South Dakota - It is a crime to perform abortions and in most states, to "aid and abet" someone having an abortion - The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) does not prevent a doctor or medical organization reporting personal health data if they think a crime has been committed - Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) is very similar in this regard. - If someone reports that an abortion has occurred, local law enforcement or a local prosecutor could initiate a criminal investigation - Law enforcement can: - subpoena data from online account - conduct forensic exams of digital equipment - Civil litigation - A handful of states, led by Texas, have created systems that deputize enforcement to private citizens - Under that scheme, an individual located anywhere in the country can file a lawsuit alleging that another person performed an illegal abortion or aided and abetted a person in obtaining one - If the lawsuit is successful (by "a preponderance of the evidence"), the defendant can be ordered to pay a minimum of $10,000 as well as costs and attorneys fees - All of the usual civil litigation rules apply, including discovery of relevant evidence (apps, browser history, social media, cell phone records, etc.) - Risks for Educators - Social media posts that are contrary to state law - Requests for advice from students - What Data Is Collected? - Cybertraps for Expecting Moms & Dads - Erratic protection of personal data across the country - Communications - Email - Messaging - Health Care Data - Health Care Providers - Employers - Financial Records - Bank accounts - Credit cards - Online payment apps (Paypal, Stripe, etc.) - Browsers and Search Engines - Social Media - Selfie-incrimination - Tagging - Apps - Fertility - Health, General - Smartwatches - Can pinpoint the start of pregnancy from biometric information - Geolocation - Cellphone tower pings - Apps - Location tracking (Foursquare) - Geo-announcements (Twitter) - Location tracking by Google Maps, Waze, or iMaps - Governmental Tracking Tools - License plate readers - Biometrics - Other Looming Constitutional Issues - The Right to Travel - Some states are considering laws that would prohibit their citizens from traveling out-of-state for abortions - Criminal enforcement would be difficult (although surveillance tools are growing increasingly powerful) - Civil enforcement presents many fewer constitutional questions - Free Speech/Freedom of the Press - Some state legislators have also expressed interest in trying to prohibit web sites from publishing certain information about abortion (self-medication, availability of out-of-state services, etc.) within their states - As a practical matter, it's challenging to block such content (VPNs, TOR browers, etc.) - Such efforts would call into question the fundamental structure of the internet - Resources - #2022-07-20 Data privacy, abortion limits set to collide post-Roe [https://rollcall.com/2022/07/20/data-privacy-abortion-limits-set-to-collide-post-roe/](https://rollcall.com/2022/07/20/data-privacy-abortion-limits-set-to-collide-post-roe/) - #2022-07-13 In a Post-Roe World, the Future of Digital Privacy Looks Even Grimmer [https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/13/technology/personaltech/abortion-privacy-roe-surveillance.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/13/technology/personaltech/abortion-privacy-roe-surveillance.html) - #2022-07-08 How to protect your privacy in a post-Roe America [https://mashable.com/article/how-to-protect-online-privacy-post-roe-abortion](https://mashable.com/article/how-to-protect-online-privacy-post-roe-abortion) - #2022-07-08 Protecting digital privacy post-Roe [https://whyy.org/episodes/protecting-digital-privacy

Dr. Axton Betz-Hamilton was a victim of identity theft and wrote a book about the experience called “The Less People Know About Us: A Mystery of Betrayal, Family Secrets, and Stolen Identity.” Dr. Betz-Hamilton is now a professor at South Dakota State University specializing in identity theft. Isolated and moved around because of identity theft of her parents Axton was over half a million dollars in debt. Only found out the identity of the thief after her mom died. Parents can freeze credit reports Parents should check all three credit reports for each child. Experian Transunion Equifax If you’ve been a victim of Identity theft: File a police report Freeze your credit Get a counselor. We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

The Saga of Ashley Payne (2011) After her first year of teaching, Payne went on a trip to Europe. When she returned, she created a Facebook album with several hundred vacation photos. A handful showed her enjoying a drink or two. The photo album was marked “private,” but could still be viewed by her Facebook “friends” (which did not include any students) She also mentioned on Facebook that she was heading out to play a game called “Crazy Bitch Bingo” at a local club One her vacation photos and the club post were printed out and sent anonymously to Payne’s principal On February 6, 2011, I appeared on CBS News “Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood” to discuss internet privacy; Ashley Payne was also interviewed. “https://search.alexanderstreet.com/preview/work/bibliographic_entity%7Cvideo_work%7C3165557” The Questions Can educators post photos of themselves on vacation on social media? Yes, but … Teachers are generally (and sometimes legally, as in Canada) held to a higher standard of conduct online Persistent double standard – female teachers more closely scrutinized and more harshly judged “Personal time” is often not “private” Challenging Definitions “racy photos” “scantily clad” “indecent” “risque” Legal Issues First Amendment Decency / Obscenity District / School Policies What are the potential risks? Aggressive searches by curious students Loss of privacy (i.e., control over what is shared) Oversharing by friends or family Posts by second employers (modeling agencies, fishing charters) Unflattering posts by a friend or a complete stranger Public criticism / parental trolling Harassment Adverse job actions Theft What can teachers do to protect themselves? Clean up social media channels before applying for jobs Review privacy settings Reflect on the true meaning of “friendship” Create a “Custom List” of Facebook or Instagram friends Share albums directly with trusted friends in Google Photos or Apple iCloud Selfie-searches Third-party scrubbers (but beware of scams) Hashtag Advocacy Russian teachers protested the firing of a Siberian teacher after she shared a photo of herself in a bikini, getting ready for “cold swimming” Legal counsel for adverse labor actions Resources - #2022–04–19 What the Tech: Facebook vacation photos “https://www.texomashomepage.com/what-the-tech/what-the-tech-facebook-vacation-photos/” - #2021–03–09 L.A. Teachers Union Facebook Group Warns Educators Not to Post Vacations Online Due to Bad Optics “https://www.newsweek.com/l-teachers-union-facebook-group-warns-educators-not-post-vacations-online-due-bad-optics–1574828” - #2019–04–02 Teachers turn on bikini power online to support colleague “https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/6/125367/Teachers-turn-on-bikini-power-online-to-support-colleague” - #2018–06–14 Teacher are humans, too! Siberian tutors in bikini protest flashmob to support a colleague “https://siberiantimes.com/other/others/news/teacher-are-humans-too-siberian-tutors-in-bikini-protest-flashmob-to-support-a-colleague/” - #2018–06–10 Teacher fired in Omsk after posing in swimsuit as plus size model “https://siberiantimes.com/other/others/news/teacher-fired-in-omsk-after-posing-in-swimsuit-as-plus-size-model/” - #2016–11–28 Should teachers be banned from posting ‘scantily clad’ photos? Ottawa board seems to think so “https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/should-teachers-be-banned-from-posting-beach-photos-on-facebook-ottawa-board-seems-to-think-so” - #2016–11–28 Ottawa’s Public School Board Wants to Ban Teachers From Posting Beach Photos “https://www.vice.com/en/article/yvejwm/ottawas-public-school-board-wants-to-ban-teachers-from-posting-beach-photos” - #2016–04–10 Primary school teacher is sacked after video of her twerking in a bikini in Mexico sweeps the web and is spotted by outraged parents “https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article–3532399/Primary-school-teacher-sacked-video-twerking-bikini-Mexico-sweeps-web-spotted-outraged-parents.html” - #2016–11–27 Teachers on Facebook: Is posting that beach bikini shot going too far? “https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/teachers-on-facebook-is-posting-that-beach-bikini-shot-going-too-far” - #2015–10–22 Utah teacher wins battle with school over her ‘inappropriate’ Instagram account “https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/utah-teacher-wins-battle-school-instagram-account-article–1.2407944” - #2015–02–10 Teachers tripped up by Facebook rants and bikini pics “https://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/feb/10/teachers-tripped-up-by-facebook-rants-and-bikini-pics ” - #2013–11–09 Too Sexy to Teach! H.S. Teacher Fired Over Bikini Pics “https://cw39.com/cw39/online-dish-too-sexy-to-teach-h-s-teacher-fired-over-bikini-pics/” - #2013–11–05 Idaho high school basketball coach Laraine Cook fired after posting Facebook photo of boyfriend grabbing breast “https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/high-school/idaho-hs-coach-canned-breast-grabbing-facebook-photo-boyfriend-escapes-firing-article–1.1507889” - #2012–04–10 Should Teache

Show notes - The Uvalde School Shooting -- A Trove of Social Media Content - Gunman posted ominous photos of rifles and other messages on Instagram - He privately messaged a young woman that he planned to attack an elementary school - He used Yubo to threaten school shootings and show off a rifle - Context - Social media is one element of a complex problem - Uvalde already used security tech, including: - Raptor Technologies, for monitoring visitors - Social Sentinel, for identifying social media threats - Challenges posed by new, less-easily monitored online channels - Increased use of end-to-end encryption even on more well-established sites, like WhatsApp, Apple Messenger, Signal, etc. Facebook wants to make E2E encryption the default for Instagram and Facebook Messenger as well. Law enforcement is opposed. - FaceTime - Yubo - Snapchat - Instagram direct messaging - Discord - Twitch - "They are fundamentally designed to keep communications private, presenting different challenges than Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, where violent screeds and videos have been algorithmically amplified to millions of viewers." - "The way that generation uses social media more generally could render years of work to spot and identify public signs of upcoming violence obsolete, social media experts warn." - Responses - Culture of cybersafety - Department of Justice School Violence Prevention Program may provide funding [https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-invests-more-87-million-grants-address-school-violence](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-invests-more-87-million-grants-address-school-violence) - Increased interest in social media surveillance products - No solid evidence that they work - May have built-in racial biases in algorithms - Helps to create a culture of surveillance - Conditions children that surveillance is the norm - Creates conditions (cameras, metal detectors, full-time police presence) that can make school feel like a prison - Surveillance technology more commonly used to punish minor infractions - Use of AI and algorithm-driven products - Facial recognition - Gun detection systems (scans of security camera footage) - Pandemic has driven surveillance in effort to keep kids masked and socially-distanced - Researchers argue that surveillance measures lower student performance - Resources - Dr. Glenn Lipson - #2022-06-02 The problem with schools turning to surveillance after mass shootings [https://www.vox.com/recode/23150863/school-surveillance-mass-shooting-texas-uvalde](https://www.vox.com/recode/23150863/school-surveillance-mass-shooting-texas-uvalde) - #2022-05-28 Chilling new footage shows Texas gunman Salvador Ramos during shirtless video call with 15-year-old German girl on social media app Yubo - days before he told her about his school massacre plans [https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10862893/Uvalde-gunman-threatened-rapes-school-shootings-social-media-app-Yubo-weeks-massacre.html](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10862893/Uvalde-gunman-threatened-rapes-school-shootings-social-media-app-Yubo-weeks-massacre.html) - #2022-05-28 Texas gunman had threatened school shootings on social media, reports say [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/may/28/texas-gunman-threats-behavior](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/may/28/texas-gunman-threats-behavior) - #2022-05-27 The Gunman in Uvalde Left Multiple Hints Before His Attack Began [https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/27/us/uvalde-gunman-social-media.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/27/us/uvalde-gunman-social-media.html) - #2022-05-26 As young gunmen turn toward new social networks, old safeguards fail [https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/05/26/shooters-social-media/](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/05/26/shooters-social-media/) - #2022-05-22 NYC Mayor Eric Adams slams social media after Texas school shooting [https://nypost.com/2022/05/25/eric-adams-slams-social-media-after-texas-school-shooting/](https://nypost.com/2022/05/25/eric-adams-slams-social-media-after-texas-school-shooting/) SEO Keyword Question someone would ask where this would be the answer Blog Post ( We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights

Show notes whenyouwonder.org 1–4–3 day in PA - 143rd day in the year. Get their book “When You Wonder, You’re Learning” Origin story - Gregg and philanthropy Grable Foundation Translating learning from the learning sciences sound like script writers in Fred Rogers. Remake learning network - Learning landscape. Rogers took the tech of his day and asked how can I make this good Fred Rogers wanted to use the technology of his day to minister to kids. Eric Erickson - identity development How can people do things like what Fred was doing in his time? How do I make what is attractive to kids good and constructive? So many people who can and should carry the work of Fred forward. We’ve got to lift those examples up. Go to church, go to a concert, go to a sporting event, go to school The agony of creation. Everything Fred was doing clearly had a purpose. Fred bridged theory and practice in a powerful way. Curiosity, collaboration, creativity Parables of Peanuts Whole child plus learning sciences equals = The Fred Method We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

Show notes Dr. Charol Shakeshaft is a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University who studies educator sex abuse towards students prevalence and prevention. Subscribe to the Cybertraps Newsletter How much abuse of kids is happening and has it gotten better? Why has there been so much scandal around the catholic church and so little around The power of grooming students, colleagues, parents, etc. Uninterrupted and unobserved time with students. Much still occurs in the school fact to face. We don’t know how much this is happening, nor do we know whether it is increasing or decreasing. UAWW data surprisingly showed that students had been touched inappropriately by adults, when the study was looking for peer interactions. 10% of kids People don’t want to fund research in this area. Why the discrepancy between the catholic church and schools doing this. Predominant genders involved Districts are very closed when these things happen and don’t allow much to be said. Organizational decisions that get made about Structural issue rather than an individual issue. Challenges of a school system: not judging a colleague, closed rooms, nobody Did you see the signs? Why didn’t you say anything? The culture is such that they don’t feel safe saying something. SESAME Organization 133 superintendents - Too much passing the trash. We took care of the problem so “our” kids would be safe. By not saying anything, we are giving people permission to expand a predicliction Schools don’t just allow this to happen, schools help people find this in themselves. “It must be OK” if adults aren’t calling it out. Pay attention to how a student reports. Kids don’t say it straight up. Think of addictions, and what sets people up for doing that addiction. Start out being lonely and then it leads to another thing. Prevention - look at the organization - Policies (do they follow them?), training (not just mandatory reporting), hiring practices (not calling references), Presidium training We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

Show notes News Item Screen Time Went Up During the Pandemic “The latest report from Common Sense Media confirms what many of us know intuitively: Entertainment media use grew faster in the last two years than it did in the four years before the pandemic. While many of us didn’t think it was possible to cram more entertainment screen time into our waking hours, we somehow managed to do so in 2021.” Overview What Is Screen Time? We’ve Been Worried about It Since the Introduction of TV Computers Accelerated the Issue (1980s and 1990s) Gaming Devices, Cellphones, and Smartphones Put It All on Steroids And Then There Was a Pandemic … What Impact Has All of This Had on Your Screen Time? Latest Studies Common Sense Media Report Tweens spend an average of 5.5 hours on entertainment media Teens spend over 8 hours Social media users are getting younger: 40% of children between 8 and 12 are on social media platforms Some significant variations based on gender, race, and family income Lower-income tweens spend as much as 3 hours more each day on entertainment media Smartphone Usage in 2021 37% of 11-year-olds use a smartphone 91% of 14-year-olds You can get a Pinwheel phone for your child to help with screentime management Screen Time Recommendations by The American Academy of Pediatrics Infants/toddlers, ages 0–2 years: No screen time exposure for infants and toddlers. The only exception being connecting with loved ones on a screen. Children ages 2–5 years: Up to one hour per day of high-quality screen time. Do not use technology as a babysitter In 2016, researchers found that babies (0–2 years) spend 42 minutes per day on screens, and children (3–4 years) spend two hours 40 minutes per day on screens. Most parents teach their child how to use a touchscreen by age two. Screen time usage per day was too high before the pandemic. It is even higher, now. Positive Benefits of Non-Screen Play Physical development Brain development Language development Tactile learning Critical-thinking skills Development of imagination Cooperation and conflict resolution Consequences Physical Posture and Bone Development Eyesight Hearing Psychological Disconnection Body image Bullying Anger and Hostility Radicalization Suicidal ideation Responses and Solutions Above all, balance Focusing on content may be more important than screen time Parents serving as good role models Distracted parenting is a real phenomenon Delay use of screens as long as possible “Wait Until Eighth” Campaign Create screen-free spaces Separate space for art, crafts, reading, board games, etc. Seek out seratonin Waldeinsamkeit – the feeling of solitude in the forest Shinrin-yoku – “forest-bathing” Friluftsliv – “open-air living” Set essential boundaries to promote: Sleep Real-World Activities Concentration Connection Mental Health and Self-Esteem Consistency Is Very Helpful to Both Kids and Adults Help children understand the business model of social media Help children put social media interactions in context Coping with Boredom Is a Life Skill and a Pathway to Creativity Resources - #2022–05–16 Millennials vow to cut down on screen time for ‘more natural life’ “https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/millennials-vow-cut-down-screen–23968163” - #2022–05–14 Too much screen time linked to ADHD, aggression, anxiety in children “https://www.studyfinds.org/screen-time-children-adhd-aggression-anxiety/” - #2022–05–13 Health experts: Time to kill screens and send kids back to camp “https://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/may/13/health-experts-time-kill-screens-and-send-kids-bac/” - #2022–05–12 Should kids have smartphones? Debate grows on mental health impact “https://www.today.com/parents/parents/kids-smartphones-parents-debate-smartphones-teens-tweens-rcna28489” - #2022–05–11 How has the pandemic affected children’s screen time? “https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/05/pandemic-children-screen-time/” - #2022–05–10 Add virtual ‘supervision’ over your kids’ screen time and digital content with these settings, apps “https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/05/10/add-virtual-supervision-over-your-kids-screen-time-and-digital-content-with-these-settings-apps/#/questions” - #2022–05–10 Norway says no to screen time for kids under two “https://www.thelocal.no/20220510/norway-says-no-to-screen-time-for-kids-under-two/” - #2022–05–09 Experts Can’t Agree on How Much Screen Time Is Too Much for Adults “https://time.com/6174510/how-much-screen-time-is-too-much/” - #2022–05–07 Parents encouraged to reduce children’s screen time “https://salinapost.com/posts/57b31704–8f93–48d9-a507-c3f1e3b44736” - #2022–05–05 Between pandemic restrictions and screen time, one thing is clear: The kids are not OK “https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/nicole-russell/article260997087.html” - #2022–05–05 UW Health study: Too much screen time isn’t a problem for most teens “https://www.nbc15.com/2022/05/05/uw-health-study-too-much-screen-time-isnt-problem-most-teens/” - #2022–05–05 Screen T

Show notes News Item: - On December 28, 2021, Illuminate Education was hacked. The intrusion, which lasted until January 8, 2022, compromised the private data of nearly one million students in New York State (and maybe more) - The breach affected at least 24 school districts and 18 charter schools, along with one Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) - The company initially described the hack as an “attempted security incident” but then shut down both Skedula and PupilPath for more than a week to address the issue - Possibly the largest school data breach in U.S. history - What Is Illuminate Education? - A California-based edtech company (founded in 2009) that runs a variety of school information platforms, including Skedula (aka IO Classroom), PupilPath, and eduCLIMBER - From its website: - Our solution brings together holistic data and collaborative instructional tools, and puts them in the hands of educators. - As a result, they can visualize each student’s progress, determine the right instructional or intervention strategy, and take the best next action, moment-by-moment. - More than 17 million students and 5,200 districts and schools across all 50 states rely on Illuminate every day to move the student performance needle. - It does not have a NY state- or city-wide contract but it is an approved vendor, which means that it was “rigorously reviewed” by the IT Department for the state Department of Education - Schools use the platforms for a variety of purposes: - tracking grades and attendance - communicating with parents - contact tracing for COVID–19 - The company has earned about $5 million per year from NY schools - What Data Was Compromised? - A database containing a variety of personally identifying information, including: - names - birthdays - ethnicities - home languages - student ID numbers of current and former public school students going back to the 2016–17 school year - identities of special ed students - class and teacher schedules - identities of those receiving free lunch - Post-Incident Responses - Illuminate waited two months to formally notify the city - Avoid bad publicity and/or litigation - Negotiating with hackers - Avoid compromising investigation - Illuminate claimed that all student data is encrypted but the breach revealed that was not true - New York state law requires that student information be encrypted both “at rest or in motion” - The hack is still being investigated by the Dept. of Education, the New York Police Department, the FBI, and NYS Attorney General Leticia James - A school district in Connecticut also reported a breach, as did at least two in Colorado - New York State Education Department drafted a template for a letter/web page for parents - Notification of “unauthorized release of such data” - Notification of number of years of data affected (blank in template) - A promise that more information will be provided - What Are the Risks? - Profound impact on the ability of schools to function - Identity Theft using dark web tools and resources - Credit damage to minors, who typically don’t monitor their credit - What Can Schools Do? - Make sure that their own house is in order - Updated security patches - Collaboration with other schools/districts - Ongoing review and utilization of state and federal resources - Consider bringing in outside security consultants - Review what student data is collected and whether doing so is mission-critical - Don’t just collect data because it is possible to do so - Make local backups of any data that is being transmitted to third-party vendors - Thoroughly vet third-party vendors who collect and store student data - Have they had security or data breach issues in the past? - Advocate for stronger regulation of data collection firms at both state and federal levels - What Can Parents Do? - Don’t ignore notices of potential data breaches - Change any passwords used by you or your children to interact with the school or the vendor platform(s) - Put a credit lock on child social security numbers - Take advantage of offers for complimentary credit monitoring for themselves and their children - Be wary of possible fraud – scam calls, phishing emails, etc. - Double-check by phone with school personnel about any online request for information - Talk to your children about possible misuse of their information - The price of digital data is eternal vigilance - Resources - [n.d.] Illuminate Education https://www.illuminateed.com/ - [n.d.] New York State Education Department Template for Breach Notification Letter http://www.nysed.gov/data-privacy-security/illuminate-education-breach-notice - [n.d.] How to Protect Your Child From Identity Theft https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-protect-your-child-identity-theft - #2022–05–05 565 Schools, Over 1M Students in NY Impacted by Illuminate Data Breach, NYSED Says; 2nd Colorado District Notifies Parents https://thejournal.com/articles/2022/05/05/565-schools-over–1m-students-impacted

Show Notes Starting Place Companies are constantly releasing new tools for tracking the physical movements of children. Should parents use them? Child monitoring apps and devices are rapidly becoming a multi-billion market By #2012, more than 20 million people were already using Life360 – just five years after the iPhone was released - #2019 UK study – 40% of parents/guardians had deployed real-time GPS tracking and 15% checked locations “constantly” A Relatively New Phenomenon Technology and consumer interest began growing in early 2010s Two main models Location-sharing – provides real-time updates of a device’s location Geofencing – provides alerts only when a device leaves or enters a specific area Specialized features are emerging Speed monitoring and crash detection for teen drivers Remote activation of device microphones “Stealth mode” – parents can install monitoring without any knowledge of child Motivations for Tracking Keeping track of devices or belongings Make sure kids are where they are supposed to be Keep a digital eye on children with health issues Stranger danger Risk overblown by sensationalist headlines? Violence Natural disasters Greater freedom for children? Relevant Technologies GPS (sometimes + WiFi) Backpacks Phones Gabb Wireless https://gabbwireless.com/ Pinwheel https://www.pinwheel.com/ Trackers Jiobit Watches Xplora X5 Play Bluetooth – limited utility in moving vehicles AirTags Tile Apps Circle Home Plus FamiGuard Family360 Find My Friends (Apple, 2011) Find My Kids (2016) iSharing Life360 (GPS) (2008) My Family Potential for Abuse Cybertraps for Spouses, Partners, and Lovers Fundamental Questions Is this legal? Yes. Parents have the right to supervise their children. As the owners of electronic devices, parents also have the right to install or remove software and establish rules for the use of the device. Does it work? Sonia Livingstone, a professor in the department of media and communications at the London School of Economics and Political Science, believes there is in fact “zero evidence that any of these apps keep children safer”. "I’ve never seen any and I look at all the evidence,” she says. Are both parents in agreement? When does parental supervision cross over into invasive surveillance? Are one or both parents becoming digital voyeurs? Are parents unknowingly sharing information with third parties? Could this intensely personal information be hacked? Is it a breach of familial trust? Very hard to justify hidden monitoring of child Parents should not try to get into a contest with children re technology use Open conversation is critical Challenges in dual-custody situations. Does it stunt the development of child independence and the ability to pay attention to their surroundings? Developing a sense of privacy is a natural part of the maturation process Are parents putting more trust in a device than their children? Chilling effect on friendships, romances, etc.? What about when kids voluntarily share their location (e.g., Snap Map) When should parents stop monitoring? Are subcutaneous GPS chips next? - #2018 “Black Mirror” episode called “Arkangel” https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5709250/ Resources - #2022–05–01 Honey, let’s track the kids: the rise of parental surveillance https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/may/01/honey-lets-track-the-kids-phone-apps-now-allow-parents-to-track-their-children - #2022–03–04 How to Track My Child’s Phone Without Them Knowing https://novascotiatoday.com/how-to-track-my-childs-phone-without-them-knowing/19149/ - #2022–02–11 I Used Apple AirTags, Tiles and a GPS Tracker to Watch My Husband’s Every Move https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/11/technology/airtags-gps-surveillance.html - #2021–12–29 ‘My husband tracks our kids’ every move – I think it’s an invasion of privacy’ https://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/family/my-husband-tracks-kids-every–25806649 - #2021–12–20 5 Best GPS Watches for Kids to Safeguard Their Movement https://urbanmatter.com/5-best-gps-watches-for-kids-to-safeguard-their-movement/ - #2021–11–07 The parents who track their children https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20211105-the-parents-who-track-their-children - #2021–09–27 Should You Use Apple AirTags to Keep Track of Your Kids? https://lifehacker.com/should-you-use-apple-airtags-to-keep-track-of-your-kids–1847752273 - #2021–09–08 The Case Against Tracking Your Kid’s Phone ($) https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021–09–08/back-to-school-the-case-against-tracking-your-kid-s-phone-location - #2021–08–23 These gadgets can help you track your kids on the way to school https://ktla.com/morning-news/technology/track-kids-way-walk-to-school-tech-gadgets-richontech/ - #2021–08–10 7 Phone Tracking Apps For Parents’ Peace of Mind https://www.newsweek.com/7-phone-tracking-apps-parents-peace-mind–1610685 - #2020–03–10 Should Parents Track Their Children? https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/10/learning/should-parents-track-their-children.html - #2015–10–18 Would YOU track your chi

New Item: British Journalist Yinka Bokinni led production of a documentary, “Inside the Metaverse: Are You Safe?”, which is airing on UK Channel 4 later today https://www.channel4.com/programmes/inside-the-metaverse-are-you-safe-dispatches She posed as both a 22-year-old woman and a 13-year-old girl The interactions horrified her What Is the Metaverse? Portmanteau of “meta” (“after” or “beyond”) and “universe” – so, “beyond the universe” A vague and complex term for an online space, typically including virtual reality OR a virtual world (like Fortnite, Roblox, Minecraft, World of Warcraft, etc.) No clear-cut definition, no established rules Few people fully appreciate how fast this will all happen Heavy reliance on user-generated content (particularly in chat rooms), which is protected by Section 230 Headsets, glasses, contact lenses? Most companies anticipate some sort of digital economy within those spaces Some plans to incorporate physical sensations, like smell, touch, and sound Who Can Access the “Metaverse”? Users of Oculus Quest (now called “Meta Quest”), a popular VR headset Apps are downloaded from the Oculus Quest Store that enable Oculus Quest users to interact with each in virtual space Apps can be used with multiple VR devices, not just Meta Quest Meta spokesperson: “We prohibit anyone under 13 from creating Quest accounts and design some experiences only for people 18 and over.” ’We have a suite of VR parental supervision tools to help parents and carers who choose to allow teens 13 and over to use the headset to monitor their use, limit the time they spend using it and ensure they take breaks." Some Emerging Risks More Difficult for Parents to Monitor What Children Are Doing Distraction / Addiction Economics Fraud Overspending on upgrades Loss of Privacy Physical Harms Motion sickness from immersive reality Discomfort / pain from wearing headsets too long Desensitization to harmful behavior Psychological Harms Racism / Misogyny / Hate Speech Crime Probably analyzed on the basis of harmful speech, not physical crimes Sexual Harassment and Assault User can’t “feel” unwanted physical contact but is aware that other user is making those motions in their physical space Safety Measures Better Age Verification Young children can get access to various examples of the metaverse Better Enforcement of Age-Limited Content Easy for young children to get access to sexualized material and view other forms of anti-social behavior Parental Controls Proximity Shields Reporting Mechanisms Resources Interesting Media Examples “Tron” Star Trek: The Next Generation holodeck “Ready Player One” Zoom / Microsoft Teams / etc. “Mythic Quest” Gather Town “Free Guy” “Upload” - #2022–04–25 What Is the Metaverse, Exactly? https://www.wired.com/story/what-is-the-metaverse/ - #2022–04–25 Metaverse is branded an ‘online Wild West’ by child safety campaigners as Channel 4 Dispatches uncovers evidence of sexual abuse and racism in the virtual reality world https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article–10750407/Metaverse-branded-online-Wild-West-Channel–4-uncovers-evidence-sexual-abuse-racism.html - #2022–04–25 A barrage of assault, racism and rape jokes: my nightmare trip into the metaverse https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/apr/25/a-barrage-of-assault-racism-and-jokes-my-nightmare-trip-into-the-metaverse - #2022–04–14 Meta to reveal first version of its Star Trek-style smart glasses in 2024 – and they WON’T be tethered to a phone https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article–10718109/Meta-plans-release-version-Star-Trek-style-smart-glasses–2024.html - #2022–04–10 Metaverse experts reveal if you can murder in VR – and whether you can be punished https://nypost.com/2022/04/10/metaverse-experts-reveal-if-you-can-murder-in-virtual-world/ - #2022–04–05 Coca-Cola launches virtual drink inside the metaverse and you can try it TODAY https://nypost.com/2022/04/05/coca-cola-launches-virtual-drink-inside-the-metaverse/ - #2022–04–03 Experts predict how Mark Zuckerberg’s metaverse will change our mental health forever https://nypost.com/2022/04/03/experts-predict-how-the-metaverse-will-change-our-mental-health/ - #2022–04–03 Struggling to buy a home? How spending your cash on land that DOESN’T EXIST could get you on the property ladder sooner https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article–10646217/Hottest-Australian-real-estate-real-estate-metaverse-virtual-property-boom-explodes.html - #2022–03–23 Inside the plan for utopian metaverse city that will have almost no rules or police https://nypost.com/2022/03/23/inside-the-plan-for-utopian-metaverse-city-that-will-have-almost-no-rules-or-police/ - #2022–03–03 No Zuck-in way! Mark Zuckerberg claims we will all ‘live’ in the metaverse in the future and leave reality behind for a virtual world of our own creation https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article–10573907/Mark-Zuckerberg-claims-live-metaverse-future.html - #2022–02–25 Welcome to the metaverse, where the art is virtual but the h

News Item: Colorado Supreme Court Strikes Down Electronic Harassment Ban Three Speech-Related Crimes: Cyberbullying Using electronic communication tools to bully someone Cyber- or Electronic Harassment Online harassment (suggests a pattern of behavior more extensive than cyberbullying) Cyberstalking Harassment using electronic communications that creates fear of physical harm or injury Thanks to social media, these behaviors are increasingly a global problem Growing concern about rise in electronic dating violence among adolescents Electronic harassment includes messaging, calling and sending other items to illicit compliance via intimidation and fear tactics; electronic coercion is pressuring a partner to share sexual or illicit messages, pictures or videos; and electronic monitoring is the viewing, listening or reading of messages, images or videos of one’s partner. “We found that at age 12, youth are at risk of engaging in all three forms of electronic dating violence that we studied, and that between 9th and 10th grade—when youth are 15 to 16 years old—the risk of all three domains increases substantially. But we see that risk becomes somewhat constant or perhaps even declines after age 16,” said Elyse Thulin, a doctoral candidate at U-M’s School of Public Health, noting that more research is needed to understand the undercurrents of this decline. Connected homes and the Internet of Things is increasing the potential for this type of behavior These types of behavior can cause or contribute to serious harm for victims, up to and including suicide Children can be perpetrators as well as victims Responses and Solutions Statutory Most states have amended their relevant statutes to include the use of electronic communications to commit these crimes Some states have adopted statutes specifically prohibiting cyberbullying, cyberharassment, and cyberstalking In some states, these behaviors can be either a misdemeanor or a felony With respect to speech, such statutes are a restriction of First Amendment freedoms and as such, are subject to strict scrutiny by the courts In some instances, courts have struck down language in these statutes on the grounds that the phrases or terms used are “unconstitutionally vague and overbroad” Colorado: Supreme Court struck down phrase “intended to harass” Texas: Appellate court struck down a ban on online speech “intended to and reasonably likely to annoy” Corporate Terms of Service Site Behaviors Mute/Block Limiting Responses Unmentioning Litigation Lawsuits seeking damages for intentional infliction of emotion distress, invasion of privacy, etc. From a 1975 decision by the Colorado Supreme Court: Indeed, a fundamental purpose of free speech in our system of government is to debate ideas. These debates may be vigorous and high-minded but may at times devolve into vituperative attacks. “Speech is often provocative and challenging. It may strike at prejudices and preconceptions and have profound unsettling effects.” But as the Bolles court aptly observed, if such speech could be restricted, “the protection of the First Amendment would be a mere shadow.” Resources - #2022–04–11 Seeking to protect its users from cyberbullying, Twitter is experimenting with a feature to remove tags from mentions https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/424461 - #2022–03–28 Colorado Supreme Court Strikes Down Electronic Harassment Ban https://reason.com/volokh/2022/03/28/colorado-supreme-court-strikes-down-electronic-harassment-ban/ - #2022–02–11 ‘Your digital safety matters to us’: New campaign for protection against electronic harassment, blackmail [Egypt][https://dailynewsegypt.com/2022/02/11/your-digital-safety-matters-to-us-new-campaign-for-protection-against-electronic-harassment-blackmail/](https://dailynewsegypt.com/2022/02/11/your-digital-safety-matters-to-us-new-campaign-for-protection-against-electronic-harassment-blackmail/) - #2021–12–27 Cyberbullying Laws https://www.findlaw.com/criminal/criminal-charges/cyber-bullying.html - #2021–11–08 Electronic dating violence starts as early as 12 https://www.futurity.org/electronic-dating-violence-teenagers–2653102/ - #2021–11–04 E-violence increases through early adolescence but declines as teens become adults https://news.umich.edu/e-violence-increases-through-early-adolescence-but-declines-as-teens-become-adults/ - #2021–09–30 Two Toronto High School students facing charges in electronic harassment case https://wtov9.com/news/local/two-toronto-high-school-students-facing-charges-in-electronic-harassment-case - #2019–08–22 Florida case reveals terrors of cyberstalking https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/special/special-sections/2019/08/22/florida-case-reveals-terrors-cyberstalking/4407314007/ - #2019–08–09 Texas Appellate Court Strikes Down Electronic Harassment Statute https://reason.com/volokh/2019/08/09/texas-appellate-court-strikes-down-electronic-harassment-statute/ - #2017–11–22 Boy, 13, charged with hate crime, electronic harassment after th

Lynn Clark, the Superintendent of the Chicopee Public Schools, is arrested for lying to the FBI over harassing texts See our interview with Quentin Dale about investigations. - Relevant Facts - Chicopee is a town of about 55,000, just north of Springfield, Mass. in the western part of the state - The Chicopee Public School District serves about 7800 students in pre-K to 12th grade, in 14 different schools - Clark, 51, was appointed superintendent in 2019 with an effective start date of February 2020. She began working in the district as a substitute teacher and eventually served as the principal of three schools and then assistant superintendent - Her first year as superintendent was considered to “outstanding” - During the city’s search for a new police chief, one candidate (a member of the Chicopee Police Dept.) began receiving a series of harassing texts - The messages threatened “to damage his reputation” if he did not withdraw from the application pool (and in fact, the officer did withdraw) - Some messages, the victim said, contained information that he had only shared with one person: Clark - Chicopee Mayor John L. Vieau reported the threatening texts to the FBI in early December - Clark was questioned by the FBI and initially denied sending the texts - She also claimed to have received similar threats - She subsequently admitted that she sent them and said “that the officer ‘had achieved many accomplishments based on [her] work’ and she wanted to see him ‘knocked down a peg.’” - By an 8–3 vote, the Chicopee School Committee voted to put Clark on paid leave - Issues - The Importance of Restraint and Self-Control - Big question regarding the relationship / connection between Clark and the police officer - “The FBI said that in January, Clark told investigators she feared the investigation was harming her professional reputation and ‘tearing the city apart.’” - How Clark Got Burned – The Difficulty of Truly Remaining Anonymous Online - Clark allegedly used a “burner app” to send approximately 100 threatening text messages - She told the FBI that she “she had also used similar burner apps to contact students’ parents who were ‘unresponsive’ to calls from numbers associated with the Chicopee Public Schools. - What Are ”Burner Apps“? - A ”burner app“ allows you to purchase one or more anonymous phone numbers. The company operating the burner app receives the call or text and routes it to your actual phone number, which the person on the other end does not know. When the user no longer needs the alternative phone number, he or she can ”burn“ it by discontinuing payment. Calls or texts to that number will no longer be forwarded. - Promotional explanation for the Burner app: - Use Burner for everyday situations. Create a disposable phone number for dating, salespeople, deliveries, shopping online or selling items on Craigslist. You can use it as a longterm second phone number for your business or side projects. Integrations with Dropbox, Google Drive, and Slack allow you to archive messages and voicemails, and communicate with your team. Create multiple numbers, keep them as long as you want, or burn them anytime. Share your Burner with anyone and everyone, or keep your new number secret for anonymous texting. No hassles, no contracts. - Examples of burner apps: - 2ndLine - Burner - Cloud SIM - CoverMe - Flyp - GoogleVoice - Grasshopper - Hushed - Line2 - MightyCall - Sideline - What Can a Digital Investigation Reveal? - The ”phone number“ (burner number) from which the messages were sent - Police can link phone number to specific burner app company - Records held by the operator of the burner app showing which subscriber is using a particular number at any given moment - Payment records that reveal device ID used to make the purchase (in this case, Apple ID) - Records revealing link between user’s device and a specific home IP address, which in turn provides a physical address - Records held by the cell carrier showing use of the individual’s phone, specifically time and date of calls, even if recipient is hidden - From Burner: ”Calls made through Burner show up on your phone bill as calls between your Burner number and your personal number. The end numbers you are calling through Burner are not shown. Incoming calls show up as calls from your Burner number.“ - Text messages can be sent entirely within burner apps (assuming internet connectivity), which shields texting activity from cell carrier; however, records of burner app company can still reveal linkage between burner number and actual number - Location of the device used (cell tower pings, Wi-Fi, even Bluetooth – consider implications of Find My network) - Voicemail or other recordings that can be used for voice-matching technology - Clark could face additional charges - She has admitted deleting every message on her phone, which could constitute obstruction of justice - Impact on administration, staff, school community, and city - Prevention is chal

White House Proclamation Goals Condemn and combat child abuse – physical, emotional, sexual, and online sexual exploitation Heighten awareness of risk factors Highlight importance of supporting families Child abuse occurs at all socioeconomic and educational levels, and in all religious, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds Key tool for fighting child abuse is prevention Child Abuse Statists – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention At least 1 in 7 children have experienced abuse or neglect in the past year In 2019, there were 73 million children in U.S. In 2019, 1,840 children died from abuse and/or neglect Long-term economic burden of child abuse and neglect is enormous 2015 estimate – $428 billion, comparable to economic costs of strokes and Type 2 diabetes Risk factors Risk Factors for Individual Perpetrators Caregivers with drug or alcohol issues Caregivers with mental health issues, including depression Caregivers who don’t understand children’s needs or development Caregivers who were abused or neglected as children Caregivers who are young or single parents or parents with many children Caregivers with low education or income Caregivers experiencing high levels of parenting stress and economic stress Caregivers who use spanking and other forms of corporal punishment for discipline Caregivers in the home who are not a biological parent Caregivers with attitudes accepting of or justifying violence or aggression Risk Factors for Families Families that have family members in jail or prison Families that are isolated from and not connected to other people (extended family, friends, neighbors) Family violence, including relationship violence Families with high conflict and negative communication styles Risk Factors in Communities Communities with high rates of violence and crime Communities with high rates of poverty and limited educational and economic opportunities Communities with high unemployment rates Communities with easy access to drugs and alcohol Communities where neighbors don’t know or look out for each other and there is low community involvement among residents Communities with few community activities for young people Communities with unstable housing and where residents move frequently Communities where families frequently experience food insecurity Role of Technology Number of children using a mobile device has more than doubled in last few years Parents have legitimate concerns about online safety “Sad fishing” – Predators search “for kids who seem sad, lonely, or depressed based on their public profiles on a variety of social media platforms.” “Online sexual exploitation” Grooming Live streaming consuming child sexual abuse material Coercing and blackmailing children for sexual purposes (“sexploitation”) Preventative Measures Child Abuse in General Individuals Caregivers who create safe, positive relationships with children Caregivers who practice nurturing parenting skills and provide emotional support Caregivers who can meet basic needs of food, shelter, education, and health services Caregivers who have a college degree or higher and have steady employment Families Families with strong social support networks and stable, positive relationships with the people around them Families where caregivers are present and interested in the child Families where caregivers enforce household rules and engage in child monitoring Families with caring adults outside the family who can serve as role models or mentors Communities Communities with access to safe, stable housing Communities where families have access to high-quality preschool Communities where families have access to nurturing and safe childcare Communities where families have access to safe, engaging after school programs and activities Communities where families have access to medical care and mental health services Communities where families have access to economic and financial help Communities where adults have work opportunities with family-friendly policies Online Sexual Abuse Familiarize yourself with the apps and online services used by each child and supervise activity Open lines of communication Acknowledge importance of online interactions for children Persistent discussion of online safety over a long period time, beginning early and adjusting to age and maturity of each child Clear and reasonable rules regarding online activity, developed in conversation with each child Deploy technology to assist in child safety, but don’t expect it to replace adult supervision Assist each child in setting and adjusting privacy controls Resources - #2022–04–04 Children’s Trust Fund of Alabama Awards Grant to Create Digital Safety Video to Better Educate Alabaman’s Youth https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/566781873/children-s-trust-fund-of-alabama-awards-grant-to-create-digital-safety-video-to-better-educate-alabama-s-youth - #2022–04–03 April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month: Maui events promote healthy keiki https://mauinow.com/2022/

Ransomware is a growing problem for organizations, including schools What is it? How does it happen? Why does it happen? $$$ – $7bn in 2021 Who’s doing it? We are all on the front lines now Problems for Schools Down time for school personnel, distraction from mission Inability to access data; closure of schools Loss of data, identity theft, invasions of privacy Reputational damage Financial loss Technical and legal fees Ransomware payment How Can Schools Protect Themselves Have air-gapped backups Conduct routine cybersecurity audits and threat analysis Training and education for all members of the school community The greater the access, the more training is needed Particular focus on phishing (leading attack vector) and other intrusion methods Competent and thorough IT department Patch, patch, patch Limit ability to install new programs without thorough testing Collaboration with law enforcement Take advantage of increased funds for cybersecurity Bipartisan Infrastructure Law American Rescue Plan Act Increased interest in cybersecurity offers great opportunities for education and job training How Much Should Schools Share with the Public? Organizations often face a temptation to not report cybersecurity breaches Have a thorough response plan in place; review and update on a regular basis Consult with law enforcement to avoid interfering with investigation Communicate quickly and thoroughly with parents if (when) a cyberattack occurs Increased transparency helps define the scope of the problem and risk factors for others Resources - #2022–03–28 Funding Is Flowing for Cybersecurity Efforts in Every Government Jurisdiction https://www.cpomagazine.com/cyber-security/funding-is-flowing-for-cybersecurity-efforts-in-every-government-jurisdiction/ - #2022–03–27 LI schools hit with 29 ransomware attacks, hacks, other cyber incidents in past 3 years https://www.newsday.com/long-island/education/ransomware-cyberattack-virus-school-computer-networks-p5wjjhed - #2022–03–24 Officials are still in the dark on ransomware https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/03/24/officials-are-still-dark-ransomware/ - #2022–03–24 Why school districts need to be more transparent on cyber https://statescoop.com/podcast/why-school-districts-need-to-be-more-transparent-on-cyber/ - #2022–03–23 Cybercriminals made $7bn in pure profit in 2021, says FBI https://www.theregister.com/2022/03/23/cybercriminals_made_7bn_2021/ - #2022–03–23 FBI, CISA advise 13,000 orgs to have ‘low threshold’ for reporting cyberattacks https://therecord.media/fbi-cisa-advise–13000-orgs-to-have-low-threshold-for-reporting-cyberattacks/ - #2022–03–22 Add a New Dimension to Ransomware Defenses in Education https://campuslifesecurity.com/articles/2022/03/22/add-a-new-dimension-to-ransomware-defenses-in-education.aspx?m=1 - #2022–03–16 APS says no data compromised during January’s cyberattack https://www.abqjournal.com/2480114/aps-said-no-data-compromised-in-cyber-attack.html - #2022–03–15 Cyber Notification Bill Critical, But Won’t Stop Bad Actors Entirely, Says Senator https://broadbandbreakfast.com/2022/03/cyber-notification-bill-critical-but-wont-stop-bad-actors-entirely-says-senator/ - #2002–03–11 Superintendent speaks out about cyber security incident at Altoona Area School District https://wjactv.com/news/local/superintendent-speaks-out-about-cyber-security-incident-at-altoona-area-school-district - #2022–03–10 MA Offers Free Cybersecurity Training to Schools, Cities https://www.govtech.com/education/k–12/ma-offers-free-cybersecurity-training-to-schools-cities - #2022–03–07 Greensville County School board orders technology audit after cyber-attack https://www.emporiaindependentmessenger.com/news/article_e50d935e–9ccc–11ec–8051–2382b6a94403.html - #2022–03–07 Valley Educators Prepare Students For Cybersecurity Workforce https://businessjournaldaily.com/educators-prepare-students-for-cybersecurity-workforce/ We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and

https://www.cybertraps.com/additional-resources Increased Use of Technology A Global Issue Explosion in the Use of Technology for Remote Learning General Increase in Screen Time Algorithmic Rabbit Holes Scope of the Problem 90% of Kids Are Regular Social Media Users Impact of Pandemic on Mental Well-Being of Children in General -- Almost Certainly Bad Some Disagreement as to Role of Technology and Social Media Particular Challenges for Girls Rise in Loneliness and Suicide Attempts Issues and Concerns Access to Inappropriate Materials on Poorly Set-Up School Devices (or Personal Devices) Impact on Student Privacy What Are the Search Terms Used by the School to Flag Messages or Searches? Emerging Technologies: Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence Responses Reasonable Limits on Screen Time for Children Possible legislation by U.S. Congress and EU to force tech companies to do a better job protecting children Increased surveillance of children by schools? Better training of school employees to recognize symptoms and warning signs More effective education regarding mental health; destigmatize Encourage students to seek help for themselves or their classmates Mental health days? Resources General #2022-03-21 Kids, teens and mental health: Parents report challenges in screening, getting care https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/childrens-health/kids-teens-and-mental-health-parents-report-challenges-screening-getting-care "Even before the pandemic, mental health disorders in adolescents, such as depression and anxiety, were prevalent,” said Mott Poll co-director and Mott pediatrician Gary L. Freed, M.D., M.P.H." "The pandemic caused significant stress and social disruption for kids that likely exacerbated these problems, as we’re seeing a growing number of young people face mental health concerns. This places a heavier burden on parents, health providers and other trusted adults in their lives to be aware of potential warning signs." #2022-03-21 The pandemic has changed the way we perceive technology — and how we resist it https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2022/03/21/covid-technnology-zoom-fatigue-spyware/ #2022-03-21 Social media is turning 25. Let’s take a mental health checkup https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2022/03/21/social-media-is-turning-25-lets-take-a-mental-health-checkup/ First social media site: sixdegrees.com in 1997 #2022-02-15 Social anxiety in teens higher during pandemic; speaker gives ways to cope https://www.wkbn.com/news/local-news/social-anxiety-in-teens-higher-during-pandemic-speaker-gives-ways-to-cope/ #2022-02-08 Clues Your Teen May Be Facing a Mental Health Challenge https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20220208/clues-teen-facing-mental-health-challenge #2022-02-02 AHA News: Amid a National Mental Health Crisis For Kids, Here's How Parents Can Help https://consumer.healthday.com/aha-news-amid-a-national-mental-health-crisis-for-kids-here-s-how-parents-can-help-2656533386.html #2022-02-01...

Show notes Https://jethrojones.com/how2be About the book Over 500 episodes of Transformative Principal 9 key dispositions and skills ![[how2be 1.jpg]] Self-care The fallacious idea that you should take care of yourself so you have enough in the tank to take care of others is one of the worst lies in education. Take care of yourself because YOU matter. Support for them, Support for you Support doesn’t always mean what you think it does. We’ll talk about how to have difficult conversations, how to understand your staff better, and how to help them be the best they can. In order to support others, you have to have support yourself. This program is a good start! Delegation We usually speak of strengths and delegation in terms of tasks. We need to start thinking in terms of people. Vision At the end of the calendar year, but in the middle of the school year, we address the vision. Is your school achieving your vision, or is it taking the path of least resistance? Observations Observations are not for evaluation! The evaluation is a nice way to summarize your observations. Observations are for measuring how well your vision is implemented. Communication Communication is not just about you speaking to others. It’s a two-way street, fraught with potholes, car accidents, and detours. Relationships Relationships can make or break a school. You’ll learn how to build good, strong, healthy relationships and how to maintain them, even through difficult conversations. You can’t force anyone to do anything, you can only invite. Hiring It’s never too early to talk about hiring. The earlier you have a plan, the better. Culture Culture is the foundation of everything in a school, but there is so much to it, it can be overwhelming. We’ll talk about how to make it work with small steps that make a difference. Why Jethro took so long to write the book Launch Party We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

Al Kingsley is CEO of NetSupport and also serves as the Chair of two Multi Academy Trusts and a local School Governors’ Leadership Group in the UK. Al is a sought-after speaker and popular podcaster (NetSupport Radio). His book My Secret #EdTech Diary is not only a walk through his 30 year history in education, but also expresses a new way of thinking about technology in education. How technology use has changed. It’s about the usage of the technology. Redefining what our measures of impact are! No two schools are the same. Reflective practice. How do we know it is being used effectively? Be realistic in how we are interacting. Tech is part of what we already do! How do you decide which tools to use when? Pedagogical expertise to decide when to use tools Trust the people that are in the position to help the kids. Empower teachers to make choices, but peer assess of colleagues and what they are using. The role of students regarding ed tech. Student voice is critical in evaluating ed tech. Competence is not the same thing as wisdom. Digital Citizenship routine, connectivity with a familiar face, were vital during the emergency remote teaching Learner to learner engagement is important. Skills rather than knowledge are what unlocks the future. We need to get kids to the right place to learn. No matter how much technology grows, it requires humans to be focused. It’s not about the technology, it’s about the behavior. How to utilize technology. Pause and make sure all stakeholders understand why, how, and what you’re using. Always expect to invest at the same amount in professional development as you do in the tool itself. Less is more. Do you have any advice for these education leaders to do their best with the technology investment they’ve made in their schools? Is that advice different in 2022 than it was in 2019? What are the one or two changes in technology use (or even new tech tools) that would make a real difference in mental health and self-actualization of students? What security aspects should schools look out for when buying/reviewing technology? We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

Motivations School safety Student safety Political / religious orthodoxy Legal Issues First Amendment rights Federal / State Legislation 2019 – Restoring, Enhancing, Securing, and Promoting Our Nation’s Safety Efforts (RESPONSE) Act Includes a provision called “Children’s Internet Protection” amendment that encourages districts to invest in programs that detect “online activities of minors who are at risk of committing self-harm or extreme violence against others.” Under the bill, almost all federally funded schools would be required to install software of this kind. Targets Teachers Students Parents Types of Monitoring Publicly-Available Content Private Accounts Messaging Tools Hacking / Unauthorized Intrusion Risks Invasion of privacy / overreach Chilling of speech Abuse of power against teachers, students, and/or parents Tools Human Resources / School Investigators Software / Artificial Intelligence Third Party Investigators Parents Resources - #2022–03–03 Mother at center of Rochester Community Schools social media scandal speaks out “https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2022/03/04/mother-at-center-of-social-media-scandal-against-rochester-community-schools-speaks-out/” - #2022–02–25 Linewize Webinar Stresses Need for K–12 Safety Monitoring “https://www.govtech.com/education/k–12/linewize-webinar-stresses-need-for-k–12-safety-monitoring” - #2022–02–24 Lee County school district accused of spying on social media “https://www.winknews.com/2022/02/24/lee-county-school-district-accused-of-spying-on-social-media/” - #2021–12–17 Utah officials urge social media monitoring after school threats “https://kutv.com/news/local/officials-urge-social-media-monitoring-after-school-threats” - #2021–12–16 Schools ask parents to help monitor student’s social media amid vague threats “https://kutv.com/news/local/schools-ask-parents-to-help-monitor-students-social-media-amid-shooting-threats” - #2021–11–02 Berkeley County school leaders encourage parents to learn apps, monitor social media to keep children safe “https://www.counton2.com/news/local-news/berkeley-county-news/berkeley-county-school-leaders-encourage-parents-to-learn-apps-monitor-social-media-to-keep-children-safe/” - #2019–11–07 A Newly introduced Federal Bill prompts Texas schools to begin to monitor students social media “https://www.newschannel10.com/2019/11/07/river-road-isd-begins-utilize-software-monitor-students-social-media/” - #2019–11–01 New Bill Would Require Schools to Monitor Social Media “https://www.govtech.com/education/new-bill-would-require-schools-to-monitor-social-media.html” - #2019–08–22 School Safety Package Includes AI, Social Media Monitoring “https://www.govtech.com/biz/school-safety-package-includes-ai-social-media-monitoring.html” - #2021–09–03 Texas school district to monitor employees’ social media accounts “https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/texas-social-media-austin-school-district” - #2021–09–02 Texas schools are surveilling students online, often without their knowledge or consent “https://www.dallasnews.com/news/investigations/2021/09/02/texas-schools-are-watching-millions-of-students-online-often-without-their-knowledge-or-consent/” - #2019–05–30 Schools Are Deploying Massive Digital Surveillance Systems. The Results Are Alarming “https://www.edweek.org/technology/schools-are-deploying-massive-digital-surveillance-systems-the-results-are-alarming/2019/05” - #2015–07–31 How one school district is monitoring social media of students and teachers “https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2015/07/31/how-one-school-district-is-monitoring-social-media-of-students-and-teachers/” - #2013–09–18 California school district hires firm to monitor students’ social media “https://www.cnn.com/2013/09/14/us/california-schools-monitor-social-media/index.html” - #2013–09–15 Calif. school district monitors kids’ social media “https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/09/15/school-district-monitors-social-media/2817299/” - [n.d.] Schools: Social Media Surveillance “https://www.brennancenter.org/issues/protect-liberty-security/social-media/schools-social-media-surveillance” We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all studen

The TikTok Video about how to drive a captured Russian Tank: [https://twitter.com/JoshuaPotash/status/1498332884121399307](https://twitter.com/JoshuaPotash/status/1498332884121399307) - Our question today: Can Congress eliminate some of the worst content online without breaking the Internet? - [Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies Act of 2022 or the EARN IT Act of 2022](https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/3538) - First introduced in 2019 and has garnered bipartisan support - Legislation is designed to reduce or eliminate "child sexual abuse material" (CSAM). - Main provisions: - Establishes the National Commission on Online Child Sexual Exploitation Prevention. The commission must develop best practices for interactive computer services providers (e.g., Facebook and Twitter) to prevent, reduce, and respond to the online sexual exploitation of children. - Limits the liability protections of interactive computer service providers with respect to claims alleging violations of child sexual exploitation laws. - Replaces various statutory references to "child pornography" and "material that contains child pornography" with "child sexual abuse material." - Makes changes to the reporting requirements for electronic communication service providers and remote computing service providers (providers) who report apparent instances of crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. - Among the changes, the bill requires providers to report facts and circumstances sufficient to identify and locate each minor and each involved individual. - The bill also increases the amount of time that providers must preserve the contents of a report. - Potentially significant amendment of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act - Section 230 originally adopted to shield online service providers from legal liability for statements made by users - Provision is directly responsible for huge growth in services that rely upon user-created content (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) - EARN IT Act would remove Section 230 protection for online services that do not adhere to state laws regarding the identification and removal of CSAM material - Legislation was approved unanimously by the Senate Judiciary Committee but may face a tougher vote in the full Senate - Concerns - Impact on personal privacy - Commission could conclude that a service that uses end-to-end encryption is not following best practices because E2EE makes it harder to detect the movement of CSAM - Patchwork of state standards could impose significant burdens on smaller services and companies - Online service providers may feel forced to examine user content before transmission - EARN IT Act could effectively turn online service providers into law enforcement agents, raising significant Fourth Amendment search and seizure issues - Risk of overreaction by tech companies and the deletion of a much wider range of content than is necessary - Adoption of SESTA/FOSTA led to extensive deletion of content by and about sex workers, driving them underground and increasing the dangers of sex work - Resources - #2022-02-23 Unintended Consequences of the EARN IT Act "https://www.americanactionforum.org/insight/unintended-consequences-of-the-earn-it-act/" - #2022-02-11 The EARN IT Act Would Give Criminal Defendants a Get-Out-of-Jail-Free Card "https://slate.com/technology/2022/02/earn-it-act-fourth-amendment-violation.html" - #2022-02-11 A controversial bill to protect kids online just advanced in the Senate. Here's what you should know "https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/11/tech/earn-it-act-senate/index.html" - #2022-02-10 A bill aiming to protect children online reignites a battle over privacy and free speech "https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/02/10/senators-earn-it-privacy-children-safety/" - #2020-08-25 The New EARN IT Act Still Threatens Encryption and Child Exploitation Prosecutions "https://cdt.org/insights/the-new-earn-it-act-still-threatens-encryption-and-child-exploitation-prosecutions/" - #2020-03-03 Congress, Justice Department take aim at tech, hoping to halt spread of child sexual exploitation online "https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/03/03/section-230-justice-department-congress/" - #2018-03-21 Senate approves anti-sex-trafficking bill "https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/21/politics/sex-trafficking-bill/index.html" We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL fo

Get resources from Fred’s Presentations at ASTE ASTE is back in action! Educational technologists coming out of the classroom. crowdsourcing in edu is moving forward regardless of where you are. How can we share what we’re doing with each other without feeling overwhelmed and alone. Personalized learning is crowd-sourced learning stunned at the level of interaction from our people. Best takeaway from this conference: extending more into the student-led. Really focusing on individual kids. We haven’t had the connection, so it needs to be the center. Breaking the walls down. The culture and community in Alaska. What can we do to extend the learning beyond the four-day conference. Focusing on going forward - rollover. What was yesterday cannot possibly be tomorrow Don’t just fix something, find out why it broke. Alaska Society for Technology in Education 2022 Annual Conference “https://www.aste.org/” “Where Technology and Education Converge” – “Promoting access to technology, connectivity to information resources, and technology integration for all” Theme for 2022 Conference: “Crowdsourced” “https://web.cvent.com/event/cdc41d91–1f61–46e0–8756–7789f8ef8ee0/regProcessStep1” Conference Partners Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) Alaska Librarians Association Alaska Council for the Social Studies Computer Science Teachers of Alaska Wide range of tech company sponsors iDidaContest ASTE recognizes the best photos, movies, documentaries, podcasts, music, books, apps and things through its annual digital media contest. This year, ASTE is partnering with the Alaska Council for Social Studies to offer several Social Studies themed categories. Presentations by Frederick Lane (10th Anniversary!) - #2022–02–19 – “Don’t TikTok Back to Me” - The widespread use of mobile devices and social media by students poses profound challenges for educators. At the most basic level, there are issues of distraction and student honesty. But other more serious concerns have emerged. Virtually every student carries a powerful tool for recording the world around them and publishing nearly instantly to a global audience. Moreover, the extensive use of remote instruction has given students endless opportunities to record their instructors. Some students have taken such footage to make mocking or even defamatory social media posts about their teachers. These are deeply challenging issues that require a response not only from school communities but also political leaders and social media companies. - #2022–02–20 – “Cybertraps for Educators 3.0” - Resource page for Hawai’i HSTA lectures “https://www.cybertraps.com/hsta–2022-additional-resources/” - This presentation is a preview of my June 2022 publication of the third edition of my book, “Cybertraps for Educators.” In addition to providing updates of new hardware and software that has emerged over the past two years, “Cybertraps for Educators 3.0” reorganizes digital risks for teachers into three distinct categories: personal, professional, and criminal. Educators will get a thorough overview of current cybertraps, the applicable provisions of the Model Code of Ethics for Educators, and practical steps that they can take to minimize their personal and professional risks. - #2022–02–21 – “The Cyberethics of Remote Instruction” - It turns out that nothing will drive the roll-out of remote edtech than a global pandemic. We have all had a crash course in the use of remote communication and educational tools. Although the majority of schools have returned to in-person instruction, the persistence of the pandemic and the threat of future viruses means that remote instruction, to one degree or another, is here to stay (particularly in geographically-expansive states like Alaska). What are the unique challenges and concerns arising from remote instruction? What did we learn–or what should we have learned–from the pandemic ? - #2022–02–21 – “Does Your Social Media Feed Have Any FERPA Violations?” - The Family Education Records Privacy Act (https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/) is designed to protect the privacy rights of students. As with so many other things, the combination of social media and mobile devices has made adherence to this law much more challenging. Even accidental disclosure of personally identifying information on school records can have serious legal and personal consequences. This presentation will offer a basic overview of FERPA, discuss the potential cybertraps for educators, schools, and school districts, and offer educators practical information for avoiding unnecessary mistakes. We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technolog

Dr. Bryant Paul Associate Professor in the Media School at Indiana University, focusing on speech regarding sex and sexuality. Pornography vs obscenity Obscenity definition is constantly changing. Pornography is not necessarily obscenity. One-handed economist quote by Harry Truman Variable obscenity. Why we should ban all books in school. Resources - #2022–01–24 Greg Abbott’s Parental Bill of Rights puts targets on Texas teachers’ backs “https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/reidout-blog/greg-abbott-parental-bill-rights-texas-rcna13286” - #2021–11–09 Texas officials to target obscene content in school libraries at governor’s request “https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2021/11/09/texas-officials-target-obscene-content-school-libraries/6343346001/” - #2021–11–02 Texas governor decries school library books with ‘pornographic or obscene material’ “https://www.kut.org/education/2021–11–02/texas-governor-decries-school-library-books-with-pornographic-or-obscene-material” - [n.d.] A GUIDE TO TEXAS OBSCENITY LAWS “https://wilderfirm.com/guide-to-texas-obscenity-laws/” We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

Jeff Wright is the founder of LimitlessLife Media. He wants to empower others to be limitless. - What is an NFT? - What is a Blockchain? - Ethereum & Smart Contracts - Digital Assets can now be sold for money. - Intelligent NFTs - use Artificial Intelligence. Allows for interaction with NFTs instead. - NFT is about flexing. - Hopefully it will be in alignment with our core values. - How will it apply to our day-to-day lives? - Look for mentors not influencers. Look for collaborators. - 1.7 Million views on web3 metaverse chat youtube video in just a few months. - It’s about getting attention. - What about not being able to forget our mistakes and bad decisions? - NFTs and Education from EdSurge - There’s going to be huge downsides at some point. We don’t have the answers - Smart contracts and getting royalties off of the use of NFTs. - Microsoft Teams Mixed Reality - Reality isn’t what it used to be. NFT pins down the reality of something. We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL and Renaissance. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

News Items New Jersey toddler Ayaansh Kumar bought nearly $2,000 in Walmart furniture, unbeknownst to his parents https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/01/25/new-jersey-toddler-walmart-cart-online-shopping/ Mother Madhu Kumar shopped for furniture and other household goods but did not actually purchase them Her son Ayaansh (22-months) was playing on her phone and somehow would up in the Walmart app, where he executed the purchases His parents tried to cancel the undelivered orders but were unable to do so They’ve arranged to return the items (most of them) to Walmart for refunds Parents will install passcodes and prevent the automatic loading of payment info How It Happens This is a problem that has been around since the rise of the world wide web (and probably even before that) A kid with access to a parent credit card could use it online to make purchases, since there are no reliable tools for checking identity online More recently, credit cards are stored by online merchants or in apps, making it much easier for unauthorized purchases to occur So-called “bait apps” aggressively encourage children to make in-app purchases to enhance their playing experience Problem has spread to smart speakers (Alexa, Legal Issues Parents are legally liable for the purchases made by their children when children use their parents’ credit cards Credit card companies that promise zero liability for unauthorized purchases may offer refunds but others will only do so if the card is lost or stolen Refunds may be available However, some service providers or game companies may refuse to issue refunds if payment is made through a third-party (the Apple Store, for instance) Refunds may also be denied if you have made your child an authorized user If the online service provider is guilty of fraud or inducements aimed at children, the Federal Trade Commission may order refunds In 2014, the FTC settled a class action lawsuit with Google, Apple, and Amazon, in which all three companies paid millions in refunds. Recovery / Restitution Try to cancel pending orders Request refunds from the merchant Dispute the charges with your credit card Contact the Federal Trade Commission Set up a GoFundMe? Prevention Supervision and Education Browser Filters Parental Control Accounts Apple’s Ask to Buy and Family Sharing sends a request to the card holder each time a child tries to make a purchase or download. You can eliminate in-app purchases entirely by turning on Screen Time on their devices. Child-Specific Browsers Help your child(ren) understand the use of credit cards and possible consequences Clear Boundaries Set up separate Apple IDs for children (make sure you know the password) Turn on “guest mode” on your device (if available) before handing it to a child Require password or biometric confirmation by an adult for purchases Financial Restrictions Do not link your credit card to apps used by your child If your child is an authorized user, see if your credit card company will let you set a limit on his or her spending, or create real-time notifications for purchases Consider using a debit card or topping-off card for in-app purchases Device protection Make sure that your device locks within a short time – 10–15 seconds Use a password that is complicated/long enough that it cannot easily be memorized by a watching child Try not to leave mobile devices unattended Resources Advice and Tips - #2021–08–03 How to protect your credit card from small kids https://www.kaspersky.com/blog/save-credit-card-from-games-small-kids/40997/ - #2021–01–26 Who’s responsible for your kids’ unauthorized credit card charges? https://www.cnbc.com/select/whos-responsible-for-kids-unauthorized-credit-card-charges/ - #2019–08–23 Children and Internet: How to avoid accidental purchases https://www.santander.com/en/press-room/dp/children-and-internet-how-to-avoid-accidental-purchases - #2019–01–25 5 Ways to Curb Kids’ In-App Purchases on the iPhone https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/5-ways-to-curb-kids-in-app-purchases-on-the-iphone - #2018–08–18 How To Prevent Your Kid From Ordering $400 Worth of Toys on Amazon https://thepointsguy.com/news/how-to-prevent-your-kid-from-ordering-toys-on-amazon/ - #2018–04–18 How to Stop Your Kids From Buying Stuff in Fortnite https://lifehacker.com/how-to-stop-your-kids-from-buying-stuff-in-fortnite–1825339110 - #2014–03–31 Apple Lets Parents Get Refunds for In-App Purchases https://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/apple-lets-parents-get-refunds-in-app-purchases-n67811 - #2013–04–16 How to Prevent Your Kids From Spending Thousands of Dollars on In-App Purchases https://www.howtogeek.com/142491/how-to-prevent-your-kids-from-spending-thousands-of-dollars-on-in-app-purchases/ Cautionary Tales - #2021–05–07 A mom panicked when her 4-year-old bought $2,600 in SpongeBob Popsicles. Good Samaritans are paying. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2021/05/07/spongebob-popsicles-noah/ - #2021–02–16 Boy, 7, accidentally spends £1,200