Study touts benefits of a 'wired' classroom
Concordia University researchers set out to answer a "big picture" question: Does computer technology have a positive overall effect on learning in the classroom?http://www.canada.com/technology/Study+touts+benefits+wired+classroom/6181234/story.html
Blocking tech in classrooms impedes learning, teachers tell MNet studyBlocking social networks and banning cellphones in schools makes it difficult for teachers to do their jobs effectively in a digital world, a new report says. "School policies around technology are very frustrating to me," an elementary school teacher from Atlantic Canada says in the MNet report "Young Canadians in a Wired World III: Teachers' Perspectives". http://technology.canoe.ca/2012/02/15/19383416.html
Quebec anti-bullying bill puts onus on schools, parents
All public and private schools in Quebec will have to adopt an anti-bullying, anti-violence plan under Bill 56, presented Wednesday in the National Assembly by Education Minister Line Beauchamp. "Bullying doesn't start at 8 a.m. and doesn't finish at 4 p.m.," the minister said, adding that everyone must get involved and the new policy will extend to cyber bullying as well.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Anti+bullying+bill+puts+onus+schools+parents/6160443/story.html
New law could open window for police to view online habits
The Conservative government plans to introduce a law next week that would allow police to better monitor web-surfing habits of Canadians and to track them with electronic surveillance. http://www.canada.com/technology/could+open+window+police+view+online+habits/6139169/story.html
Canadian schools falling behind in online learning, report says
Canadian schools have failed to embrace the internet and are falling behind in the number of online learning opportunities available to students, according a report released Monday. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canadian-schools-falling-behind-in-online-learning-report-says/article2312713/
Tech-savvy kids still prefer personal communication
The new 2012 ChildWise Monitor survey takes a look at how children ages five to 16 years in the UK use technology and finds that despite unprecedented access to virtual worlds, children still prefer to communicate face to face.
http://kidscreen.com/2012/01/10/tech-savvy-kids-still-prefer-personal-communication-2/
Teen Suing School District Over Bullying A middle school student in Florida is suing the Volusia County School District. Dondre Jones, 13, says he was bullied at three different Volusia County schools for more than two years, and that the school district didn’t do enough to protect him. http://www.schoolsafety911.org/Blog/2011/12/21/teen-suing-school-district-over-bullying/To read more, click here
Teen Suicides Rock Eastern Ontario City – 3 Young People from Pembroke Have Died Over 4 Months
Residents of Pembroke, Ont., are devastated and looking for answers after three teenagers committed suicide over the last four months. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2011/12/07/ottawa-pembroke-teen-suicide-depression.html
Youth Mental Health Crisis in Canada
Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario says between 800 to 1,200 patients are on waiting list to see clinical psychologist, and this trend has worsened.
http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/Canada/Ottawa/1305550861/ID=2173120048
Teens Care About Privacy Online
Teenagers are often thought of as careless when it comes to what they post online and in need of protection by adults. But a new study from the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project suggests otherwise. http://www.onthemedia.org/2011/dec/02/teens-care-about-privacy-online/transcript/
Teen Sexting Not the Norm, Says Study
Two new studies suggest that sexting among teens may not be as common as many people think it is.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/fewer-teens-engage-sexting-originally-believed-study/story?id=15077077#.TtzQO1awUe8
Students who bully could be expelled under new Ontario bill
The widely publicized suicides of Ottawa student Jamie Hubley and Pickering’s Mitchell Wilson are behind tough new anti-bullying legislation announced Wednesday by Premier Dalton McGuinty. Students who bully could face expulsion under the proposed bill and school boards will be pressed to ensure there is early intervention to stop aggressive behaviour. http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1094683
N.B. students want to make anti-bullying message go viral
A group of New Brunswick high school students hope their stand against bullying will go viral online. http://www.globalnews.ca/canada/video+campaign/6442532639/story.html
Anti-bullying group seeks top court intervener status
A New Brunswick-based anti-bullying group has applied to intervene in a pending Supreme Court of Canada case involving the cyber bullying of a Nova Scotia girl. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2011/11/21/nb-bullying-canada-supreme-court-intervene.html
Text-message bullying becoming more common
A growing number of U.S. kids say they have been picked on via text messaging, while there has been little change in online harassment, researchers reported Monday. http://www.canada.com/life/Text+message+bullying+becoming+more+common/5745151/story.html
Kids Fight Bullying Through Comic Strips
Through the end of November 2011, young people can share ideas about how to prevent bullying by making their own comic strips through the “Stop Bullying: Speak Up Comic Challenge.”
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/cartoon-network-aims-to-stop-bullying.shtml
Teens on Facebook: mostly kind, but cruelty is still a problem
A new survey of the social networking habits of teenagers says that the majority have online experiences that help them feel good about themselves or make them feel closer to someone else on the network. "Still, a substantial number of teens report specific negative outcomes from experiences on social network sites," warns Teens, Kindness, and Cruelty on Social Network Sites, produced by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, the Family Online Safety Institute, and Cable in the Classroom. http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/11/is-facebook-a-teen-friendship-killerteens-on-facebook-mostly-kind-but-cruelty-is-still-a-problem.ars
European Information Security Agency Warns About Data-profiling Risks to Minors
The European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) has issued recommendations to law enforcement agencies, European Union member states, civil society groups, as well as parents and educators on how to mitigate risks faced by children online.
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/243384/european_information_security_agency_warns_about_dataprofiling_risks_to_minors.html
'Dear Santa' sites stealing personal information
The Better Business Bureau is advising parents to be on alert when it comes to “Dear Santa” sites this Christmas. All of the sites offer children the opportunity to email Santa with their wish list but some could potentially share personal information.http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/lifestyle/family/%27dear-santa%27-sites-stealing-personal-information
Screen Time Higher Than Ever for Children
Children under 8 are spending more time than ever in front of screens, and an “app gap” is emerging between children in affluent and low-income households, a new study found. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/25/us/screen-time-higher-than-ever-for-children-study-finds.html?_r=1&ref=computersandtheinternet
iPhone App Simulates Teen Dating Abuse
While mobile technology has become more widespread, it has also led to new forms of abuse especially for teens in bad relationships. The Love is Not Abuse iPhone app is giving parents a taste of digital relationship abuse by training parents how to recognize characteristics of abusive relationships. Website
UK Parents to be Urged to Report 'Sexual' Imagery Aimed at Children
Parents will be able to report products, television programmes or other services which promote images of a sexual or risqué nature to young children to a new whistleblowing website, David Cameron is to announce. News article.
Do Video Games Teach Kids New Literacy? Is our definition of literacy outdated? Youth may be learning a "new literacy" through playing video games. To learn more about this controversial topic, click here for Article
Read how three B.C. university students are attracting international attention for re-invigorating an anti-bullying campaign started in the United States. http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110925/bc_students_anti_bullying_video_110925/20110925/?hub=BritishColumbiaHome
Facebook and Twitter classes could be taught in Australian schools
Classes on the use of Facebook and Twitter could be taught in Australian schools under a proposal to prevent cyberbullying, seating and online abuse. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/twitter/8645172/Facebook-and-Twitter-classes-could-be-taught-in-Australian-schools.html
Social Networking as a Tool for Student and Teacher Learning
Online social networking includes much more than Facebook and Twitter. It is any online use of technology to connect people, enable them to collaborate with each other, and form virtual communities. http://www.cais.ca/page.cfm?p=532&newsid=89
Playground cybercop: schools hire firms to monitor students online
Independent schools are turning to private companies to monitor what their students say and do online, on sites such as Facebook. http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2011/s3292704.htm
Getting ‘YouTubed’ big issue facing teachers, professors
http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/education/article/1040300--getting-youtubed-big-issue-facing-teachers-professors
Oxford Dictionary Defines Sexting, Cyberbullying
http://www.wired.com/underwire/2011/08/oxford-dictionary-sexting/
Alcohol companies accused of exploiting Facebook, Twitter and YouTube by 'targeting young people with drink campaigns'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2027079/Facebook-Twitter-YouTube-exploited-alcohol-companies-targeting-young.html
The Crime Remediation and Crime Prevention Grant Funding Program has opened funding for projects identified with emerging issues (eg. gang prevention, combating human trafficking, sexual exploitation). Preference also given to projects that strengthen B.C. families and support vulnerable communities. Click here for more information.
