Staying Safe and Healthy Online — Online Safety & Digital Wellness
Security, safety and privacy are important for all New Code Academy students and families to practice. Being safe online includes making good choices about what you share, who you communicate with and what choices you make to keep you and your data safe.
One component of Google’s Be Internet Awesome Family Guide is Be Internet strong. Together your family can complete an activity to discuss the importance of strong passwords and online security protocols. Complete this activity that provides sample scenarios to talk about as a family, learn how to create strong passwords and understand why digital security matters and how to make it happen.
Parental Controls
Our online classrooms are respectful and safe environments for students and staff. Our school devices are protected by filters that limit content students access on the internet. We encourage families to use parental controls on personal devices and networks that students may use at home. There are parental controls for wifi, smartphones, and many apps. CommonSenseMedia.org has many helpful videos and resources for families.
Social Media Guidelines
Our online community is joined together on our social media sites (Instagram, Facebook) to share news, photos, and videos about our school, students, staff, and upcoming events and to engage with our stakeholders in an open and respectful dialogue.
New Code Academy social media invites staff, families, students, and the community to join together by liking, commenting, and sharing NCA news and photos on any of our pages. Our social media accounts are public. To protect families and children, we use first names only in our social posts. If you do not want images of your child posted, please notify your child’s teacher.
Monitor Your Digital Footprint
Everything we post online creates a "Digital Footprint." Inside class, we have high expectations for learning and we expect all posts and chat comments to follow our student behavior expectations. We also teach students about responsible digital citizenship outside of class.
Your digital footprint lasts forever. Once digitized, it can be saved, sent and reposted elsewhere. THINK about what you are posting: Is it Truthful, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary and Kind?
Think twice before posting private information online, including: full name, address, phone number, email, cell phone, or checking in when going out. It is for someone to find you based on what you post online. Quizzes and polls posted on social media are often just trying to learn more private information about you.
Regularly check your privacy settings on websites, apps and networks. Ignoring privacy settings often means your personal information, interests, photos, cell phone number and GPS locations could be shared with anyone.
Screen Time
At New Code Academy, we believe in a healthy balance of learning, social connections and physical activity. Children need playtime to keep their brains and bodies healthy. That said, there are different types of screen time. At New Code Academy we use the screen for connection within our classes, to provide context and direct instruction, and to encourage creative and critical thinking. Our school also schedules lots of hands-on activities, in addition to physical movement. When students are done with class, we encourage them to get outside or connect with family and friends in conversation.
Healthy Bedtime Routines
Whether enrolled in online school or a neighborhood school, children need plenty of sleep. Electronic devices can interfere with sleep patterns (for children and adults). The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages setting healthy bedtime routines and limiting the use of computers, tablets and smartphones for 30-60 minutes before bed. They offer five tips:
- Make sleep a priority: Talk about the importance of sleep and healthy sleep expectations.
- Encourage a bedtime routine that includes calming activities and avoids electronic media use.
- Remove all electronic media from their children or teenagers’ bedrooms, including televisions, video games, computers, tablets, and cell phones.
- Talk about the negative consequences of bright light in the evening on sleep.
- If the child or adolescent in your care is exhibiting mood or behavioral problems, consider insufficient sleep as a contributing factor.
“Healthy sleep patterns in childhood and adolescence are associated with lower obesity risk, better psychological well-being, improved cognitive functioning, and lower risk-taking behaviors. We propose that sleep among children and adolescents should be a priority.” - AAP