Beyond the Fear Factor with Internet Safety

I updated my scheduled presentations and workshops for the month of May on my RSS Calendar recently. (The next 30 days of events are shown on my blog in the left sidebar.) One of the sessions I’m looking forward to is a May 12th workshop presentation for the Oklahoma Library Association at the public library in Midwest City. The overall workshop is titled “Safety on the Internet Highway.” My first session in the afternoon is titled “Beyond the Fear Factor.” Given the fact I’ll be following Joel Gabel of Google Hardware Operations and Larry Boggess of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crimes Division, this is sure to be challenging! I am very glad to have this opportunity, however, and think it is GREAT for the Oklahoma Library Association to have put together a mixed panel on this very important topic.

My second afternoon session for May 12th is titled “Educating [Library] Customers & Legislators about the benefits vs. dangers of online networking.” This presentation will focus on digital citizenship and the pivotal role which librarians ARE playing and can play in larger conversations than simply “Internet Safety.” These include media literacy and 21st century workforce skill development.
If you are interested in learning more about digital citizenship, check out ISTE’s scheduled webinar by Dr. Mike Ribble on May 7th, in just two days. Dr. Ribble and Dr. Mike Bailey are the authors of an ISTE published book on digital citizenship, and maintain the KSU College of Education website on digital citizenship which continues to be the first Google search result for “digital citizenship” out of over 250,000 hits. Dr. Ribble’s personal website on digital citizenship is available on www.digitalcitizenship.net, but his blog there has not been updated since November of 2007.

My bookmarks related to digital citizenship are available both on Diigo and del.icio.us (where my Diigo bookmarks automatically cross-post.)  I’ve created a new group on Diigo for digital citizenship: You are welcome to join and contribute links! I’m particularly interested in finding examples of libraries and library organizations which are actively helping students safely utilize social networking environments as suggested in the summer 2007 NSBA report “Creating and Connecting.” YALSA (the Young Adult Library Services Association) is definitely one library organization which continues to embrace new media communication possibilities via its blog, wiki, Twitter account, Flickr pics, del.icio.us social bookmarks, and MySpace page.

Are you aware of other examples of library organizations and libraries focused on supporting the development of digital literacy skills for their patrons, both young and old? If you’re willing to share links, please add them here as comments and/or join the Digital Citizenship Diigo group and add them there.

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On this day..

• iPad Apps About Rockets, Spacecraft Design, and Astronomical Engineering – 2014
• Inspired to Dream BIG @NorthwesternU – 2011
• We need more constructive and positive Storychasers in The Age of Humiliation – 2010
• Welcome to OLD School Assignment Turn In – 2010
• Abandoning Juice Receiver – At least for now – 2008
• links for 2008-05-05 – 2008
• A growing global audience – 2008
• A warning that came too late – 2008
• Do you need a Second Life?? – 2007
• Advice to curb wordpress spam? – 2006