Parenting in a Digital Age

Tech Support @ Home

Elementary Instructional Technology Resources - WCASD has compiled resources for elementary families to support their child's learning at home with resources regarding district-supported databases as well as digital citizenship. Also included is a presentation on what educational technology looks and feels like in our elementary classrooms.

Introducing See Saw to Parents of our K-2 Students

Digital CitizenshipTechniques

Version 2.0

Inquire about Smart Social's VIP (Very Important Parent) program of resources and live webinars addressing student safety and appropriate use of the Internet and social media at 484-266-1050

Cybersecurity Tips for Families and Schools

Smart Social: 19 Screen Time Management Tips

Common Sense Media: New School Year Screen Time Rules from a Teacher and Mom

Common Sense Media: Four Tips for Keeping Tech in Check at Bedtime

Promoting Cyber Safety

What's that App?

Smart Social: Social Media App Guide for Parents and Teachers - From Josh Ochs, author of Light, Bright, and Polite, this resource helps parents understand the myriad of social media apps, which ones are safe, which ones to avoid, and how to help your student create a positive digital presence. Consider joining Smart Social's Parent University to keep up with trends in social media that could impact your kids.

February 2022 Update on New Smart Social Resources for Parents and Teachers

Helpful Resources

National Online Safety Guides for Parents - Quick and convenient downloadable guides for what parents need to know about many popular Internet platforms and trends.

One of the biggest challenges today is keeping our children safe online. To help all schools address age-appropriate issues with the Internet and the use of cell phones and other mobile devices the WCASD will be using the comprehensive curriculum from Common Sense Media. This will help ensure that all students are equipped with the skills and habits to use technology productively.

Parents' Ultimate Guide to Parental Control - View Common Sense Media's article featuring parental control options to stay informed of your child's digital experiences.

Internet Matters - This site provides an extremely comprehensive, well-organized, and easy-to-use guide for keeping children of all ages safe online.

Is Video Game Addiction Real? - Science Daily

Facts Regarding Screen Time and Video Game Addiction - Resources from the Mayo Clinic

The Cyberbullying Research Center offers resources for parents and teachers for helping kids stay safe online and use other technologies like cell phones responsibly

Onguard Online- Created by the federal government with games, videos, and other resources for teaching kids of all ages and adults about online safety. Be sure to download the parent guide Net Cetera: Chatting with Kids About Being Online available free at this site.

WiredSafety- Internet safety and information on responding to incidents of cyberbullying

Family Online Safety Institute and the National PTA resources

Use Parental Controls on Your Child's iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch - Utilize Apple's resources for setting up restrictions on your child's device.

App Alert - Mappen App and a Safety Guide for Parents

Safety Detective - Blog discussions and reviews of antivirus software protection for your home computer. This site is offered for your review and consideration. WCASD does not endorse a particular product or method of rating products.

Shape the Sky Downloadable Resources - Presented at Henderson High School in November 2017, Shape the Sky is a network of parents, educators, clinicians, and media who have come together to enrich the online experience for our children through better education and more effective communication.

Family Media Agreements

Parent/Child Agreement on using electronic devices and social media by grade-level (From Common Sense Media)

All student-assigned, district-owned devices are filtered for content on and off-campus. Parents may wish to add additional controls and usage limitations. While adding software to district devices is not an option, here are some ways to set stricter limits:

Setting Up Parental Controls on Home Routers

Comcast

Verizon

Most routers will allow you to select the devices to which limitations are applied. Check your router manual for more information.

Setting Up Parental Controls on iOS Devices

Apple Parental Controls

(Note that not all options will be available due to the application of group policies.)


West Chester School District promotes through its curriculum, instructional practices, and technology tools active engagement in the digital world. We want our students to produce content, not simply consume it passively. Through a partnership between home and school, we can shape critical thinkers, effective communicators, good digital citizens, and life-long learners, equipped to achieve their personal best in an increasingly technological world.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this topic please contact:

Ashley Melanson
Elementary Instructional Technology Coordinator
amelanson@wcasd.net  

Sam Zang
Elementary Instructional Technology Coordinator
szang@wcasd.net

Mary Beth Clifton, Ed.D.
Secondary Instructional Technology Coordinator
mclifton@wcasd.net

Chris Cromwell
Secondary Instructional Technology Coordinator
ccromwell@wcasd.net

We have to be cognizant of a new digital divide—the disparity between students who use technology to create, design, build, explore, and collaborate and those who simply use technology to consume media passively.

2017 National Education Technology Plan Update