Most Media Specialists Think Online Dangers Are Increasing, Study Says
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Debra Lau-Whelan -- School Library Journal, 11/13/2007 2:05:00 PM
Some 63 percent of school librarians and principals think the Internet is becoming more dangerous for kids, with pornography taking the lead as the number-one online threat.
"Schools and Generation 'Net" reports that 45 percent of those surveyed say pornography is a great or significant online danger, while 43 percent gave that rating to online predators.
Educators also worry about students' ability to judge Web resources. When asked to rate the information literacy skills of their students, only four percent of those surveyed said they "strongly agreed" that students were equipped to think critically about the accuracy, authority, and possible biases of the sites they encounter.
Meanwhile, 88 percent of those polled said they "strongly" or "somewhat" agree that teachers need more information literacy training to help their students properly navigate information on the Web.
"The old adage 'don't judge a book by its cover' has a new depth in meaning," says Dee Jae Arnett, a media specialist at Sam Brannan Middle School in Sacramento, CA. "The Web is creating a new front of concern as it is a place where anyone can post content that may be inaccurate, biased, and even dangerous. It's vital [to] teach our students how to evaluate sites and be critically aware of the ways they are being targeted for potentially dangerous and commercial purposes."
Another major concern? The quality and relevance of Web sites that students use. Close to 80 percent express concern about useless or irrelevant search results and students being redirected to commercial or pay sites.
"As the Internet grows and becomes more ubiquitous and commercialized—and kids continue to be bombarded by masses of information—the challenge of finding useful educational content without encountering the insidious dangers will increase," says Randy Wilhelm, CEO of Thinkronize, a company that delivers K–12 educational digital content and the sponsor of the study.
Despite all these concerns, the survey confirms that educators value the Internet, with 90 percent rating it as an "excellent," "very good," or "good" educational resource. More than one-third of respondents (35 percent) reported that "almost all" teachers in their schools use the Internet regularly for instructional purposes. And 81 percent "strongly" or "somewhat" agreed that student searching on the Internet is now integrated into the curriculum.
Virtually all educators report that their schools or districts are taking steps to protect students online, with Internet filters being the most commonly used precaution. Close to 80 percent give students and faculty instructions on safety, and about 55 percent give parents safety tips and information. However, only about one-third of parents have purchased and installed special search engines.
The survey of 612 library media specialists and 342 principals was conducted online in October by Interactive Educational Systems Design, an independent research firm.
