The Professional School Counselor And Student Safety and Technolgy

Read this and other positions statement at
http://www.schoolcounselor.org/content.asp?pl=127&sl=178&contentid=178

The Professional School Counselor And Student Safety and Technolgy
Adopted 2000, Revised 2006)

American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Position
Professional school counselors encourage students to take advantage of
the wealth of opportunities, information and resources available through
the use of technology. However, due to potential vulnerabilities and
risks created by technology, professional school counselors collaborate
with students, parents, educators and law enforcement officials to
promote student safety related to the use of technology

The Rationale
Professional school counselors recognize that technology underpins the
fastest growing industries and high-wage jobs, provides the tools needed
to compete in every business, and drives growth in every industrialized
nation. The ability to harness the power and promise of leading-edge
technology often determines national prosperity, security, and global
influence as well as the standard of living and quality of life for
all.[1]

Students need to be proficient in the use of technology in order to be
most successful in school and best prepared for post-secondary
opportunities. However, student use of technology also introduces
significant vulnerabilities and risks. Technology can pose a threat to
students and families in many ways including but not limited to:

* invasion of privacy and disclosure of personal information
* addictions to online shopping, auctions, gambling, and
pornography
* use of technology such as inappropriate chat rooms
* easy access to inappropriate media such as websites promoting
harm to self or others; hate/prejudice; pornographic text, photos,
videos, and audio; foul language; and illicit drugs (both prescription
and non-prescription)
* cheating and piracy such as illegally downloading music,
movies, and other restricted intellectual property
* cyberbullying/harassment;
* stalking and luring of children by sexual predators
* technology related distractions leading to reduced academic
performance such as students using the internet instead of doing
homework

The Professional School Counselor's Role

Professional school counselors have a responsibility to protect students
from potential dangers and to promote healthy student development.
Professional school counselors collaborate with parents and school
personnel to advance the responsible and appropriate use of technology
to facilitate academic, career and personal/social achievement.
Technological devices and activities used for information delivery,
communication, collaboration, and online learning include:

* cellular phones
* text messaging
* websites
* chat rooms and instant messaging
* social network sites
* blogs
* podcasts/vcasts
* electronic bulletin boards
* portable gaming devices
* personal digital assistants
* MP3 players
* televisions

Professional school counselors collaborate with parents and educators to
promote awareness of high-tech dangers among students and cultivate
personal safety and security skills related to technology usage.
Professional school counselors maintain a basic level of technological
literacy which, coupled with expertise in human development, allows them
to provide educators and parents with guidelines for the appropriate use
of technology by students. Strategies for minimizing student risks
include:

* Establishing clear guidelines for student use of technology
* Following legal and ethical guidelines related to downloading
materials
* Utilizing online safeguard programs that include filtering and
monitoring capabilities and visiting children's favorite sites
* Never giving out personal information or photographs without
parental permission
* Never arranging to meet someone in person that they first met online
without parental supervision
* Keeping the computer in the family room or other open areas of the
house
* Telling a trusted adult immediately when a student sees or hears
something that makes them or other students feel scared, uncomfortable
or confused.[2]

Summary
Technology provides global opportunities for student learning,
exploration, communication, networking, and collaboration. Because of
technology's pervasiveness and potential for harm, professional school
counselors collaborate with parents and educators to protect students
from danger.

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[1] From Accomplishments of the National Science and Technology Council,
1996; available online at
http://www.ostp.gov/NSTC/html/1996_Accomplishments.html)
[2] from Netsmartz Safety Tips available online at
http://www.netsmartz.org/safety/safetytips.htm