Sixth Grade Parent Meeting

1. Sixth Grade Parent Meeting Monday, October 30, 2006

2. Announcements • Halloween • Science Share, Thursday, 11/2 • No classes for middle school, Friday, 11/3. • Friday, October 28th is our last football tailgate. • Turkey Train, Tuesday, 11/14. • Drop-in, Saturday, 11/18. • Mid-quarter 2 ends, Friday, 11/17.

3. Technology Discussion Sixth Grade Parent Meeting

4. Email • Each Baylor student has an email account. • Free email accounts are available from dozens of providers online. • Email is not private, particularly when a student uses their Baylor email account. • Because of its impersonal nature, email can lead to problems when students send inappropriate messages. • Keep usernames and passwords private.

5. AOL Instant Messaging, “AIM” • AIM is free and available www.AIM.com. It takes just 2 minutes to download the application • AIM is used to chat with “buddies” online • Each user on AIM has the ability to create a “profile” which can include private information • You can locate new “buddies” by indicating your interests • Other free internet sites area available to upgrade your profile. http://www.aimprofiles.com/index.php • Online bullying is an unfortunate side effect

6. Acronyms used in AIM • LOL Laughing Out Loud OR Lots Of Love • MAYB Mad About You, Baby • LZ Loser! • MTFBWY May The Force Be With You • IMU I Miss You • DWAI Don't Worry About It • BTW By The Way • BTWBO Be There With Bells On • AYT Are You There? • For a complete list, go to: http://www.teenangels.org/articles/sms.txt

7. Internet • Every computer has a distinguishing IP Address • When you visit a website it is recorded in the history and with a “cookie” • Spyware is software that covertly gathers user information through the user's Internet connection without his or her knowledge, usually for advertising purposes. • You can check the history by selecting the history shortcut (looks like a sundial) • You can check the cookies by opening the “Documents and Settings” folder located on the “C” drive of the “My Computer” icon

8. Personal Websites • Access to free webpage creators has never been more simple. People can put private information on personal webpages with little or no effort. • http://www.myspace.com/ • Blog (Web Log)- http://www.blogger.com/start

9. Video Games • There are three types of games kids play: • Personal Games – played by one user on personal pc • Multiplayer Games – games purchased in stores that have multi-player capabilities via the internet • Internet Games – games that are played for free or for a fee through websites. Opponents can be from anywhere in the world. IM capabilities also exist.

10. Mobile Phones • Text messaging is a service that allows people to communicate via short messages • Camera phones allow users to take pictures and send them to other camera phone owners • When used responsibly, these services can be positive and fun • Negative uses

11. Tips for Parents • Don’t prohibit them from using technology. Instead, help them become responsible users. • Keep the computer in a central, common location. • Take the time to understand the things your child is doing on the computer. • Know your child’s usernames and passwords. • Make sure there is no personal information (phone number, address, picture) on your child’s AIM profile or webpage. • Cell phones with text messaging and picture taking capabilities may not be best for children this age. • Discuss when online communication is best, and when it can lead to problems. Encourage face-to-face and phone conversations when warranted. Remind them that online conversations can be printed. • Talk frankly with your child about your expectations, involve them in discussions that set restrictions like amount of time online and where they may visit, and check up on them often.