Cyber Law by Aimee M. Bissonette Chapter 1 Cyberbullying

I am connecting this chapter to Chapter 6 "Social, Ethical, Legal, and Human Issues" in the Williamson book.  Cyberbullying is one of the negative issues that has to be dealt with when using technology.  Students will use various types of technology to bully other students.  Chapter 1, "Cyberbullying" in Bissonette's book deals with this issue.

The chapter starts out by talking about what cyberbullying is and the different forms that teachers need to watch for in how it will occur.  The tools that can be used to accomplish cyberbullying are listed as well which are cell phones, e-mail, instant messaging, personal Web sites, and social-networking sites.  These are only a few of the tools that are available to students to use.  The chapter goes on to talk about the law and cyberbulliying and how schools should intervene when it occurs in the school.  It tells about the role of the school and discusses  policies that should be put in place.  I thought it was interesting that it said not to implement zero-tolerence policies because it would discourage parents and student from reporting it.  This section goes on to explain how to form a good cyberbullying policy. 

I feel that this chapter gives a good overview of cyberbullying and what to look for.  This is a growing problem as the world and classroom become more and more focused on technology.  It is important to be aware of the situation and know what to look for and ways to deal with the situation so that the problem gets taken care of and does not continue on because of a student being afraid to tell.  I think that I can use this information to first help myself understand the issues but I think I would like to make it a focal point of my class if they were going to being using all of these forms of technology.  I want to help them understand how it makes others feel and teach them that what they do on line does have an impact on others even if they do not realize it because they do not have that physical contact.  I want to look at it just like back in the good old days where students were calling others name and threating others in person and bullying them way we taught them this was inappropriate behavior.  Well now we just have to move those lessons to incorporate technology as well.