The FearNot! software - ECIRCUS

VICTEC (Virtual ICT with Empathic Characters), a European framework V project was carried out between 2002-2005. The project considered the application of 3D animated synthetic characters and emergent narrative to create improvised dramas to address bullying problems for children aged 8-12 in the UK, Germany and Portugal. One of the main aims of the project was to develop synthetic characters that could, through their appearances, behaviours and features allow the user to build empathic relations with them. The project’s pedagogical objectives were met through the design and implementation of interactive, episodic and emergent virtual dramas where children were exposed to bullying scenarios in a safe school-based Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). The FearNot! application software (Fun with Empathic Agents to Achieve Novel Outcomes in Teaching) developed during the project aimed to enable children to explore physical and relational bullying issues and coping strategies through empathic interactions with synthetic characters. In order to achieve these objectives, FearNot! provides children with various scenarios about bullying behaviour, that promote engagement and believability with synthetic characters in a social interaction [Figure 1].
Extensive evaluations of the FearNot application with over 1,000 children were carried out to consider children’s engagement with the synthetic agents, and their empathic responses to the characters and the scenarios. Individual interaction styles in relation to bullying behaviour, and children’s Theory of Mind abilities were also explored.

http://bit.ly/4SAccT  

Top 8 ways students are cheating today

http://www.higheredmorning.com/top-8-ways-students-are-cheating-today

Parental Controls - Safely Restrict Your Kids' Computer Access [Mac]

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/safely-restrict-your-kids-computer-access-with-parental-controls-mac/

Cyber-Bully Mom Off the Hook in MySpace Suicide Case

It looks like cyber-bully mom Lori Drew has a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

http://www.ticklethewire.com/2009/11/24/cyber-bull-mom-off-the-hook-in-myspace-suicide-case/

Consumer Reports Electronics Blog: “Unfriend”: Oxford Dictionary’s Word of the Year

Consumer Reports Electronics Blog: “Unfriend”: Oxford Dictionary’s Word of the Year

KidZui :: Add-ons for Firefox

KidZui turns Firefox into fun, kid-safe browser and online playground for kids 3-12 with over a million kids games, YouTube videos, and websites.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/9689

Bully Bust 2009

Bully Bust 2009, CSEE's awareness campaign designed to reduce bullying in our schools. Before you do anything else, please sign the STAND UP Pledge to join the collection of students and adults committed to reducing bullying. Then, dig into the information, activities and resources to start making a difference!

 

BullyBust provides critical resources and supports to create a school-wide effort against bullying.

 

http://www.schoolclimate.org/bullybust/

Google lets parents lock in SafeSearch

Google lets parents lock in SafeSearch

Google has long allowed parents a SafeSearch filtering setting that keeps kids from using the search engine to find inappropriate sites like those with explicit sexual images or text. The problem was that kids could easily change those settings. Starting Wednesday, however, the company is allowing parents to lock those settings to make it harder (though not impossible) for kids to bypass the settings.

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-19518_3-10395112-238.html

Podcast ASCAway: Online Safety

Podcast: Nancy McBride, national safety director for the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, shares some advice on how school counselors can help keep kids safe online.

http://ascaway.podbean.com/2009/10/30/ascaway-online-safety/

Online digital reputation

Digital Reputation

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New Report: Social Isolation and New Technology

Pew Internet & American Life Project New Report   Social Isolation and New Technology   By Keith Hampton, Lauren Sessions, Eun Ja Her, and Lee Rainie November 4, 2009   People who use modern information and communication technologies have larger and more diverse social networks, according to new national survey findings that for the first time explore how people use the internet and mobile phones to interact with key family and friends.   These new finding challenge fears that use of new technologies has contributed to a long-term increase in social isolation in the United States.   The new findings show that, on average, the size of people's discussion networks--those with whom people discuss important matters--is 12% larger amongst mobile phone users, 9% larger for those who share photos online, and 9% bigger for those who use instant messaging. The diversity of people's core networks--their closest and most significant confidants--tends to be 25% larger for mobile phone users, 15% larger for basic internet users, and even larger for frequent internet users, those who use instant messaging, and those who share digital photos online.   "All the evidence points in one direction," said Prof. Keith Hampton, lead author of the report. "People's social worlds are enhanced by new communication technologies. It is a mistake to believe that internet use and mobile phones plunge people into a spiral of isolation."   Read the full report on our site: http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2009/18--Social-Isolation-and-New-Technology.aspx    About the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project The Pew Internet Project is an initiative of the Pew Research Center, a nonprofit "fact tank"that provides information on the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. Pew Internet explores the impact of the internet on children, families, communities, the work place, schools, health care and civic/political life.  Support for the project is provided by The Pew Charitable Trusts.  The Project's website is: http://www.pewinternet.org.

 

Radical Parenting iPhone App: iCurfew | Radical Parenting

http://www.radicalparenting.com/2009/10/26/radical-parenting-iphone-app-icurfew/