Appeal Tribune Wednesday, February 22, 2017 3B
CANYON VIEWS
Code of conduct needed for digital world
COMMENTARY
MARGARET MCGOVERN
In one of the early Spi-
der-Man comics the nar-
rator said, “with great
power there must also
come
great
responsibility!” As tech-
nology evolves every day, adding new
apps, devices and ways for kids to con-
nect, students should learn to harness
this new power in a responsible manner,
whether using it for learning or just for
fun.
This week, on Feb. 23, educators and
families across the country celebrate
the 5th annual Digital Learning Day,
showcasing the technological advance-
ments that have enhanced the learning
experiences for today’s K-12 students.
Every year it becomes more important
for students to embrace not only digital
literacy but also digital citizenship.
When we talk about digital literacy, it
means having the ability to learn about
different technologies and the skills to
use them in everyday life. Digital citi-
zenship is most commonly defined as the
standards of appropriate, responsible
behavior when using technology.
Just like children often have a code of
conduct for their daily lives, be it formal
or unwritten, they also need one for us-
ing the Internet and digital devices. This
digital citizenship code can help teach-
ers, parents, and technology developers
guide students on how to use various
computer and mobile applications ap-
propriately.
The concept of digital citizenship has
gained more attention as children grow
more tech savvy. A recent national sur-
vey found that teens (ages 13-18) spent al-
most nine hours a day outside school and
homework time using media, including
the Internet, TV, video games, social
media, and music. For tweens (ages 8-12)
the number was around 6 hours per day.
Other studies have shown that three-
quarters of teens (78 percent) check
their devices hourly, and over half of
teens are hindering their own learning
by multitasking with social media while
doing homework.
Several professional groups have
done extensive research on digital citi-
zenship, and now list nine elements to
guide a good digital citizen. These in-
clude digital access, commerce, commu-
nications, etiquette, health and wellness,
law, literacy, rights and responsibilities,
security and safety. While I could dis-
cuss each aspect at length, I’d like to fo-
cus on a few that students and parents
should address first. You can read more
about
all
nine
elements
at
www.digitalcitizenship.net.
Digital Etiquette
This is a basic set of rules to follow
when communicating with others on the
Internet, sometimes called “netiquette.”
Just like parents would expect a certain
type of manners at home, digital eti-
quette is a way to govern behavior with
online manners. We recognize inappro-
priate and unethical digital citizenship
when people make hurtful comments, or
send humiliating photos.
Remember the Golden Rule? Teach
children not to say anything online if
they don’t have something nice to say, or
resolve the issue in person. Ask them to
use the acronym T.H.I.N.K. before they
send a text or post on social media — Is it
Thoughtful? Is it Helpful? Is it Intelli-
gent? Is it Necessary? Is it Kind? Remind
students to treat others as they want to
be treated, with politeness and respect.
Digital Rights and Responsibilities
In the U.S. Constitution, we have a Bill
of Rights. There is also a basic set of
rights for every digital citizen, including
the rights to privacy and free speech.
These privileges and freedoms also
come with responsibilities, in order for
everyone’s rights to be equally protect-
ed.
One of the growing concerns online is
cyberbullying, because it’s often hard
for children to talk about or ask adults
for help. Watch for offensive or abusive
messages posted in emails, texts, instant
messaging programs, or chat rooms ac-
cessed by children – a technique often
called flaming. Teach children not to
open a cyberbully’s messages or meet
them in person, and parents should con-
tact school officials or local authorities if
needed. There are also techniques to
ward off cyberbullying, including priva-
cy settings on mobile devices and social
networking sites.
Digital Security and Safety:
There are certain technological and
practical precautions students can take
to ensure their personal safety and the
security of their network in the digital
world.
For example, children should learn
how to create a secure password and
never share it with friends. Just like the
locks on the doors of our homes to pro-
tect our families, parents can demon-
strate to children the importance of hav-
ing virus protection and surge controls
on computer equipment. It’s all part of
being a safe and secure digital citizen.
Being safe on social media can offer
other teachable moments for students.
Responsible digital citizens protect the
privacy of themselves and others. Chil-
dren should learn not to post personal in-
formation like their address, phone num-
ber or birth date on social media. Digital
footprints are hard to erase and they can
impact students later in life, given that
many college admissions officers and
job recruiters now check social media
profiles when making decisions.
In addition to these tips, there are
many great resources about digital citi-
zenship, including the International So-
ciety for Technology in Education
www.iste.org, and the Federal Trade
Commission website Protecting Kids
Online, www.consumer.ftc.gov/topics/
protecting-kids-online.
Some of you may wonder what we, as
teachers at an online public school, do to
teach our students to be good digital citi-
zens. At Oregon Connections Academy,
students sign a special code of conduct
agreeing to act in a civil manner in all
their online interactions with fellow stu-
dents and teachers. They understand
there are consequences for violations to
that agreement. We also provide an In-
ternet safety course for students and
Learning Coaches, who are usually par-
ents, which contains valuable informa-
tion about practicing safe behaviors on-
line.
Remember the old saying “do as I say,
not as I do”? Parents can also be a good
digital citizen and role model by practic-
ing healthy digital habits, such as taking
a time-out the next time a text alert
comes or creating a ‘no phones at dinner’
family agreement.
As more and more schools add online
courses, allow students to bring their
own devices to class, and technological
advancements continue to amaze, the
topic of digital citizenship will spread.
Several states have even adopted laws or
other measures to require specific digi-
tal citizenship curriculum.
Digital citizenship is more than just a
tool for parents and teachers to help chil-
dren navigate technology, it’s a set of so-
cial standards that can help students pre-
pare for a successful future in academ-
ics, career, and life. We are all digital citi-
zens, and we can all make a contribution
to help the next generation thrive wher-
ever technology takes us.
Margaret McGovern is a humanities
and technology teacher at Oregon Con-
nections Academy. Contact her through
ORCA at 503-897-2272, (800) 382-6010 or
www.OregonConnectionsAcademy.com
Oregon labels 7 dams as ‘unsatisfactory’
TRACY LOEW
STATESMAN JOURNAL
Oregon considers seven dams across
the state to be in “unsatisfactory” condi-
tion.
That means those dams are more
closely inspected, and could be declared
unsafe if repairs aren’t made, said Diana
Enright, spokeswoman for the Oregon
Water Resources Department.
The state has been getting lots of
questions about dam safety, Enright
said, as a slow disaster unfolds at Oro-
ville Dam in California, where nearly
200,000 people have been evacuated due
to the threat of a breach and uncon-
trolled flooding.
Officials at the Association of State
Dam Safety say thousands of the nation’s
84,000 regulated dams have the potential
to fail.
States have permitting, inspection
and enforcement authority for about 70
percent of those dams.
Inspection reports aren’t routinely
released to the public, but Enright pro-
vided a list of troubled Oregon dams.
They are:
» Big Creek Reservoir # 1 (Lower)
Dam, in Lincoln County: 21 feet high
» Big Creek Reservoir #2 (Upper)
Dam in Lincoln County: 56 feet high
» Crowley Dam in Malheur County:
90 feet high
» Willow Creek 3 in Malheur County:
110 feet high
» Ferry Creek Dam in Curry County:
65 feet high
» McMullen Dam in Josephine Coun-
ty: 33 feet high
» Johnson Creek Dam in Crook Coun-
ty: 44 feet high
While it’s hard to find out which dams
have the potential to fail, a federal data-
base lists those that would have cata-
strophic consequences if they did.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
maintains the public National Inventory
of Dams database.
It classifies dams as “high hazard po-
tential,” meaning dam failure would re-
sult in the loss of at least one human life;
or “significant hazard potential,” mean-
ing dam failure could result in the loss of
at least one human life, and likely would
result in property or environmental de-
struction.
Other dams are classified as “low haz-
ard,” and some are “undetermined.”
Detroit Lake in Linn County, which
supplies Salem’s drinking water, is a high
hazard dam.
It’s one of 16 Oregon dams operated
by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Federally operated dams across the
country are in good condition, the Asso-
ciation of State Dam Safety Officials
said.
“Public safety is our first priority,”
said Michelle Helms, Corps spokeswom-
an. “As part of all that we have a rigorous
inspection and monitoring program.”
Oregon has a total of 869 dams in the
NID database.
Of those, 150 are rated high hazard po-
tential and 160 are rated significant haz-
ard potential.
" "- # #& &&
'#,&
/#+&
"-
#!
VLOYHUWRQDSSHDOFRP
+&" & #& /#+& ".* ,
Twenty-four of those high hazard
dams, and 93 of the significant hazard
dams, are operating without required
emergency action plans, documents that
lay out everything from inundation
maps to notification flowcharts to emer-
gency response duties.
That means 38 percent of Oregon
dams near populated areas lack emer-
gency plans.
All seven Oregon dams deemed “un-
satisfactory” for safety are high hazard
dams.
In Marion and Polk counties, high haz-
ard dams include Franzen Reservoir, Sil-
ver Creek Dam, Croft Reservoir and
Mercer Reservoir.
Sixty-eight percent of Oregon’s dams
are privately owned. Fifty-nine percent
are used for irrigation. Most of the
state’s dams were built between 1950 and
1969.
tloew@statesmanjournal.com, 503-
399-6779 or follow at Twitter.com/
Tracy_Loew
+*#"' $*' '&,' '*+
**'!"#+&" %#!( '''
" $&"* "'/ *&#+ +"/
TRUST THE HOMETOWN EXPERTS AT SILVERTON REALTY
SERVING THE
EAST VALLEY SINCE 1975
Marcia Branstetter
Broker, GRI
873-3545 ext. 318
Mary Cam
Broker
503-873-3545 ext. 320
Micha Christman
Offi ce Manager
503-873-1425
Becky Craig
Broker
873-3545 ext. 313
Desaree Parks
Angela Halbirt-Lopez
Broker
Broker
503-873-3545 ext. 326
503-999-0245
Michael Schmidt
Broker, GRI
873-3545 ext. 314
Ryan Wertz
Broker
873-3545 ext. 322
Meredith Wertz
Broker, GRI
873-3545 ext. 324
Chuck White
Broker
873-3545 ext. 325
Christina Williamson
Broker
873-3545 ext. 315
Mason Branstetter
Principal Broker, GRI
873-3545 ext. 303
SILVERTON
SALEM
SILVERTON
SILVERTON
SILVERTON
#A2316
PRIVATE & SECLUDED
4 BR, 4 BA 82.000
ACRES CALL MARCIA AT EXT. 318
$799,000 (WVMLS#706727)
#A2313
LARGE CORNER LOT
4 BR, 2.5 BA 1805 SQFT.
CALL BECKY AT EXT. 313
$259,000 (WVMLS#712565)
#A2366
DESIRABLE AREA
3 BR, 2 BA 1859 SQFT.
CALL DESAREE AT EXT. 326
$335,000 (WVMLS#712581)
#A2365
BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY SETTING
2 BR, 2 BA 1742 SQFT.
CALL MARY AT EXT. 320
$299,900 (WVMLS#712560)
SALEM
SALEM
SCOTTS MILLS
SILVERTON
SILVERTON
SILVERTON
#A2311
HOWELL PRAIRIE FARM
3 BR 2 BA 26.77 ACRES.
CALL CHUCK AT EXT. 325
$538,750 (WVMLS#706154)
#A2373
CHARMING 1932 HOME
2 BR, 1 BA 901 SQFT.
CALL BECKY AT EXT. 313
$145,500 (WVMLS#714228)
#A2372
TRANQUIL RETREAT
1 BR, 1.5 BA 672 SQFT. 5.00 ACRES
CALL MARY AT EXT. 320
$299,000 (WVMLS#714109)
#A2359
CRAFTSMAN STYLE HOME
3 BR, 2.5 BA 2381 SQFT
CALL ANGELA AT EXT. 312
$349,900 (WVMLS#711861)
#A2333
LARGE CITY LOT
.510 ACRES
CALL MICHAEL AT EXT. 314
$99,000 (WVMLS#709098)
#A2356
WONDERFUL LOCATION
2 BR, 1.5 BA 1116 SQFT
CALL MARCIA AT EXT. 318
$194,500 (WVMLS#711736)
SILVERTON
#A2341
#A2376
2 HOMES ON 2 ACRES
QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD
4 BR, 2.5 BA, 1884 SQFT
3 BR, 2 BA 1367 SQFT. 2.630 ACRES
CALL CHUCK AT EXT. 325
CALL MEREDITH AT EXT. 324, RYAN AT EXT. 322
$549,900 (WVMLS#709561)
$278,900 (WVMLS#714336)
Brokers licensed in Oregon
WWW.SILVERTONREALTY.COM | 303 OAK STREET | SILVERTON
Call us today! 503.873.3545 | 1-800-863-3545
FOR RENT
Call Micha
at 503-873-1425
or see them on our website.
