WebWiseKids Blog : digital citizenship

Five Technology Skills Every Student Should Learn

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 00:11:00 GMT

eSchoolNews recently wrote an article about the top five technology skills every student should learn, and we couldn’t agree more with what they said!

In the article, eSchoolNews talks about crucial technology skills kids should know: Online literacy, critical thinking, the science behind technology, adaptability and courage.

Web Wise Kids' games embodies all of these themes-- we strive to educate kids about technology so that they can be smart about their decisions every day. Technology is an ever growing force in in today's society, and we can't stop it, but what we can do is teach our kids how to properly harness technology in ways that are more productive and beneficial to their lives.

We're so happy that eSchoolNews recognizes these skills that every student should learn, because we agree that they are crucial in the development of our children in this day and age. We hope to continue to create games and programs that will serve the next generation as tools for growth and success.

Get Involved with Web Wise Kids!

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 22:22:00 GMT

Games are one of the number ways to get education across in the classroom, and Web Wise Kids is proud to produce programs and games that help teach and educate kids who to be safe online in this ever-evolving technological world. To continue making games, we rely heavily on the support of the community and of companies who believe in our mission.

Watch our president, Judi Westberg-Warren, talk more about how companies and supporters can get involved with Web Wise Kids.

Parenting and Social Media Survey

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 00:13:00 GMT

The Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) recently conducted the Parenting and Social Media Survey to measure the actions of parents in regard to their children’s usage of social media. Mobile device usage by children was also minimally covered in the study. The ITRC conducted this survey in order to better understand how parents try to keep their children safe while using social media. There were 207 responses.

“Children are spending more and more time online, and social media is becoming a larger part of their social lives. It is therefore important to understand how parents are monitoring their children’s usage of social networking sites,” said Nikki Junker, Social Media Coordinator for the ITRC. “The survey results will help the ITRC in developing informative materials and documents for parents and children to help them navigate their social media experiences safely.”

With Facebook considering allowing children under 13 join its user population, how parents interact with their children regarding social media is going to become more important. It is the ITRC’s hope that the findings of this survey will provide insight on how to improve this important communication.

To view the results of this survey, click here.

Thank you Identity Theft Resource Center for putting so much work into procuring this valuable information!

BeSeen App: Training Wheels for Social Networks

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 23:09:00 GMT

Have your children played our BeSeen app yet?

BeSeen is our free mobile app designed to simulate an online social network for kids. By playing BeSeen, youth can subliminally learn how to be responsible on social networks through navigating fictional situations that test their judgment on private and personal information, protecting their online reputation and defending their peers. The situations reflect real-life situations, making BeSeen a great way to introduce kids to social networks.

Watch and learn more about how our BeSeen app is a great "training wheels" program for your kids!

Web Wise Kids and BeSeen: An Award Finalist!

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 13:00:00 GMT

We are proud to announce that our BeSeen game has been selected as an award finalist by the Pittsburgh Technology Council!

This year’s fourth annual DATA Awards Event is part of the Creative Technology Network, developed with the generous support of the Benedum Foundation. Called Pittsburgh’s biggest creative tech party of the year, the event is a streaming mash-up of networking, interactivity and inspiration.

The 2012 Design, Art and Technology Award will be handed out at the DATA awards ceremony on June 7, 2012

BeSeenwas selected as a finalist in the “Next Generation: Kids & Creative Technology Category” recognizing the hard work and innovation of Web Wise Kids and Carnegie Mellon University.

Cross your fingers for us!

If you are new to Web Wise Kids or BeSeen, here’s more about the game:

BeSeen was created by Carnegie Mellon University and Web Wise Kids to teach youth how to be responsible in social networks by securing their private and personal information, protecting their online reputation and defending their peers.

This online safety mobile application is a single-player game that simulates a social networking website. The player creates a profile and starts earning “friend” characters and interacting with them. They learn about others through their posts and help them through challenges in order to win awards and make new friends.

In BeSeen, the ultimate quest is to make friends. At first, that is a matter of getting involved in school activities, but as more friends join a social circle, they bring their problems with them. To keep friends and make more, it’s important not only to be involved but also to be a good friend.

You can learn more about BeSeen or download the free lesson materials on the Web Wise Kids website.

BeSeen Featured in SecretlyNetwork.com!

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Wed, 30 May 2012 21:17:00 GMT

Our BeSeen app was featured in SecretlyNetwork.com's blog about best mobile applications for kids! Web Wise Kids is honored to be listed by Secretly Networking as a recommendation for Best Apps for Kids, and we are delighted to be included with so many other great apps.

Thank You To Our Sponsors!!

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Mon, 28 May 2012 20:40:00 GMT

With our BeSeen app gaining a lot of attention during the last several weeks-- especially since we launched an ad in USA Today-- we'd like to take a moment to thank our sponsors--CTIA Wireless Foundation, Carnegie Mellon University, Verizon Foundation-- without whom BeSeen would have never been possible.

If you are new to Web Wise Kids or BeSeen, here’s more about the game:

BeSeen was created by Carnegie Mellon University and Web Wise Kids to teach youth how to be responsible in social networks by securing their private and personal information, protecting their online reputation and defending their peers.

This online safety mobile application is a single-player game that simulates a social networking website. The player creates a profile and starts earning “friend” characters and interacting with them. They learn about others through their posts and help them through challenges in order to win awards and make new friends.

In BeSeen, the ultimate quest is to make friends. At first, that is a matter of getting involved in school activities, but as more friends join a social circle, they bring their problems with them. To keep friends and make more, it’s important not only to be involved but also to be a good friend.

You can learn more about BeSeen or download the free lesson materials on the Web Wise Kids website. Watch our video thanking our sponsors here!

What Can BeSeen Teach Your Kids?

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Wed, 23 May 2012 20:07:00 GMT

Our BeSeen App is an online safety mobile application that simulates a social networking website. The player creates a profile and starts earning “friend” characters and interacting with them. They learn about others through their posts and help them through challenges in order to win awards and make new friends.

To get a full understanding of what our BeSeen app can teach your children, watch our official training video here.

Our BeSeen app is available to download for free on both Apple and Android platforms. To download the app and supplemental classroom materials (for free!), please click here.

BeSeen Has Global Appeal!

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:52:00 GMT

You Said It. BeSeen Has Global Appeal!

Word Is Spreading About The New BeSeen Lesson Materials!
It's only been a few weeks since we created a download page for the new BeSeen lesson materials on the Web Wise Kids website. But in that short time, here's what we've seen:

* We had 110 downloads of the complete lesson materials which will now start filtering through families, teachers and youth directors around the world - over 11,000 impressions!

* In the U.S., the materials were downloaded in 30 states!

* Overall, we had recent downloads in 8 different countries including South Africa,Peru, Canada, Nigeria, Columbia, United Kingdom and New Zealand! If you are among this group, thank you for being one of the first to begin formally teaching online safety via the BeSeen game. And be sure to share your feedback with us at [email protected].

Here's What You Are Saying About BeSeen!
"I work for law enforcement and go to all schools in the county and most of the city to discuss various topics, including on-line safety. I plan on using your information to update my presentations and to continue makng education fun." --- El Paso,TX
"Can't wait to see this one - we use Missing and love it need it for newer computers or iPads. --- Ft. Clahoun, NE
"Loved using the Missing Game and thrilled you came out with something new :)" ---Tolland, CT
"I appreciate these resources made available to teachers...." --- Berkeley, CA
"Anxious to try this app and offer it to students. Thank you!" --- Tustin, CA
"Hey, I didn't know about this app!!!!" --- Penn Laird, VA
"I want teach my students how to be safe on social media. I don't speak English, but I'm working with the teachers on ESL." --- Santiago, Chile
"We would like to build in a link to these materials from our site. This and BeSeen would fit into our Digital Citizenship section really well" --- Clinton Twp, MI

Thank you for all this feedback and positive encouragement! We are so excited to see where you take BeSeen over the coming weeks. Who can you share BeSeen with today?

BeSeen FAQs

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:18:00 GMT

BeSeen is our mobile phone app we created in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University. The game is designed to be played on a mobile phone and simulates a social network. It was designed to teach kids how to be responsible on social networks like Facebook, by securing their private and personal information, protecting their online reputation, and defending their peers.

BeSeen was made possible by support from Trend Micro, CTIA The Wireless Foundation, and The Verizon Foundation.

Why Was BeSeen Created?

As many as 7.5 million Facebook users in the U.S. are under age 13 - a violation of Facebook's user policies - according to a new study by Consumer Reports, as reported by Ad Age.

BeSeen was created to combat some alarming statistics about kids’ behavior on social networks:

55% of teens have given out personal info to someone they don’t know, including photos and physical descriptions.

29% of teens have posted mean info, embarrassing photos or spread rumors about someone.

29% have been stalked or contacted by someone they don’t know.

24% have had private or embarrassing info made public without their permission

22% have been cyberpranked

56% of teens say they have been the target of some type of online harassment

15% percent of the young people surveyed say they have sent nude photos or videos of themselves

21% say they've received nude photos or videos from others. About half of those involved say they felt pressured to do so BeSeen teaches kids to behave responsibly on social networks, and to guard their personal information and images.

You can find more statistics about kids’ behavior on cell phones and online here.

What is the Game About?

This online safety mobile application is a single-player game that simulates a social networking website. The player creates a profile and starts earning "friend" characters and interacting with them. They learn about others through their posts and help them through challenges in order to win awards and make new friends.

In BeSeen, the ultimate quest is to make friends. At first, that is a matter of getting involved in school activities, but as more friends join a social circle, they bring their problems with them. To keep friends and make more, it’s important not only to be involved but also to be a good friend.

Where Can I Find BeSeen?

BeSeen is a free mobile app, available for download in both the Apple App Store and Google Play (formerly the Android Marketplace). You can find more information about the game, including support documents and instructional materials here.

How much Does the App Cost?

BeSeen is available for free. It's easily downloaded in both the Apple App Store and Google Play (formerly the Android Marketplace). We also offer free handouts, instructional videos and companion materials to be used in classrooms or at home.

What Platforms Can I Play BeSeen On?

BeSeen is available for both the iPhone, and Android smartphones. It is not yet available for laptops or tablets.

I'm a Teacher; Can I Use the App in my Classroom?

Absolutely! BeSeen is a fun and engaging learning tool to teach your students about social networking. We have created an entire set of classroom resources around the BeSeen App, to help you use it effectively in your classroom. You can download the materials for free here.

Also, if you are interested in having a Web Wise Kids staff member facilitate the BeSeen Program in your classroom, we can make arrangements for the program to be led either in person, or over Skype. For information on facilitation, please email Rommel Anacan at [email protected]

I'm a Parent; Can I Use the App at Home?

Sometimes, parents are unsure about whether to allow their kids on social networks. BeSeen can be a great way to teach your kids how to navigate social networks safely, and to achieve peace of mind as a parent. Our free BeSeen classroom materials can easily be adapted for use at home, or, simply download the free app and let your kids play.

Are There Any Instructional Videos That Might Help Me Understand the App?

We have several videos available that will walk you through the BeSeen game. There are also printed materials that can help you understand what players are learning as they navigate the game. You can find all of these resources here.

Where Can I Go For More Information?

For more information on BeSeen, visit our website. You can also download our free Program Resources to learn more about the BeSeen App. If you would like to learn more about the other educational video games that we offer, you can do that here.

Join our newsletter to stay up to date on all our news, and the latest educational programs we’re rolling out.

And, to contact us, please email [email protected].

What If I have a Question That Isn’t Addressed Here?

You can always reach us by email at [email protected].

Or, call us at (866) WEB-WISE or 714-435-2885. We would love to hear from you!

Teen Bullying Suicide Pushes Newspaper to Take a Stand

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 23:32:00 GMT

A teen in Iowa, 14 year old Kenneth Weishuhn Jr., committed suicide because of bullying, and a newspaper is now taking a stand. Shaken by Weishuhn’s death, The Sioux City Journal dedicated its entire front page of its Sunday edition paper to an editorial rallying the city against bullying. Full front page editorials are rare, but the Sioux City Journal felt that it was the only way to address the enormity of the situation in order to garner the attention of its readers.

I certainly commend the Sioux City Journal for devoting their front page to discourage bullying. It is hard to believe that yet another young person has taken their life due to bullying. When are we going to realize as a society that bullying another person physically or emotionally causes irreparable damage? We must continue to educate the public, parents and children that bullying is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. Thank you Sioux City Journal for taking this public stand.

One of the ways WWK combats bullying is through our educational games, like our free mobile app, BeSeen. Learn more about BeSeen--and how it can teach our children to combat cyberbullying--here .

BeSeen Classroom Materials a Hit!

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 01:44:00 GMT

Our new BeSeen program that provides downloadable lesson plans – complete with handouts, worksheets, instructional videos, and 12 lesson plans-- allows educators, youth directors and parents to instantly begin sharing the benefits of BeSeen with their kids.

So far, the materials have been downloaded 65 times in 20 states and five countries (hello to our friends across the US and in South Africa, the UK, Peru and Canada)!

These classroom materials give teachers a step-by-step guide for leading students through the materials. We designed them to help facilitate discussions and dialogue with your students as they are playing the game. BeSeen is a valuable learning tool – but it is also fun for kids!

We hope that those who have downloaded our materials have found them useful so far, and that other parents and educators will continue to download and use our BeSeen materials.

You can download our BeSeen Classroom Materials for FREE here!

Web Wise Kids' New Official Speaker Discusses Organization Mission

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 01:30:00 GMT

Watch Web Wise Kids' newest trainer and official speaker, Rommel Anacan, speak more about our organization's missions and goals here

Reinforcing our Mission

Judi Westberg-Warren, President — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:59:00 GMT

This morning, I read this article about (http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/08/justice/texas-teen-flees/index.html) how a young teenage girl narrowly escaped from a Facebook predator. I am so grateful to hear that this teen was prevented from being another statistic; She was very lucky to escape, but there are so many other children who are not as fortunate. This situation is one of the reasons Web Wise Kids believes so strongly in education and prevention. There is an old saying that states “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” It is a basic yet profoundly important message for teens online: do not give out personal information and do not plan to meet in real life someone you know only online. Predators are excellent at making their victims feel like they are safe and comfortable in the relationship. Sometimes they even feel that they are in love. Parents need to be watching what online relationships their children are a part of because especially tweens and teens are susceptible to the lures and lies of online predators. We all need to help equip our children to have safe and rewarding experiences online. Judi Westberg Warren President of Web Wise Kids