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13 Public school board launches `Technology and You' by Tim Whitnell Metroland West Media | Friday September 29, 2017 | As technology continues to drive modern society and education, the Halton District School Board is aiming to make online resources easier to access for students while teaching them about their safe and responsible use. Earlier this month, the board officially unveiled Technology and You, currently prominently displayed on its website (www. hdsb.ca). "Technology & You reflects the investment the board has put into creating technologyenabled learning environments within its schools as well as into preparing its students for success in a technology-driven and knowledge intensive world," said Gord Truffen, the board' s superintendent of education and information technology. "While these resources have existed in various locations on our website, we have consolidated them into one location to provide a practical resource for parents, students and staff. These resources also reflect the investment we have put into technology in our schools," states a HDSB press release The board says Technology & You was created as a response to questions from parents and guardians about how to ensure students are using technology safely and responsibly in an increasingly digital world. The Halton District School Board (H D SB ) is launching a new online resources for families, students and staff called Technology and You. Pictured, from left, Cathy Thier, HDSB general m anager of Information services, Superintendent Gord Truffen, and Patti Selfe, executive assistant, Information Services. | Riziero Vertolli/Metroland It took the better part of a year for board employees -- no outside workers were used for the project, said Truffen -- to consolidate existing separate corporate and internal board websites into one resource, with the intention to provide information and tips on technology, privacy and security, social media and cyberbullying. "It was information that we knew existed but had to go hunting for it," said Truffen, noting, "We have all our documents on the Cloud." He said it' s important for students and staff to consider whether they should be sharing certain documents and how to do it correctly and safely. That' s where he said the board' s THINK protocol comes in, something it wants everyone to consider before acting or reacting to something. The THINK acronym asks people to consider whether something is True/Helpful/ Inclusive/Necessary/Kind. "We want to make sure students are helpful in (their) posting(s) and not bullying in any way," Truffen noted. Technology and You consists of a number of links that connect students to various resources. Three main tools are entitled Technology, Privacy and Security, and Social Media and Cyber-bullying. The Technology link gives information on phones and devices including a link to a distracted driving site. The Privacy and Security link discusses protecting your data and identity, password protocols, the Halton Cloud and Internet filtering. Most links often offer other related sites for people to explore. The board' s new online resource will be updated when necessary, said Truffen. "It is a live document," he said of Technology and You, which was originally entitled Digital Citizenship and later Technology and Schools before arriving it s final name. "As information and technology changes we can (update) it. "It was such a long project because we wanted to incorporate feedback from staff and students," said Truffen. In advance of the unveiling of Technology and You, the board distributed 30 preview posters to each of its elementary schools and a minimum of 50 posters to every high school during the last school year. All of the board' s schools will soon have a Technology and You link on their individual websites. OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insidehalton.com · · · · · .............................................................................. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7 i4 :0 0 P M|B M OFIE L D iflK ·V S p resen tedb y EUERY-DAYmLOiW i I l l ;GAMERS WINDOWS & DOORS SHUTTERS & BLINDS Since 1 9 9 9 Fisherman'sFriend YOU LL BElHAlEPJiYOU ~ FOOTBALL ^ W ORLD FINANCIAL TICKETSA t ARGO nAuTS.CA S E A S O N S P O N S O R G RO UPS Bronte & Dundas, Oakville B eco m e a s u b s c rib e r to th e p a p e r and receive 2 tic k e ts to an u p c o m in g A rgo's gam e. Call (905) 632-4444 to sig n up! HunterDouglas 0 DOOR SYSTEMS Gallery