Cable in the Classroom is unveiling updated "digital citizenship" tools and resources as part of a newly revamped Web presence.
The organization has a new and expanded mission to help educators and parents teach children to safely and responsibly use an ever-growing array of new media tools.
The new resources at CIConline.org leverage the educational content, capabilities and expertise of the cable industry, as well as a wide spectrum of other educational experts and organizations.
All are being made available on Cable in the Classroom's site free of charge for use by teachers, parents and others involved with children's education.
"For more than 20 years, the cable industry has been providing educational media and technology to schools, along with the knowledge and skills to use them effectively," Frank Gallagher, executive director of Cable in the Classroom, said in a release from the National Cable & Telecommunications Association. "Extensive consultation with educators, child development experts, child advocates, researchers, and cable industry leaders helped identify the most pressing issues, appropriate tools, and useful resources for today's teachers and parents. Featuring these valuable resources on our new website is a renewal of the cable industry's longstanding commitment to education."
Cable in the Classroom's new online offerings center on three areas:
Digital Citizenship: A new focus for CIC is its leadership role in helping develop the concept of "digital citizenship" -- a positive and proactive approach to help children use digital tools safely and effectively. Digital citizenship brings internet safety and security together with digital literacy, ethical behavior and civic engagement in a holistic package of curricular resources, lesson plans, activities, and research. These articles, videos and digital tools are made available to teachers and parents giving them the resources they need to instill digital citizenship in children.
Network Programming and Online Content: CIC continues to highlight the best educational programming and content and offers it to educators for use in the classroom and wherever learning happens. The new www.ciconline.org now does this in more timely and interactive ways, allowing teachers and others to quickly and easily find the television and online content that matches their needs.
Broadband Applications: Cable's broadband platform engages children in learning by marrying the fast flow of education-rich content with interactive features for a multi-sensory learning experience. At ciconline.org, CIC provides teachers with specific examples of learning powered by broadband, and illustrations of the ways in which cable is working to apply more broadly the benefits of broadband to education.
CIC's portal enhancement was assisted by Sudden Industries and RCM Technologies.
