Thought I would check in and say hello. My name is Quentin D'Souza and I an am elementary resource teacher for the TCDSB.  I think this is a wonderful idea, that should continue.  Since the www.enoreo.on.ca has closed down there has been a hole with regards to an Ontario Online community for Educators.  It would be nice to see commun-it.org fill that void.  This is awesome!!

I didn't make the meeting so I might be regurgitating old information, but I will add a few ideas. There are a couple things that I might suggest. 

• ELGG is a great environment, although it can sometimes be confusing for the novice.  Something of a video intro with documentation to support it might be helpful in getting it underway. 
  
• People might feel comfortable with the addition of forums too.
  
• Be transparent about who is running this operation - is it OCDSB, OCRI or will it be the community. Who owns the domain? Where is funding coming from and how will it continue to function in the future.
• Contact information was a little hard to find.

 I'm interested in furthering this idea, so let me know if you have some specific needs.  Is there a to do list?

The Internet is nowhere...

The Internet is everywhere... 

News Release:

December 19, 2006 – Toronto – KINSA – the Kids’ Internet Safety Alliance applauded the resolution by MPP Bob Runciman put forward in the Ontario Legislature today calling for the declaration of February 7^th, 2007 “Safer Internet Day” in Ontario.

Should the Ontario Legislature adopt this motion, Ontario will join 37 other countries and over 100 not-for-profit organizations from around the world who have dedicated this day to raising awareness of the dangers kids face on the Internet.

“On behalf of my colleagues at KINSA and the dedicated professionals who are working every day to keep the Internet safe, I want to say ‘thank you’ to Mr. Runciman and all the other Ontario legislators who are today debating this resolution,” said Paul Gillespie, Vice Chair of KINSA. “This is a symbolic statement, but an important one.”

Interpol estimates that there are approximately 560,000 images of children being sexually abused to be found on the Internet.  These images represent between 10,000 and 20,000 individual victims, but fewer than 500 have been identified or rescued.

According to an Industry Canada survey, 50% of children between the ages of 9 and 16 years old have an email address or account that their parents don’t know about.  56% use chat rooms.  33% go into adult chat rooms. 25% say someone they’ve only met on the Internet has asked to meet them in person, and 4% went on to meet their Internet friend.

Only half of these took someone with them.

“This is hardly a festive message in keeping with the celebrations of this holiday season, but it is an important message and one that needs to get out.  As parents are buying computers for their kids this season, we want to remind them that they should take all precautions to keep their children safe on-line,” said Gillespie.  “Parents can go to www.kinsa.net to find some tips and good advice on keeping their kids safe.”

“The Internet is a wonderful place for kids to learn, socialize and explore – and KINSA does not want to leave the impression that this should be limited.  What KINSA is dedicated to, however, is raising awareness that the anonymity of the Internet has provided a forum for pedophiles to find each other and to lure kids,” said Gillespie.  “A little sunshine in these dark corners of the Internet will be a great disinfectant.”

Okay .... this is a "calling you out" to all those people listed as "Founding Members" who were fortunate enough to have time to attend the December meeting.

• Robert Karulas (TDSB)
• Jeff Brown (KPRDSB)
• Doug Helmer (UCDSB)
• Steve McLean (UCDSB)
• Cindy Carr (TBCDSB)
• Urs Bill (TDSB)
• Karen Brooks Nelson (WCDSB)
• Tim Hawes (OCDSB)
• Shawn Allenby (OCDSB)
• Gerry Kiely
• Kimberly Webster (OCDSB)

Let's see who is paying attention. hmmmm

It's nice to see your name on a Ontario ICT community web site, now let's see a blog post, comments, or perhaps a new group within this Community.  :-)  I know that I will have a few friends angry at me and I'll be getting a few emails, but hopefully a few more conversations in this space.