Digital Smarts Blog

PTBoard, an online communication tool for schools and parents, has a feature that allows parents and teachers to hold virtual fundraisers for their children's school. Parent/teacher organizations can collect items to sell and then set up a virtual marketplace on the system. Parents and family members can use the marketplace to purchase items and the platform keeps track of everything sold. PTBoard also allows schools to efficiently post information about fundraisers, school announcements, sign-up sheets, and official forms in addition to sharing documents, photos, discussions, calendars, and emergency notifications all in one convenient location.

PTBoard, an online communication tool for schools and parents, has a feature that allows parents and teachers to hold virtual fundraisers for their children's school. Parent/teacher organizations can collect items to sell and then set up a virtual marketplace on the system. Parents and family members can use the marketplace to purchase items and the platform keeps track of everything sold. PTBoard also allows schools to efficiently post information about fundraisers, school announcements, sign-up sheets, and official forms in addition to sharing documents, photos, discussions, calendars, and emergency notifications all in one convenient location.

Is your school updating their policies regarding digital security? An excellent overview of the subject, pointing out where the pitfalls may lie, is outlined in “5 ways to create a safer digital environment at your school.” One of the main points the authors make is that student safety in the information age needs to be a joint project between administrators, teachers, IT staff and parents for any long term solutions to take place.

Is your school updating their policies regarding digital security? An excellent overview of the subject, pointing out where the pitfalls may lie, is outlined in “5 ways to create a safer digital environment at your school.” One of the main points the authors make is that student safety in the information age needs to be a joint project between administrators, teachers, IT staff and parents for any long term solutions to take place.

As happy moments from other people’s lives fill your Facebook newsfeed and other social networking sites, researchers are now saying there is evidence that comparing your life to others online can undermine your well being. A new study from University of Houston researcher Mai-Ly Steers notes that making social comparisons is inevitable for Facebook users, but that it is important to remember that most people only post about good things happening in their lives and not the bad. The study found that young people or people going through emotional difficulties are particularly vulnerable to feeling depressive symptoms due to social comparisons.

As happy moments from other people’s lives fill your Facebook newsfeed and other social networking sites, researchers are now saying there is evidence that comparing your life to others online can undermine your well being. A new study from University of Houston researcher Mai-Ly Steers notes that making social comparisons is inevitable for Facebook users, but that it is important to remember that most people only post about good things happening in their lives and not the bad. The study found that young people or people going through emotional difficulties are particularly vulnerable to feeling depressive symptoms due to social comparisons.

When Google launched its highly anticipated YouTube Kids app (iPhone and Android) in February 2015, they received many high praises, but now there are criticisms that it is just “one, long uninterrupted ad” with a complete lack of understanding about early-childhood development. Though the app features short videos that have been filtered by a Google team to make sure they are kid-appropriate and also includes a set of parental controls, critics say the app ignores long-standing television safeguards meant to protect small children. Limits on the amount of advertising as well as the separation of advertising and programming are put on all childrens’ television programming, but are not applied to content on the Internet. For example, McDonalds has its own channel on YouTube Kids that includes Happy Meal commercials. There are also multiple streams of what is known as "unboxing ads," where someone unwraps candy or takes a toy out of its box and puts it together. For these reasons, a coalition of consumer and child advocacy groups is asking the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate the app, but jurisdiction is an issue as rules around advertising to children were created by the FTC that only govern the airways. There is no similar government body that governs Internet content at this time.

When Google launched its highly anticipated YouTube Kids app (iPhone and Android) in February 2015, they received many high praises, but now there are criticisms that it is just “one, long uninterrupted ad” with a complete lack of understanding about early-childhood development. Though the app features short videos that have been filtered by a Google team to make sure they are kid-appropriate and also includes a set of parental controls, critics say the app ignores long-standing television safeguards meant to protect small children. Limits on the amount of advertising as well as the separation of advertising and programming are put on all childrens’ television programming, but are not applied to content on the Internet. For example, McDonalds has its own channel on YouTube Kids that includes Happy Meal commercials. There are also multiple streams of what is known as "unboxing ads," where someone unwraps candy or takes a toy out of its box and puts it together. For these reasons, a coalition of consumer and child advocacy groups is asking the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate the app, but jurisdiction is an issue as rules around advertising to children were created by the FTC that only govern the airways. There is no similar government body that governs Internet content at this time.

A recent survey of students at Penn State has found that college students are sending more text messages than ever, citing that 34% reported sending and receiving 100 or more messages a day. Researchers also found that while students understand it is socially unacceptable or inappropriate to text in certain situations, such as in the shower or religious services, many do it anyway. Some questionable behaviors are even becoming more socially acceptable, such as texting while using the bathroom or eating,

A recent survey of students at Penn State has found that college students are sending more text messages than ever, citing that 34% reported sending and receiving 100 or more messages a day. Researchers also found that while students understand it is socially unacceptable or inappropriate to text in certain situations, such as in the shower or religious services, many do it anyway. Some questionable behaviors are even becoming more socially acceptable, such as texting while using the bathroom or eating,

The Internet may make you think you are smarter than you really are. Or at least that is the conclusion of a series of experiments chronicled in a new journal article by researchers at Yale University, who found that searching for answers on the Internet makes people more confident in their knowledge. Evidence from nine experiments shows that those who had access to web sites, even if those sites had little information about the topic under question, felt more confident about their knowledge of a subject. This confidence persisted even the subject failed to provide relevant answers when questioned on the topic.

The Internet may make you think you are smarter than you really are. Or at least that is the conclusion of a series of experiments chronicled in a new journal article by researchers at Yale University, who found that searching for answers on the Internet makes people more confident in their knowledge. Evidence from nine experiments shows that those who had access to web sites, even if those sites had little information about the topic under question, felt more confident about their knowledge of a subject. This confidence persisted even the subject failed to provide relevant answers when questioned on the topic.

The Right Way to Do Family Time, a recent article in the Wall Street Journal on spending quality time with your children, cites a 2014 study that found that adolescents who engaged with their parents on social media felt more connected to them—and the connection grew stronger with more frequent interactions. Although parents may not think of Facebook as quality time with their children, even little things such as “likes” in our busy lives can make a difference.

The Right Way to Do Family Time, a recent article in the Wall Street Journal on spending quality time with your children, cites a 2014 study that found that adolescents who engaged with their parents on social media felt more connected to them—and the connection grew stronger with more frequent interactions. Although parents may not think of Facebook as quality time with their children, even little things such as “likes” in our busy lives can make a difference.

It is probably no surprise that as students become more tech-savvy, the number of bomb threats and other reports of potential violence at school are on the rise. The motivations for these threats vary from avoiding a test to simply showing off, and there are some kids who do it just for the thrill factor. While it might seem like a practical joke at first blush, kids don’t realize that these threats can endanger others when police arrive on scene and try to do their job based on the threat information. Those that do get caught risk fines and even imprisonment, but experts warn that there can be ways for kids to find out online how to create these kinds of false threats and not get caught.

It is probably no surprise that as students become more tech-savvy, the number of bomb threats and other reports of potential violence at school are on the rise. The motivations for these threats vary from avoiding a test to simply showing off, and there are some kids who do it just for the thrill factor. While it might seem like a practical joke at first blush, kids don’t realize that these threats can endanger others when police arrive on scene and try to do their job based on the threat information. Those that do get caught risk fines and even imprisonment, but experts warn that there can be ways for kids to find out online how to create these kinds of false threats and not get caught.

There is a new anti-cheating technology service called Proctortrack that universities such as Rutgers are using for online course exams to ensure the person who is signed up for the course is actually the one taking the exam. The software uses webcams to scan students’ features and verify their identities before the test, makes a video recording of the test taker as the test goes on, and monitors their computer use. The test taker is reminded of the monitoring throughout the test as a live image shows up in miniature on the test taker’s computer screen. Colleges and universities argue that this monitoring is crucial to demonstrate the veracity of their online degree programs to prospective employers. Rutgers is charging students a $37.00 fee for the proctoring service.

Several students at Rutgers have voiced their opinions about feeling uncomfortable with the software because it monitors how many times you look down and away from the screen - which could been seen as cheating - and they worry that it might continue to monitor computer usage even after it has been removed. Proctortrack denies this, however the privacy policy of the company does state that it “may disclose users’ personal information to third-party service providers or in the event of a company merger, sale or bankruptcy.” Recording students taking tests adds a new pressure to test taking and it will be interesting to see how this technology is used or restricted in the future.

There is a new anti-cheating technology service called Proctortrack that universities such as Rutgers are using for online course exams to ensure the person who is signed up for the course is actually the one taking the exam. The software uses webcams to scan students’ features and verify their identities before the test, makes a video recording of the test taker as the test goes on, and monitors their computer use. The test taker is reminded of the monitoring throughout the test as a live image shows up in miniature on the test taker’s computer screen. Colleges and universities argue that this monitoring is crucial to demonstrate the veracity of their online degree programs to prospective employers. Rutgers is charging students a $37.00 fee for the proctoring service.

Several students at Rutgers have voiced their opinions about feeling uncomfortable with the software because it monitors how many times you look down and away from the screen - which could been seen as cheating - and they worry that it might continue to monitor computer usage even after it has been removed. Proctortrack denies this, however the privacy policy of the company does state that it “may disclose users’ personal information to third-party service providers or in the event of a company merger, sale or bankruptcy.” Recording students taking tests adds a new pressure to test taking and it will be interesting to see how this technology is used or restricted in the future.

It may not be surprising, but a new study by the Pew Research Center shows that 64 percent of adults in the U.S. own smartphones, up from 35 percent in 2011. The study looked at smartphone usage in 2015 among adult Americans, focusing on details such as what the phones are used for and how they make users feel. Social networking, watching videos and listening to music or podcasts were found to be especially popular with younger users. The study also indicates that there is a socio-economic/technology digital divide occurring. The kind of online access many find central to their lives is not available to some because of financial issues (service is too expensive) or technical constraints (broadband access not available). Want to see how your smartphone usage (or that of your kids) compares with the findings of the Pew study? Take a look at this infographic.

It may not be surprising, but a new study by the Pew Research Center shows that 64 percent of adults in the U.S. own smartphones, up from 35 percent in 2011. The study looked at smartphone usage in 2015 among adult Americans, focusing on details such as what the phones are used for and how they make users feel. Social networking, watching videos and listening to music or podcasts were found to be especially popular with younger users. The study also indicates that there is a socio-economic/technology digital divide occurring. The kind of online access many find central to their lives is not available to some because of financial issues (service is too expensive) or technical constraints (broadband access not available). Want to see how your smartphone usage (or that of your kids) compares with the findings of the Pew study? Take a look at this infographic.