Parent Resources: An Internet Pathfinder

TECHNOLOGY

Center for Neighborhood Technology
http://www.cnt.org/
      This Chicago-based organization produces several on-line publications and has pages on sustainable development, energy efficiency, and transportation issues within urban environments. It also has an Information and Public Education Project designed to promote empowerment and learning among community groups.

The Children's Partnership
http://www.childrenspartnership.org
      TCP is a nonprofit organization focused on children's issues including children and the Internet. The site has an On-line Resource Center for parents which has safety tips, Parent's Guide to the Information Superhighway, and other Web resources. Spanish language and Italian language versions are available.

Children's Software Revue
http://www.childrenssoftware.com/
      This site offers a searchable database of over 3000 software programs for children with reviews and purchase information. The objective evaluation form helps adults and children gain critical perspective on software.

The Community Connector: Community Networks and Community Information Systems
http://www.si.umich.edu/Community/
      This University of Michigan site provides extensive information on community information systems and community building. It has a list of on-line papers, a directory of community networks with Web links, and special sections on technology, partnerships, and funding.

Community Technology Centers
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OVAE/AdultEd/CTC/index.html
      U.S. Department of Education, Office of Vocational and Adult Education grant program to develop model community technology centers nationwide. This site lists their most recent grant recipients and provides information on how to apply for upcoming grants.

Community Technology Centers' Network
http://www.ctcnet.org/
      CTCNet is a network of over 250 community technology centers striving to improve public access to computers and computer technologies. A contact list of centers is provided. CTCNet also has several useful on-line publications on community technology and equitable access.

Cyberangels
http://www.cyberangels.org/
      This non-profit organization bills itself as “Your cyber-neighborhood watch. We find and report illegal material on-line, educate families about on-line safely and how to enjoy cyberspace together...” Included are tips on how to deal with cyberstalkers, a discussion of blocking and filtering software, information about current laws and pending legislation, and advice for “newbies” on the Web. Cyberangels uses trained volunteers to monitor the Internet “...for child pornography, stalkers, child predators, groups advocating child abuse and pedophilia, hate and bigotry sites and scam artists.” The organization does not advocate censorship of adult use of the Internet. Materials are available in English, Spanish, French, and German.

Especially for Children and Their Parents
http://www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/children.html
      Another web resource prepared by ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom assists parents in establishing a safe Internet environment for their children by offering online safety rules and regulations and an explanation of online privacy protection. Children, parents, and educators can access search engines designed for kids and links to numerous approved web sites.

GetNetWise
http://www.getnetwise.org
      A project of the Internet Education Foundation to help families use the Internet safely and wisely.

ICONnect: Connecting Learners to Information
http://www.ala.org/ICONN/index.html
      This American Association of School Librarians (AASL) technology initiative encourages the use of the Internet for learning. They offer many on-line courses on navigating and searching the Web and have special pages for kids and parents.

The Librarian's Guide To Cyberspace for Parents & Kids
http://www.ala.org/Content/NavigationMenu/ALSC/Great_Web_Sites_for_Kids/Great_Web_Sites_for_Kids_Selection_Criteria/Great_Web_Sites_for_Kids_Selection_Criteria.htm       A wonderful guide for finding web sites for parents and children. It also has a good general introduction to the Internet and presents safety tips for parents who have children using the Web.

Libraries for the Future
http://www.lff.org/
      LFF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to information equity. Its site offers information on the ACCESS program, an educational, community-library collaboration that helps develop Family Place sites, Community and Economic Development Access sites, and Education Access sites in underserved communities.

Neighborhood Networks
http://www.hud.gov/nnw/nnwindex.html
      A U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development community-based initiative to develop computer learning resource centers in low-income neighborhoods. This site offers databases on the following: NN Coordinators; Geographic List of Centers; Property Database; Resources Database; and News and Conferences databases.

New York Institute for Special Education's (NYISE) Helping Hand to the Internet
http://www.nyise.org/education/index.html
      While this site is focused on special education, it has some very good general information on the Internet including safety issues, plug-ins and downloads, audio/multimedia features, and a page devoted to search engines.

The Review Zone
http://www.thereviewzone.com/
      This site offers extensive reviews of educational software programs for children and families. It features pages on Early Learning, Family Computing, and many others grouped by subject and/or intended audience.

Surfing the Net with Kids
http://www.surfnetkids.com/
      An abundance of super-nifty web sites for children, families, and instructors are
recommended by syndicated newspaper columnist, Barbara J. Feldman. She also contributes special weekly topics like alphabet fun, amusement park science, and virtual zoos, organizes a “this day in history” calendar, reviews products and games, and includes freebie sources.