Free Web Filtering for Schools
There are serious risks associated with unrestricted web browsing in schools, primarily ages 18 and under. This is because they can be radicalized, bullied, or access adult content such as pornography. This makes web filtering all the more important. To do this, you will need a web filtering software or a filtering add-on for browsers on all computers in the institution of learning.
School administrators have a duty to protect minors from harmful content over the net. Parents also have to check on what their children view on their smartphones and personal computers.
For schools that cannot manage to pay for premium web filter services, there are a couple of free web filtering services available in the market. These free web filtering services for schools also work well even though they are free.
Web filtering is crucial because the minds of kids are very fragile, and some things that happen online could be detrimental to them. For instance, if they are bullied, they could sink into depression, or worse, they can even decide to commit suicide. This review will look at free web filters in detail and how these filters work as well.
How web Filters Work
- Level one: The most controlled, it only allows access to the Whitelist and website categories such as Tutoring and Government.
- Level two: Comparable to level three, but it also blocks websites considered as gaming.
- Level three: The most communal setting, this level grants access to millions of websites, including games. However, websites like YouTube and Facebook are blocked.
- Level four: Basically, the same as level three, apart from allowing access to YouTube. social networking sites and ‘personal storage websites’ like Flickr, however, are not accessible at this level.
- Level five: Blogs and personal storage sites are accessible under this classification, as well as all content from every other level.
- Level six: This level allows students access to social networking websites and is the most open classification available.
Web Filtering Basics
Layout of The Room
The bodily design of the room can be vital here. A horseshoe design makes it easier for you to see what’s happening on their displays.
Supervising
Supervising kids using separate gadgets can be a tiring task. It might be a good idea to reserve the right to see apps in use on the gadget. You can do this by clicking the home button twice on an iPad for instance
Keep Records
It’s also an upright idea to keep a record of who uses each appliance, in case an occurrence comes by. It can simplify things if you allocate a scholar to a particular machine for some time.
Inspecting Browser History
We commend checking the browser history frequently to see what sites are being accessed. Kindly note inspecting the history varies between internet browsers. If you are besieged, open your preferred browser and see if you can find a video showing how to do it.
Network Logs
All internet activity is also documented in network log files. These files should be checked by a network superintendent for unfamiliar or worrying actions. You might want to access them if you have an incident to deal with. Reviewing the record files can be a complicated task and might require some knowledge of the procedural aspects of your network.
Utilizing Online Content
The key to victory when using online content, such as videos or articles, in your training is preparation. Whenever probable, check the content that you are planning to use in the classroom beforehand. See if the website is accessible through the school’s content sifting system, and check the suitability of both the immediate content and the adjacent content. Usually, online audiovisual clips are surrounded by links and adverts; some of these might target an adult audience.
Remember, many amenities will display ads and endorse other content based on information they have collected about browsing behaviors on the machine you are using. This can be tricky or embarrassing but can be dodged by checking content in advance on the gadget you plan to use in class. You should be tremendously alert if you are using a private device not supplied by your school. In the case of clips, you could consider inserting clips on a web page. Where possible, you could get the content in advance and use it offline. This way, you also avoid potential mechanical issues.
Internet Safety Tips
Talk About Internet Safety with Students
Have a chat with your students on some of the crucial things to watch out for when going online for the first time. Small kids will not be alert of the dangers, so it is very critical to talk about who they speak with online and about sharing personal information online.
Activate Safe Search
Help minimize the risk of students coming across unsuitable content in response to search inquiries by initiating a safe search in your search engine.
Play it Safe
For young children, teachers should choose safe and appropriate games for the child to play online. Most, if not all games should have a PEGI rating to check if they are age-appropriate, teachers should also check if a game permits player communication and if there is a secure chat mode.
Disable In-App Purchases
Many applications and games offer in-app purchases giving users extra game functionality, extra points, and or bonuses that kids can easily purchase without even realizing. You can put it off in-app purchases in your device settings.
Decide on What to Do When Things Go Wrong
It is recommended that you discuss with kids about what to do if they come across something on the internet that irks them. This could involve closing the laptop lid or turning off the screen and beginning to get you.
Conclusion
To sum it all up, web filtering services whether free or paid, are very crucial at institutions of learning and also at home as we have discussed above. It’s a call to parents and teachers to ensure minors are safe from the harsh environment online.