Book clubs meet in the rooms in the basement, politics is debated on the front steps and teaching and learning occur in all areas of its physical structure. Besides being a medium where fact and fiction can be looked up and viewed, the Internet also provides endless communications opportunities. Chat rooms, discussion groups, and e-mail are just some of the ways people exchange ideas in this medium. However, it is in this communications side of the Internet where some real dangers lie. It is here where sexual predators and persons wishing harm on children find sometimes-easy prey.
Children unwittingly arrange meetings or give out personal information.
While many schools are launching programs to teach students about the dangers that lurk on their home computers, very few schools venture into the communications portions of the Internet for curricular reasons because of the obvious danger there. The curricular advantages of chat, discussion groups and e-mail are evident. Any time students can relate to other students or experts outside of the classroom, learning can happen. However, the dark side of the medium should give educators pause before they put students in peril by allowing them to interface, literally, with the whole world. Once more, managed Internet can help.