Canvas has updated the process for the creation of parent accounts in Canvas. These accounts allow parents to have an obesrver role in their student's Canvas courses. Follow these directions to keep an eye on your child's learning. 

Parents, teachers, and students can use Canvas on the go with their mobile apps. Although some features still work best in the online interface, these apps make it much easier to receive messages and announcements, check feedback and assessment results, and complete some tasks. Detailed information is at https://canvas.instructure.com/courses/1045977/pages/canvas-apps . If it prompts you for a URL, use ours - tuscaloosa.instructure.com. 

Digital Age Parenting

• Digital devices are amazing, expensive windows to the world - in all of its lightness and darkness.
• Our children must learn to navigate this world. Parents must help them do that independently and well. We must remember that the bad things, the things we worry about, come from the choices we make when using devices.
• These videos are an excellent introduction to the role of technology in the lives of children.
• Kids and Tech: The New Landscape (K-5)
• Teens and Tech: The New Landscape (6-12)
• TCS is working hard to prepare students for success in the future and all of the digital skills and experiences needed for that. We use Common Sense Media’s educational materials to teach digital citizenship K-12. The topics include cyberbullying, digital footprints, privacy, and information literacy.
• One area of concern is the apps children use and how they use them. There is a great deal of information available about specific apps and the issues associated with them. Parents should be aware that some apps allow children to connect with strangers, allow communication that is anonymous, and allow users to hide other activities and materials. Parents should also attend to the age restrictions on many social media apps. We recommend that parents review and approve all apps before their children use them.
• Parents should be reminded that most gaming systems are connected to the internet and can allow children to connect with strangers.
• Here are our specific suggestions for families:

1. Set and know the password on your child’s phone (and other devices)
2. Set the parental controls built into phones
3. Be a part of your child’s digital life
1. Consider shared social media accounts
2. Follow each other on social media
3. Game together
4. Make creative products
4. Establish, Articulate, and Reinforce Expectations for
1. The rights and responsibilities of each family member
2. Device use at meals, in bedrooms, times of day, etc.
3. Use of social media, live video, etc.
4. Connecting with strangers online
5. Challenges of feeling included or excluded on social media
6. Netiquette
7. What information should be kept private
8. Use and types of games
9. What to do when something seems wrong, hurtful, dangerous, etc.

• Resources

• Common Sense Media for Parents https://www.commonsensemedia.org/
• Common Sense Media Latino https://www.commonsensemedia.org/video/espanol#
• Apps to watch for https://safesmartsocial.com/app-guide-parents-teachers/  
• Set restrictions on phones https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201304 and http://www.geeksquad.co.uk/articles/set-up-parental-controls-android
• AAP Guidance http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/138/5/e20162593
• TCS Instructional Technology Web Page http://www.tuscaloosacityschools.com/Page/1321
• Guard Child - http://www.guardchild.com/
• Netsmartz - http://netsmarz.org/
• Device Free Dinners https://www.commonsensemedia.org/device-free-dinner
• Parental Controls - https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0029-parental-controls