Parents Guide to the Internet

This U.S. Department of Education online brochure introduces parents to the Internet's use as an important educational tool. In addition to basic tips, you'll find suggestions for using the Internet for school projects and information about how the Internet can enrich the learning experiences of children with special needs. This site also includes Internet safety guidelines, an Internet glossary, and links to a number of fascinating Web sites that are designed with you and your children in mind.

 

The New York Times Learning Network

With its "Word of the Day" and crossword puzzles, this site provides vocabulary and spelling practice. In addition, you and your children can reflect on the past with daily historical facts, stay current with news summaries, and test your memory with current-events quizzes.

 

Awesome Library

This online library's more than 24,000 resources are carefully screened to be child-safe, current, and useful. Sites are organized for students, parents, teachers, and librarians. To search the library, click on a topic (or customize your own search) and then view a list of search results categorized by source, such as periodicals, discussion groups, or lists.

 

Britannica Encyclopedia

This is an invaluable site for Internet research. Not only does it contain the entire Encyclopaedia Britannica, it also has Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary and Online Thesaurus, the Britannica World Atlas, and interactive “Timelines.” Search by topics that include arts, science, travel, and technology. To avoid pop-ups and advertising use our paid subscription site which also includes a Spanish Language and lower level encyclopedias.. Britannica Encyclopedia See a media specialist for login and password.

 

U.S. Department of Education

The U.S. Department of Education Web site contains a wide array of resources including programs, services, publications, products, and information about obtaining student financial aid. Included are links to articles in the education headlines and sections titled “Especially for Students” and “Especially for Parents.”

 

Jump$tart Coalition

The Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy seeks to improve the personal financial literacy of young adults. Its purpose is to evaluate the financial literacy of young adults; develop, disseminate, and encourage the use of guidelines for grades K-12; and promote the teaching of personal finance. Its Web site provides a searchable database of educational materials for the K-12 age group.

 

The Mint

The Northwestern Mutual Foundation has partnered with the National Council on Economic Education (NCEE) to create The Mint.org. The site offers many resources, including “Tips for Parents,” “Ideas for Young Kids,” and a variety of interactive learning activities for teenagers.

 

Federal Trade Commission

The “Children’s Issues” page on the FTC site contains a wealth of resources including information about credit cards, children’s health, and protecting children’s privacy online. The “Consumer Information” page offers comprehensive guides about everything from buying a vehicle to protecting against identity theft.

Etiquette in Other Countries

CountryWatch: CountryWatch Youth Edition (Trial Subscription)
Username: mcps
Password: trials
(On the left side of the screen, select a country and then click on Etiquette)

ProQuest: CultureGrams
(Select World Edition, navigate to country of interest, select Customs and Courtesies: Greetings, Gestures, Visiting, Eating on left side of screen)

Library of Congress Portals to the World

 

GlobalEDGE

Web-portal to international business information maintained by the Center for International Business Education and Research at Michigan State University

 

Oanda Currency Converter

 

Currency Converter

 

International Chamber of Commerce

 

Bureau of Consular Affairs, US Dept of State

Information on travel safety abroad.

 

CIA World Factbook

Up-to-date facts about countries all over world can be found on this government sponsored site.

 

Grand Scam Challenge

 

Databases

	Facts.Com. Good news source on all topics of interest. Issues and Controversies is found here. Username and password availabe on EDLINE and in the Media Center.
	Gale Opposing Viewpoints Magazines, primary sources, and general overview articles. Username and password available on EDLINE and in the Media Center.
	Gale Student Resource Center Check out the Literature Seach in the Student Resource Center Gold. Username and password availabe on EDLINE and in the Media Center.
	SIRS Researcher Current events, U.S. government resources, arts and humanities, e-books, primary sources, and relevant Internet links.Username and password availabe on EDLINE and in the Media Center.

Websites (found in the Librarians' Internet Index)

Crimes of Persuasion
"In-depth fraud coverage" for a variety of crimes based on the art of conning people, such as pyramid schemes, telemarketing scams, bank fraud, investment scams, Internet fraud, fax and e-mail fraud, check kiting, chain letters, organized crime, the Nigerian Advanced Fee Fraud, money laundering, and more. Includes links to related sites. An online companion to a book of the same title.

Fraud & Scams on Snopes.com
Discussion of employment fraud in the form of secret shopper job postings. Describes how "reshipper" and "cashier's check" cons have been reworked into secret shopper pitches, as well as the traditional secret shopper con, in which individuals are defrauded in the "value of their payments for goods (training materials) or services (certificates or listing in databases of available secret shoppers)." Also provides tips for avoiding secret shopper scams. From Snopes.com.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
A collection of fact sheets on tax fraud topics, including corporate fraud, money laundering, abusive tax return preparers, nonfiler enforcement, employment tax, and other specific tax "schemes, scams and cons." Provides statistical data, examples of tax fraud cases, and information about tax fraud in industries and professions such as construction, automotive sales, and health care. From the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation unit.

Looks too Good to be True
This website contains background information and alerts about Internet scams and fraud, covering topics such as identity theft, hacking, phishing, spam, spyware, job scams, Ponzi and pyramid schemes, online auctions, sweepstakes and lotteries, and counterfeit payments. Includes a FAQ, victims' stories, a fraud risk test, and links to places to file a complaint about online fraud. A joint project of federal law enforcement agencies and industry partners.

Quatloos
"This website seeks to educate you about certain types of financial frauds, how these deals really work, and how you can manage your risk of financial fraud." Banking, insurance, tax, and off-shore, and multi-level marketing scams are discussed. Features documents related to tax protester cases, the Nigerian Scam, and the Omega Trust and Trading bank debenture scam. Also includes information on how to report suspected frauds.

Teen Consumer Scrapbook
This site is designed by teens, for teens, to help you become an educated consumer, as well as giving you somewhere to turn if you have questions or get ripped off. Offers information on tattoos, credit cards, return policies, health clubs, scholarship scams, car stereos, modeling agencies, music clubs, calling cards, and Internet scams. (Found in SIRS WebSelect.)

Work-at-Home Schemes
This site provides descriptions of common work-at-home scams and typical advertisements for these scams. Types of scams include assembly work at home, chain letters, envelope stuffing, multi-level marketing, online business, and processing medical insurance claims. Includes tips for avoiding fraud, signs of work-at-home scammers, and tips about what to do if you become a victim of a work-at-home scheme. From the Better Business Bureau (BBB).