Understanding I-Kids

"Settles' book gives solid advice to digital immigrants (parents) on how to understand and monitor digital natives (kids). Her insights help allay parents' fears, navigate the complexities, and refocus on the positive aspects of the virtual world."-Dr. Stephen Sroka, president, Health Education Consultants"Doris Settles' keynote address at the 2008 At-Risk Youth National Forum in Myrtle Beach hit the ball out of the park! I'd love to find a way to mandate that every conference participant attend her session."-Linda Shirley, National Dropout Prevention Center, Clemson UniversityThe Internet does not exist in a vacuum-it is developed and inhabited by human beings. And as human beings, we have both a physical and a virtual presence that are increasingly becoming one. Before merging these two realms, parents must first consider lessons from the physical world and then apply them to the virtual world. This will allow adults to recognize the similarities and the differences between the two, while enabling them to create guidelines for their children. Understanding i-Kids serves as a manual for parents to help demystify the digital society and guide their youth toward healthy relationships, in both the online and face-to-face world. The book goes beyond a discussion about Internet safety and delves into real information, cultural realities, and successful strategies for parents to become mentors and role models.A technology enthusiast, Doris Settles speaks about this subject, along with other human-interest topics, for local and national organizations. She has taught at secondary and higher education levels, incorporating technology into her teaching, adding components as new technology surfaced, and continuing to look at ways technology improves instruction. She developed and taught the first virtual freshman composition sequence at the University of Kentucky and has consulted with secondary and higher education faculty to incorporate best practices into instruction. Settles holds degrees in English, journalism, and instructional design. She lives in Lexington, Kentucky.