Wednesday, March 13, 2024
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Serving Kosciusko County and parts of Elkhart, Marshall & Noble Counties Know Your Neighbor. . . . . 2➤ Nappanee Area News . . . 6 Business Honor Roll . . . . . . . .8-11 Vol. 53, No. 38
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When it comes to DIGITAL SAFETY, SAFETY, it’s important to be kind online By LAUREN ZEUGNER Editor Someone once said those born in Generation X were digital refugees, while those born after were digital pioneers. Those in their early to mid-50s experienced the start of the digital age, when there might be one laptop computer for an entire grade to use. For Generation X, they’ve come a long way from the start of email. Now there is a plethora of social media platforms allowing each of us to keep in touch with each other. But as with all new inventions, social media does come with its own warnings. Not everyone on the web is a nice person. Parents may struggle to stay up to date on what’s new in social media apps so they can keep their kids safe. To help parents, Kos-
ciusko Connect just released an educational activity book aimed at fostering digital literacy for kids in elementary school, while promoting safe and responsible internet activity. Haley Donahue, customer engagement specialist at KREMC, designed the activity book. It contains coloring pages, puzzles, and educational activities featuring three charming characters, Splice, Core and Speedy. “When I did a deep dive, there was a lot (of information),” Donahue said. She spent about two weeks working on the activity book. “People have gotten really good at embedding things (into apps) that aren’t OK,” she said. Andrea Melton, marketing and communications specialist for KREMC, said when she joined the utility, she was surprised at the type of cyber-attacks that were possible, including gaining access to a home’s security system and even using its microphones to speak to whoever was in the home. “There are ways to prevent that and protect yourself,” Melton said. For its customers, KREMC has Guardian Protection which protects customers’ networks. KREMC customers, who are parents
or have children, can also download a Kosciusko Connect app which allows provides parental controls. NOW AVAILAB LE — Koscius “The main thing I an activity bo ko Connect re ok for kids on cently publishe focused on was being how to be safe is Haley Donah d on ue internet. Show , cu st omer engagem kind on the internet; book together n en t sp ec . On her shou ialist, who put lder is Splice, not being an online from the book one of the char the . acters bully,” said Donahue, Future plans who also focused book and poss for the book are to turn it in to a more in-d ibly an animat ep on online safety as ed feature. Ph ciusko Conne oto provided by th ct. Koswell as providing information on how fiber-optic Internet worked. Donahue stressed parents don’t necessarily have to be tech savvy, but they do need to keep the lines of communication open with their kids. Melton suggested parents read the reviews of an app a child may be interested in, before downloading it. KREMC customers can also check a weekly online blog the company publishes for more information. While she worked on the book, Donahue, who is also a youth group leader for her church, Living Hope, had memEXPLAINING HER PROCESS — Haley Donahue, customer bers of her youth group review engagement specialist with KREMC, explains how she designed and critique the activity book. an activity book on digital safety. On the left is the finished prodIt was members of the youth uct. On the right is her first draft. The little croqueted Splice was group which recommended made by one of the teens in her church youth group. Photo by stressing being kind online. Lauren Zeugner. One thing that surprised Donahue’s youth group was what they learned about digital footways wanted to do art as a career, Speedy, the three characters in prints; essentially what’s on the she just wasn’t sure how to do it. the activity book, and possibly an Internet is there forever. Through this project, she’s real- animated feature. For her part, Doized graphic design is where she The activity book is nahue has wants to go. available at KREMC, a l Future plans include doing a 370 S. CR 250E, book featuring Splice, Core and Warsaw.