Fisk-Memo36

Dear Dr. Jon Hunter,

My name is Nathan Fisk, you may recall my participation in both the Rochester Cyber Safety & Ethics Survey and subsequent 2007 Fairport Cybersecurity Workshop with Dr. Samuel McQuade. I am currently writing to reintroduce myself, and to request your support and participation in an upcoming research project on youth Internet safety issues which I have tentatively scheduled to begin in the Spring of 2010. Ideally, I would like to interview you in addition to a small sample of faculty members and students on the topics of computer use and Internet safety in the Fairport schools.

This research project will provide the basis for my dissertation work, developed for the completion of a degree in Science and Technology Studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The focus of this dissertation research is on the development and experience of youth Internet safety policy and measures. This work will build off of the previous work done by the RRCSEI project in an effort to “fill in the gaps” which the survey project was unable to address, providing a clearer picture of youth culture and Internet use.

The Fairport Central School District provides an ideal site of research for a variety of reasons. Fairport has placed a heavy emphasis on providing their students with “21st Century Skills,” leveraging information technologies and new media throughout the curriculum. Moving towards this goal, the district has emphasized the safety of students in this effort, making a strong push towards developing Internet security policy and awareness programs for students, parents and faculty. Additionally, any data gathered from Fairport will complement and strengthen the existing data gathered by the past RRCSEI survey, in addition to providing an interesting basis for comparison.

At the close of my research, I will formulate the results into a series of workshops, aimed at providing those who work closely with students a better understanding of how information technologies allow youth to produce and reproduce their own culture, and how that process often can play out in seemingly harmful or criminal ways.

Ultimately, I hope that you will give this matter serious consideration. My research project will be far less intrusive in scope than the RRCSEI project, requiring minimal time and effort on behalf of your faculty and staff, in addition to providing a number of workshops and training material for parents and staff. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any further questions or comments. Regardless of your decision, I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Nathan W. Fisk