Rutland City Public schools hosted TECHNICOOL – PARENTS’ NIGHT, a Technology Safety Program presented by Prevent Child Abuse Vermont on Wednesday, April 21^st at 6:30 pm in the Rutland Intermediate School Auditorium.

Designed for parents, teachers and caregivers of Vermont children and teens, Technicool looks at common concerns surrounding the internet and technology.  This program encourages safe online behavior by addressing the risks inherent to these powerful new technologies and provides participants with resources to protect themselves.

Stories about the dangers of these technologies have dominated headlines in recent years.  Through presentations, case studies and activities, Technicool helps participants to separate hype from reality and suggests simple steps to minimize risks.

Some of the topics addressed include:

• Cyber-bullying and Online Predators
• Social Networking Sites (MySpace and Facebook)
• E-mail and Instant Messaging
• Blogging and Chatting
• Cell Phones and Text Messaging
• Photo and Video Sharing
• Online Gaming
• And many more!