Internet Safe… Lasagna, Not So Much

Lasagna or internet safety. Which do you think world-famous feline Garfield knows more about? From what I’ve seen online, I’d have to say it’s a tie. "Internet Safety and You" is a collaborative venture between the Virginia Department of Education, the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia, and the Professor Garfield Foundation. Yes, that’s right, the Professor Garfield Foundation. Just how did Garfield become Professor Garfield? Take a look…

Professor Garfield origin story

The resulting website is an interactive learning experience that takes Garfield and his friends through a series of animated adventures. Topics covered include online safety, cyber bullying, and media literacy.

::sidebar:: The media literacy piece is especially ironic, as the “Online Safety” lesson also serves as an advertising vehicle for the movie Garfield’s Pet Force.

In spite of my sidebar, I think this is a wonderful way to help engage students in a very important topic. The animation is colorful, the characters are fun, and the stories are engaging. The information provided is excellent. Lessons allow multiple opportunities to answer questions and reinforce learning. Print materials like a classroom poster and certificate of completion for each student are, as Garfield would say, a “nice touch.”

For more information:

"Internet Safety and You"

The Professor Garfield Foundation