CORE Education is delighted to be recognising international Safer Internet Day 2015 #SID2015, in support with NetSafe.
We present the following advice as starting points for early childhood, schools and kura who are planning ways to keep students safe online. Which of these is happening for your learners? Let us know on Twitter @coreeducation #SID2015.
Tip #1: Give respect, get respect
The Internet can be a powerful tool for connecting and working with others, both locally and globally.
- Find ways to collaborate and learn to work positively with others online.
- Teach our learners to manage their online reputations.
- Design learning that creates safe, meaningful opportunities to grow ideas responsibly with others online.
Tip #2: Walk the talk
Safe and responsible use of the Internet is normalised through the way we all behave together.
- Model critical thinking when using the Internet.
- Find real-life, positive ways to model the use of the web as part of our own learning.
- Guide others.
Tip #3: Open the door on dialogue
Rather than restricting access to the web or using fear-based messages, the best way to manage challenges online is to work them out together.
Effective prevention strategies emphasise approaches that actively involve discussing with students how they use digital technology, and more specifically, the challenges they experience online and how they keep safe. Teachers, students, peers, parents, family and whānau — we all have a role in this process. There are no quick fixes.
- Talk to our learners, children and colleagues about online activity, cybersafety behaviours.
- Lose the fear-based messages. Plan an approach that balances protective approaches, such as technical mediation of student online access, with strategies that promote safe, responsible and pro-social behaviours.
- Provide support when they meet challenges.
Tip #4: Use the right tools
Use the tools that come with all devices and platforms to restrict or monitor our information and identity online as part of an overall strategy to manage safe use online.
- Make sure we know how to manage our devices and the security systems that are in-built.
- Set up secure passwords and consider using software to manage them.
- Explore the use of Safe Search and student-friendly browsers.
Tip #5: Harness the power
Design experiences and learning opportunities that invite learners to pick up new skills safely and in meaningful contexts. Weave safety messages into the learning process. Make it part of learning plans before you set out with your students.
- Look for meaningful opportunities to connect with other people across the world. Other young people, whānau and wider communities can all be guides.
- Use social networks to foster conversations about issues that are relevant to students.
- Weave web tools through local inquiry – take action in our community
Download a poster of these tips (PDF, 1.2MB). See a copy of the poster at the end of this post.
If you liked this, you might also find these other cybersafety resources from CORE Education useful:
EdTalks on Cybersafety
- Sticks and Stones: Fighting cyberbullying: The Sticks 'n Stones project aims to support students to be Positive Digital Citizens, to help those affected by Cyber Bullying and to encourage everyone not to be bystanders.
- Te uru ipurangi:He kaupapa nui te uru ipurangi (digital citizenship) i roto i te ao hangarau e noho nei tātau. Ka kōreo mai a Wharehoka Wano mō te uru ipurangi i roto i te ao Māori nei. Hei tāna me whai wāhi ā tātou tikanga Māori i roto i ēnei mahi o te hangarau.
- Ten Trends 2013: Digital citizenship: Dr John Fenaughty, University of Auckland, suggests a shift towards using inquiry based learning to promote critical thinking and then applying that to understanding what digital citizenship would look like for students.
- Why research NZC students' online practices?: In this talk from ULearn11, Craig McDonald-Brown outlines why more New Zealand specific research is required into students' online practices.
Cybersafety on the CORE Education blog:
- Safe and sound? | Strategies for cybersafety
- Digital citizenship for adults (teachers, parents, whānau)
- Ten safe bets for school IT