Every discussion about kids and the internet is never without reference to online safety. There is little doubt that the Internet is becoming an essential part of everyone's lives, and the many ways it is being used in education serve to supplement more conventional teaching strategies and improve student interaction and learning. The latest online fraud, virus outbreak, inappropriate content being hosted on well-known websites, or children at risk from pedophiles using social networking, it seems, make headline news every other week.
The main challenge is finding a good balance between providing young kids with a safe surfing environment and not being too restrictive so as to lessen the advantages to be gained. This entails supplying them with the knowledge and abilities they require in order to take advantage of the opportunities that the digital era of today offers and to be able to manage any hazards that may occur.
Although technology undoubtedly plays a significant role in safe browsing, these top 5 internet safety guidelines offer advise on training and educating those who supervise children's web browsing.
Tip 1: Educate children and teenagers
It is obvious that restricting access to the Internet in schools does not effectively keep kids and teenagers safe. The necessary skills, knowledge, and confidence must be given to children and young people in order for them to be able to understand the risks associated with using the Internet and the content they discover and share online. Visit here for more information https://getmoreprivacy.com.
Although many social networking providers have taken steps over the past 12 months to minimize dangers and educate young people, others still believe that sites like Facebook and Bebo are the main source of risk and danger for teenagers.
Education providers must integrate online safety into the curriculum, offering formal instruction on the subject and illustrations of responsible Internet usage in action. With the appropriate tools at their disposal, providers should also create a Student Internet Acceptable Usage Policy and instruct their pupils on its contents. Time-based regulations could also be a possibility, allowing access to specific websites that are not relevant to the curriculum, like Facebook and gaming websites, only during lesson breaks. Statistics are necessary for Education Providers to handle any violations of this policy and deny access to offenders. Regular updates and training are required for this procedure in order to raise awareness, promote positive behavior, and resolve problem areas.
Tip 2: Educator preparation programs and teacher certification
The Internet is now a component of the curriculum and the learning environment in schools, thus it is important for instructors to be aware of the risks that children and teenagers may face online.
To ensure that instructors have the knowledge and abilities to cope with online safety, digital safety training is now required for all teachers, and it is part of the ICT test for newly qualified teachers.
Ofsted advises that all staff members, not just teachers, share responsibility for digital safety at schools where it is provided in an exceptional manner. Education providers must make sure that all staff members have access to guidance on digital safety, such Becta's self-review framework or the Glow Group's best practice on child Internet safety for teachers. Moreover, systematic ongoing monitoring should be implemented, and staff members should receive training on the student Acceptable Usage Policy so they can see and report questionable behavior.
Step 3: Provide parents with training
The statistics at the beginning of this guide, which show that 23% of parents in the UK permit children under 11 to access the Internet without supervision at home and that 51% of teenagers in Europe say they use the Internet without parental supervision, may highlight the fact that some parents are unaware of the potential risks of the Internet or lack confidence in their ability to use and comprehend new technology, even technology that is essential to enabling children.
Education providers should start educate parents and caregivers on the importance of supervising their children's online activities and sharing the tools available, like Childnet's Know IT All for Parents, Think U Know, and MyGuide. Additionally, they ought to emphasize their own e-safety policies and explain how they handle issues like cyberbullying and the improper use of personal property after school hours. A smart method for parents to learn what the school is doing to keep their children safe online and what they could use in their own home is to share their Student Acceptable Usage Policy and even allow parents to co-sign it with their children.
Use current internet safety education resources, tip #4
Only when high-quality materials, tools, and training are provided for teachers and schools can the integration of digital safety in the curriculum be successful.
Education providers should use resources to support young people's internet safety while they are in school. Think U Know, Teachtoday, Digital literacy and e-safety, TeachersTV, and Know IT All For Primary and Secondary are a few examples. UKCCIS, the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA), Becta, Childnet, and the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Center are all accountable for creating these materials (CEOP).
Five: Strengthening the digital code
Children and young people need to be aware of the risks in the internet environment and how to handle those risks, the government acknowledges.
The UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) launched its "Zip It, Block It, Flag It" digital code campaign in 2010, and it was publicized in print, online, on television, radio, and in posters placed in public spaces close to schools. Another illustration is the "Click Smart, Click Safe" campaign, which serves as the mainstay of the approach to instruct and educate kids, teens, parents, and caregivers on how to be safe online. Such public awareness initiatives should be utilized by education providers in their continuous Internet access training programs for their pupils.
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