The Importance of e-Safety
The
development and expansion of the use of ICT / computing, and particularly of
the internet, has transformed learning in schools. Children and young people
will need to develop high level ICT /
computing skills, not only to maximise their potential use as a learning tool,
but also to prepare themselves as lifelong learners and for future employment.
Therefore, education
of safety online is a crucial aspect of IT education. It is important to promote
appropriate use of the internet, and make children aware of the potential
dangers so that they can remain safe online, now and in the future.
There a variety of child-activated safety tools used by schools as a means to keep pupils safe whilst studying online. ‘Hector's World Safety Button’ was the program used at my GPP Placement. Hector is a cartoon dolphin that remains on screen while pupil uses the Internet. I, like the Year 1 class I was observing, learned that children can click on Hector the dolphin whenever they come across something online that may upset or worries them. Fortunately, during my time in school, I never saw any children use this button.
The above example is one of numerous child-friendly ways in which safety precautions must be put in place on school computers. In this modern era, research is conducted just as frequently on a computer or tablet device as in a book. It is the responsibility of schools to ensure that rigorous e-safety precautions are in place to keep the young pupils safe from external Internet users or websites with inappropriate content. During the second week of February 2015 was "Safer Internet Day", an excellent example as to how to make pupils aware of the importance of e-safety during school time. Safer Internet Day provided pupils with tthe opportunity to learn about the potential dangers of using the Internet, including the need to prevent cyber-bullying. For more information, see the attached link below.
Yet, to conclude, both the pupils and the teachers must be well aware of these e-safety measures, that will vary from school to school, preferably they should be easy to use and readily accessible. Having said that, schools must ensure that the pupils are equally secure at home on their computers as at school.
There a variety of child-activated safety tools used by schools as a means to keep pupils safe whilst studying online. ‘Hector's World Safety Button’ was the program used at my GPP Placement. Hector is a cartoon dolphin that remains on screen while pupil uses the Internet. I, like the Year 1 class I was observing, learned that children can click on Hector the dolphin whenever they come across something online that may upset or worries them. Fortunately, during my time in school, I never saw any children use this button.
The above example is one of numerous child-friendly ways in which safety precautions must be put in place on school computers. In this modern era, research is conducted just as frequently on a computer or tablet device as in a book. It is the responsibility of schools to ensure that rigorous e-safety precautions are in place to keep the young pupils safe from external Internet users or websites with inappropriate content. During the second week of February 2015 was "Safer Internet Day", an excellent example as to how to make pupils aware of the importance of e-safety during school time. Safer Internet Day provided pupils with tthe opportunity to learn about the potential dangers of using the Internet, including the need to prevent cyber-bullying. For more information, see the attached link below.
Yet, to conclude, both the pupils and the teachers must be well aware of these e-safety measures, that will vary from school to school, preferably they should be easy to use and readily accessible. Having said that, schools must ensure that the pupils are equally secure at home on their computers as at school.
Safer Internet Day: http://www.saferinternet.org.uk/safer-internet-day/2015