Cyber Safety

With the increase in technology, students are exposed to the World Wide Web at a young age. In some ways this is a massive advantage. They are able to experience many things, including photos from around the world, and numerous education games, to help with every subject such as maths and English. There are also many disadvantages about this. These include the threat of predators, social media, inappropriate advertising and inappropriate websites all together. It is expected that children use the internet to complete assignments, at school and after school hours. This can include a protected school computer, in which inappropriate websites have been blocked, or a private computer in which students need education on how to be cyber safe. As cyber safety in itself is not explicitly taught, resources have been provided to assist in educating parents and students about the dangers of the internet.

What does the school do?

The school monitors all student activity online, which allows protection of the students confidentiality to the rest of the world. The school has also blocked websites which stops the students from moving off task, and searching inappropriate websites. The school recommends that parents use a similar parental lock on websites on their home computer, and closely monitor your child’s activity while on the computer.

At school we encourage students to use websites that only include .edu or .gov or .org. We also ask that students do not use and websites that ask them to provide private information such as their full name, age, sex, address or anything that can be used to identify themselves such as hair or eye colour. There will not be specific lessons on cyber safety within each classroom, however during some units, when appropriate, working safely online will be addressed. Students will be directed to the Cybersmartand Budd:e website.

What can my child and I do?

Students will need to demonstrate safe use of technology. This includes acknowledging authors and sources, keeping safe by not giving out personal information, keeping passwords safe and difficult to guess and choosing appropriate and trusted websites to view.

Students can learn about how to be cyber safe by looking at the Budd:eand Cybersmart websites.

As a parent it is important to display safe, ethical and responsible use of ICT. This can be by acknowledging authors and sources, keeping difficult passwords, and teaching them how to look for trusted websites.

How does this fit within the curriculum?

How does this fit with the curriculum?

A key component in the general capabilities in the ACARAcurriculum is Information and Communication Technology. The element Applying social and ethical protocols and practices when using ICT is an important part of ICT. There are four main points within this which are:

• recognise intellectual property

• apply digital information security practices

• apply personal security protocols

• identify the impacts of ICT in society

Each of these can be covered across the different areas of the curriculum. More detailed information can be found on the ACARAwebsite.

The AITSIL professional teaching standards show that a graduate teacher will implement teaching strategies for using ICT to expand curriculum learning opportunities for students. This shows that teachers must use ICT throughout their teaching, integrating into other subjects.

How does it fit into lessons?

There are numerous assignments that students can participate in that involve using the internet. These include producing a blog or a prezi showcasing their latest English assignment, or as a way to present their history homework. The internet is not only used for research but also fits into the assessment of students work. These are a few reasons it is important for students to know about cyber safety.

Online Resources!

Safe:

The cybersmart website also has great activities for children to do. It also has information for parents, schools and families on how they can be cybersmart. There are videos, activities and worksheets that are informative for everyone.

The Novemberlearning is an educational resource for web literacy. Along with useful information, this resource teaches children how to use the internet safely.

Ethical:

Creative Commons is used for students to produce ethical work. Creative Commons provides copyright licences, to tell others how they can legally share your work.

Responsible:

The Budd:e website is great for primary children to play around with. they create a robot which teaches them to have fun on the internet, but warns them of how they can get into trouble.

References

References

Aitsl.edu.au, (2014). Australian Professional Standards for Teachers | Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership. [online] Available at: http://www.aitsl.edu.au/australian-professional-standards-for-teachers [Accessed 19 Sep. 2014].
Australiancurriculum.edu.au, (2014). The Australian Curriculum v7.1 Information and Communication Technology (ICT) capability - Organising elements. [online] Available at: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/GeneralCapabilities/Information-and-Communication-Technology-capability/Organising-elements/Organising-elements [Accessed 19 Sep. 2014].
Budd-e.staysmartonline.gov.au, (2014). Budd:e Cybersecurity Education - Primary. [online] Available at: https://budd-e.staysmartonline.gov.au/primary/main.php [Accessed 19 Sep. 2014].
Creative Commons Australia, (2014). Creative Commons Australia. [online] Available at: http://creativecommons.org.au/ [Accessed 19 Sep. 2014].
Cybersmart.gov.au, (2014). Cybersmart - Internet and mobile safety advice and activities: Cybersmart. [online] Available at: http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/ [Accessed 19 Sep. 2014].


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