CyberSafe Classroom
Learning with the internet
The internet offers enormous potential benefits for teaching and learning. Newer technologies offer great opportunities for students and teachers to contribute to the web. Blogs, personal spaces such as MySpace and instant messaging tools such as Messenger are now part of student's 'life on the web'. Students can:
- explore the world online
- visit museums and libraries around the world
- access rich information resources to support research and investigations
- communicate and collaborate with people all over the world
- publish to the web
The role of schools
Schools have an important role in preparing students for these 'online communities', even though students may not access some online communities at school (eg MySpace).
It is essential that teachers make the safe and ethical behaviours incorporated in to their Student Code of Conduct part of any lesson using the internet. It may also be necessary to follow up online issues, including those that have occurred outside of school.
Being involved in online spaces requires students to behave responsibly - for themselves and others. This includes:
- the language they use and the things they say
- how they treat others
- respecting peoples property (eg copyright)
- visiting appropriate places
What does it mean to be safe online?
Behaving safely online means:
- protecting their own privacy and personal information (we used to call it stranger danger)
- selecting appropriate spaces to work and contribute
- protecting the privacy of others (this can be sharing personal information or images)
- being proactive in letting someone know if there is something is 'not quite right'. At home this would be a parent or guardian, at school a teacher.
These principles of safety and responsibility are not specific for the web but certainly apply to the use of internet at home and school. Just as in the real world, the virtual world of the internet involves some risks. Schools need positive strategies that help to minimise these risks.