Week 3 - Staying Safe Online

Having taught a couple of lessons on how to search the internet during my first practicum I was particularly interested in the issues raised in this week's Technology lecture. I used Google as the basis for my lessons, but I would definitely opt for a more child friendly search engine in the future. The Education Department's search engine, for example, seems like a good option for primary students, particularly as all the content has been carefully vetted. There are also some other options listed at GetNetWise, although none of them seem as child friendly as the Education Department's version.


I also took a look at the resources for teaching students about online safety and I felt that the Cybersmart website had the most potential for use in a primary classroom. The Hector's World clips, for example, could be used as the basis for whole class teaching to allow students to engage with the various issues without scaring them off. There are also some other useful clips on this site that address other issues such as online dos and don't and spending too much time on the computer that could also be used to teach students how to behave safely and responsibly online.


While on practicum I was introduced to the Superclubs Plus website; a safe social learning network site for children aged 6 to 12. Students use the site to learn about social networking without being exposed to the potential dangers associated with sites such as Facebook and MySpace. Students get points for what they learn, for example they can get a point for building their home page, sending their first email, posting on a discussion forum, etc. When they accrue enough points they then gain a Star Award. These awards cover a whole range of topics including Internet Safety in a way that engages students and encourages them to learn. I can see this being a really effective teaching tool and well worth the $4.50 per student yearly subscription.