Cyber+Safety

This page provides information, links and resources to assist: ** **Why the internet is essential in education**
 * || **This Page is Dedicated to Exploring Cyber Safety.** Schools need to do all that they can to keep kids safe online at school. You can use internet filters, have cyber safe policies, teach lessons on staying safe, and educate the wider community about what they can be doing at home to keep our kids cyber safe. **
 * Schools as they develop cyber protocols and policies
 * Teachers in establishing cyber safety in their class
 * In consultation with parents and the wider community
 * Students in the development of their cyber safety awarenes ||
 * Free resources! Saves planning time for teachers.
 * All the information you could ever want at your finger tips.
 * Connects their classroom to the world.
 * It allows students to learn by doing. It presents them with real life situations.
 * It can bring schools and communities closer together. Blogs and Wikis create a portal between the classroom and home. Parents don’t have to visit the school to keep in touch with what their child is learning about.
 * The internet helps celebrate student success and achievement with the rest of the world. The students have a wider audience (not just their teacher).
 * The New Zealand Curriculum requires teachers to make learning meaningful and relevant not only locally but globally.
 * It ENGAGES and MOTIVATES students.
 * Today’s students are “digital natives” We cannot expect to teach them using 20th Century methods. They are 21st Century learners, we need to teach them with 21st Century tools.

**Why internet education is important**
 * Young people are likely to come across a range of different material when exploring the internet. While a lot of this material will be fun, educational or informative, some of the content they view or post may be upsetting or cause them distress, or distress to others.
 * Internet safety and eduction is important because no software or internet filter is 100% reliable.
 * It is not about banning a student from the internet, it is about educating them on staying safe and appropriate when online, no matter what the situation.
 * Some offensive material could inevitably slip through filters. Technology shouldn't be a babysitter and considered the solution. It's a tool available to help knowledgeable parents enforce their choices, nothing more. It's not a magic wand.

**What schools should be doing to keep students safe**
 * All schools will have an internet or Cyber Safety policy.
 * The policies will contain guidelines that will be reviewed by the BOT.
 * The policies will have a set of rules for students and teachers.
 * Policies that have a permission form that parents and students must sign in order to be allowed access at school and include clear rules for posting of student photos.
 * Policies will vary from school to school. However experience shows there is one overriding rule that is used in all Primary/Intermediate schools in NZ. SUPERVISION: Students cannot use the Internet without a teacher in the room.

**What should teachers be doing?**
 * Have a sound reason for using the internet. Ensure the benefits far outweigh the risks so you can justify its use if challenged.
 * Commit yourself to learning the ‘ins and outs’ of how your wiki/blog works. Before you open it up to students, be aware of ways you can administer and monitor your site.
 * Involve students in the process of setting up your wiki/blog - educate rather than avoid the issues that could arise.
 * Have clear boundaries within your classroom in regards to what is appropriate on your wiki/blog.
 * Avoid posting photos with full names on wikis/blogs.
 * If in any doubt, leave photos off altogether- just publish work.
 * If you’re uncertain about student participation, use a wiki/blog purely as a communicative tool between school and home. e.g homework, newsletters, term calendar, etc.
 * Post as much of your students work online as possible! Its a great way for students to share their work with family and friends.

**Web Sites Links for Development of Policies and Protocols** NetSafe provides reactive and proactive cyber safety services to New Zealand schools and ECE Services. Click on the ECE link for more information. || The purpose of this document is to assist schools in developing a policy for the online publication of student images and schoolwork. || The NetSafe Kit for schools sets out a comprehensive programme of cyber safety for schools based upon three core components: The kit is the cornerstone in establishing and maintaining a cyber safe school. Click on the image below to access it || Cybersmart also offers training and resources for [|schools] and materials for [|library staff]. Developed by the [|Australian Communications and Media Authority], Cybersmart is part of the Australian Government’s cybersafety program. || Cybercitizenship education is best integrated across the entire curriculum, and NetSafe's Grid provides a guide for educators to help you achieve this. The Grid provides a progression of cybercitizenship attributes, appropriate learning objectives, suggested activities and recommended resources from ECE through to Year 13. ||
 * || **The official NZ website for Cyber Safety in schools and at home.**
 * || **Ministry Guidelines for publishing student images and work.**
 * || ** The NetSafe Kit for schools **
 * An infrastructure of policies, procedures and use agreements
 * An effective electronic security system
 * A comprehensive cyber safety education programme
 * || **Cybersmart** is an Australian based Cyber Safety site that provides activities, resources and practical advice to help [|young kids], [|kids], [|teens] and [|parents] safely enjoy the online world.
 * Teacher Information and Resources?**
 * Some links to teaching and learning resources.
 * || **Cybercitizens Manage their use of ICT with integrity and Confidence.**
 * || **The official NZ website for Cyber Safety in schools and at home.**

A school cyber safety programme needs to keep up to date with the activities and challenges in the online environment and provide adequate resources for learning about cybercitizenship.

Explore the wide range of links in this site, and through the external resources, to learn aboutand explore a variety of resources available. || Watch these NetBasics episodes to see how the Jones Family fare against the nastiest stuff that the internet has to offer. || Here, Hector and his friends learn about ICT (information and communication technology) and how to become confident and responsible digital citizens. || The Adventure of the Three CyberPigs teach children how to surf safely on the Net, and particularly how to spot and navigate around Internet marketing ploys and exploreing the world of online chatrooms. ||
 * || **Net Basics Episodes**
 * || ** Hector's World of Learning and Cyber Safety **
 * || **Exploring Cyber Safety With the Cyberpigs**

**Parent Information and Resources?** An eTime handout for parents to help ensure cyber safety at home. NetSafe’s Contact Centre frequently receives calls from concerned parents and caregivers who are wondering how best to help their child online. This site provides parents with tips and resources to help address these concerns. || There are lots of "rules" on how kids (and parents) can use the Internet... but the most important rule is that kids and parents agree to a set of criteria.
 * Internet safety at home is a major concern for parents
 * Keeping children safe online should be a top priority when allowing access to the internet
 * Educate your children about the dangers and why we have specific rules is more effective than just try and block everything
 * || **Cyber Safety at Home Handout**
 * Why the internet is indispensable in education?
 * Why internet safety is important?
 * What your schools are doing to keep your children safe.
 * What are the risks at home?
 * What can you do at home to keep your children safe? ||
 * || ** NetSafe for parents and caregivers **
 * || ** NetSafe for parents and caregivers **
 * || ** Templates for family internet safety contracts **

SafeKids.com also explores

 * Child Safe Search
 * Child Safety on the Information Highway
 * Facebook privacy tools
 * Family Contract for Online Safety
 * Online Safety Quiz
 * Safe Kids Song ||
 * || An American site on internet Safety, some great tips for kids, teens and adults.

SafeTeens.com provides tools for families on

 * Teen Safety on the Info Highway
 * Guidelines for Parents of Teens
 * Social Networking Tips for Teens
 * Tips to Stop Cyberbullying
 * Cell Phone Safety Tips
 * Teen Sexting Tips ||

A BIG thanks to the team at etime for their contribution to this page :)