PRESENTATION ON INTERNET PROFICIENCY SCHEME INTERNET SAFETY AT SCHOOL AND IN THE HOME Produced by Childnet International. Copyright 2003

WELCOME INTRODUCTIONS WHY WE ARE HERE ?

THIS PRESENTATION WILL COVER: Part I Why is the issue of Internet safety so important ? Part II Why schools take their role seriously Part III The IP scheme + how children will use it Part V How parents can play their part QUESTIONS

A bit about you…. How many of you have Internet access at home ? What sort of things do your children like doing on the Internet ? What sort of concerns do you have about your childrens use of the Internet ?

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT ? The Internet is a wonderful resource for children which puts the world in their hands, allowing them to discover, connect + create. PART I When we look at this issue of Internet safety we need to keep the issue in context and have a balanced view, remembering the overall tremendous benefits that the medium bring to children.

? WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT ? PART I Whilst there are enormous benefits for children using the Internet at home and at school there are potential dangers for children using the net unsupervised. These can broadly be grouped into 3 C s: 1) WHAT ARE THE DANGERS ? ContentContact Commerce Pornography Racist content Inaccurate info Threatening s Strangers in Chat rooms Blur between advertising and content Invasions of privacy + SPAM

PARENTS PARENTS Mostly and web for research DO YOU KNOW HOW YOUR CHILD USES THE NET ? WE NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN OUR CHILDRENS ONLINE ACTIVITY, VALIDATE THEIR SKILLS + LEARN FROM THEM YOUNG PEOPLE Interactive chat, IM, Music, Games, WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT ? PART I 2) ADULTS + CHILDREN USE THE NET IN DIFFERENT WAYS

KNOWLEDGE Many children pick up technology quicker ! HELP YOUR CHILDREN TO UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT TECHNOLOGY IS THROWING UP NEW IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUES WHICH CHILDREN MAY NOT SEE WISDOM Understanding how to behave in a virtual world WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT ? PART I 3) THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KNOWLEDGE + WISDOM

IN SCHOOL Generally, supervised, protected and monitored WE NEED TO DO MORE THAN SUPERVISE- WE NEED TO HELP EDUCATE CHALLENGE = to ensure that children are safe wherever they use the Internet OUT OF SCHOOL Often no filtering, supervision or monitoring ? WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT ? PART I 4) SUPERVISED/UNSUPERVISED ACCESS POINTS

Fixed location for access eg home/school Already some children are receiving abusive/hoax txt messages As technologies converge we need to re-view the safety messages Increasingly mobile ? WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT ? PART I 5) CONVERGENCE + THE NET GOING MOBILE

Part II Why schools take their role seriously ? Schools aim to provide a supervised and protected Internet environment. Most schools have filtering and/or monitoring software, an acceptable use policy which parents sign up to, classroom supervision and a firewall or walled garden of approved websites that pupils can access. Schools also help children understand the wider issues involved in communication. Schools also seek to prepare pupils for the wider world and through the citizenship schemes of work, issues related to Internet safety are now being covered. It is important we help teach pupils how to behave safely online wherever they use the Internet.

Part II Why schools take their role seriously HOW WE USE COMPUTERS IN OUR SCHOOL OUR SCHOOL POLICY

Part III The IP scheme + how children will use it The Internet Proficiency Scheme is designed to help KS2 pupils learn how to use the Internet and other technologies safely and responsibly A new resource for schools to help teach Internet safety Provide teachers with easily accessible support materials to help their pupils develop a set of safe and discriminating behaviours to adopt when using the Internet and help pupils demonstrate what they know. The aim of the scheme is to: The scheme links directly to the National Curriculum and schemes of work for ICT and Citizenship

Part III The IP scheme + how children will use it ? Teachers guide – giving advice on new applications and the dangers as well as ways to involve parents in this issue. The IP scheme includes: Lesson plans to help pupils look at Interactive services such as Chat rooms, , SMS, Instant Messenger etc. - Adaptable and differentiated for different levels of experience and understanding. Interactive Cybercafé website which reinforces these lessons see Certificate to show understanding – but reviewed.

Part V How parents can play their part The IP Scheme will really help schools cover these challenges, but parents play a vital part. You can back support your children in 5 key ways: 1) Support the school – Sign the Acceptable Use Policy and take an active interest in what your children are doing in ICT at school. 2) Get involved in your childrens online activity at home. Check you know what applications they are using, especially chat rooms and games played with others online. Ask who their e-pals are. Get them to teach you about how things work. 3) Encourage internet use that builds on offline activities. It helps to keep the computer in a family room not tucked away in a childs bedroom. Help your children to use the Internet for home work and leisure interests.

Part V How parents can play their part 4) Use some of the tools on the computer to help you. Website addresses + favorites folders Browsers (history) accounts – (hotmail) Filtering tools

Part V How parents can play their part 5) REINFORCE THE SMART THINKING RULES WHICH THE IP SCHEME USES AND GO THROUGH THESE WITH YOUR CHILDREN SECRET – Staying safe online involves being careful and thinking about whether it is safe to give out personal information MEETING – Meeting up with someone you have contacted in cyberspace can be dangerous. Only do so with your parents/carers permission and then when they can be present. ATTACHMENTS – Accepting s or opening files from people you dont know can be dangerous. – they may contain viruses or nasty messages. RELIABLE – Anyone can put anything on the net and remember people can lie and not be who they say they are in chat rooms. TELL – Tell your parent/carer or teacher if someone or something makes you feel uncomfortable or worried.

QUESTIONS See for full details about the Internet Proficiency Scheme and Cybercafé Other advice on SMART RULES and resources for Parents see: produced by Childnet. FURTHER RESOURCES Produced by Childnet International. Copyright 2003