In grade 7 I remember our school getting a new computer lab full of these brand new green and grey mac computers – it was all very exciting! We seemed to be doing a lot of All the Right Type and using the Paint program. One additional program we used really had an impact on me.
We had discussions about internet safety and giving personal details out online. Then, we played this game called Missing. I had to Google the game to retrieve all the details but, it seems you follow the story of a boy named Zack who meets a man, Fantasma, online. Fantasma and Zack meet up and Fantasma ends up taking Zach. Then, the student plays the game and works with a detective to rescue Zach. What really stands out in my memory is that I failed the mission and didn’t save Zack! It was very scary for me to think about! And then, as we often do in schools, we moved on and I never felt like it was discussed further or I didn’t have the opportunity to have another go.
This story makes me think about the issues around internet safety and how they are still present today. However, in addition to being safe online, there are so many other things we must think about as educators – for example, teaching our students to be good digital citizens and the impact of social media on them. Do you think that one of these issues is more important than the other? What should we be discussing with young children and what should we be saving for later? These are just a couple of the current questions I’m thinking about.
Dear Kathryn,
Thank for openly sharing your thoughts.
I think what you touched on is an important issue about incorporating technological tools as an independent ‘lesson’ vs. a holistic learning experience. It is easy for educators to mistakenly use technological tools as one-stop magic bullets to deliver content. In your case, the technological tool(i.e. Missing) should be framed as one component of the learning experience. Appropriate follow up measure may help users to unpack issues about online safety and to
further consolidate learning.
In regards to your question, I believe that digital citizenship is as important as digital literacy. The more competent we are in understanding and using multi-literacy, the better we are at modelling global citizenship.
Sincerely,
Alice
HI Alice,
Thanks for you post. I agree with you in the importance of digital citizenship and incorporating it as a holistic learning experience.
Kathryn
Hey Kathryn,
indeed, internet safety is very important and should be “taught” very early. I put “taught” in paranthesis because I feel you cannot really “teach” internet safety in a lesson, but it has to be part of every class where kids are asked to use the Internet. So I guess Internet safety should be something every teacher is addressing from time to time.
In addition, it may help to have special seminars e.g. on cyber bullying (by son, 11 years old, just had a shor lessong on this).
Elske
Hi Elske,
You make a good point about not teaching about internet safety in a one off lesson but instead keeping it in mind every time you use the internet with your students.
Thanks
Kathryn
Hi Kathryn.
Thank you for sharing your experiences. I think you bring up a crucial point of internet safety. Although important twenty years ago, our students are now presented with a larger number of threats. I recall a time when I had taken my grade 2 students to the computer lab. After about 30 minutes of research, the students were given a few sites to explore and play some games. As I walked through the rows, I noticed one of my students filling in his address and name on a gaming site that I had never seen before. He explained that he plays this game all the time at home, but when I asked if his parents knew he went quiet. This really opened my eyes to the importance of internet safety and discussing it with students even in the early elementary years.
Shayla
Hi Shayla,
Great to see you in another class! I agree – it’s very easy to give away too much information online, particularly for children. I think internet safety is a skill we need to teach early on.
Thanks
Kathryn
At my son’s school (University Hill Secondary) next week (Wednesday, January 17th, at 6pm), the PAC has sponsored a “Social Media Awareness”
Jesse Miller is an expert in Social Media Education for schools and Youth.
He has the latest information regarding modern technology, cell phone use, and online security issues.
He will be doing a workshop with students during the day on Jan. 17th.
Information about Jesse Miller: https://www.mediatedreality.com
Hi Christopher,
Thanks for this. I took a look at the link – very interesting! We are also running Digital Wellbeing and Awareness workshops at our school for parents. Similarly to your son’s school, we are also running workshops for our students. Times are changing quickly and educators, as well
as parents, need to be up to speed and aware!
Kathryn