Staying safe when learning online from home

Year 4 to 9 parents and teachers

The fast-evolving digital world students have to navigate is made even more challenging by deviants and criminals who never cease to find novel ways to harass, scam, and/or embarrass online users. Schools and libraries offer protection through the use of powerful online filters. This may not be the case in student’s homes. Doing online study involves using lots of web-based tools, downloading new applications, and using email, which increases exposure to all sorts of threats. They may be working on an older or borrowed device, which could be missing vital security updates and up-to-date antivirus software. It is useful to offer practical advice, such as; placing a sticker over their computer’s camera, when not in use. To encourage them to switch off their device when done, rather than leaving it in sleeping mode, and to make students aware to switch off their bluetooth feature on their devices when in public to prevent unrequested intrusions from others nearby. Having supportive parents or teachers/librarians provides an avenue for when something is bothering a student. For more practical information to protect an online user, this site is a treasure trove.

Question: Does your school have a formalised method to teach students to protect themselves online?

Casper Pieters PhD Dip Ed is an author and educator who uses adventure narratives to enliven the ICT curriculum for young people. www.casperpieters.com