Are you teaching online safety practices in your classroom yet? Now more than ever, online safety is an imperative skill for students to learn, especially at the elementary and middle school levels. With our reliance on technology at home and school, it is essential to equip young learners with the knowledge and skills they need to protect themselves online. Today, Mobile Ed is providing ideas and strategies to help keep teachers and students safe online.
We as educators play a significant role in guiding students as they learn to navigate the internet safely. The reality is that students as young as Pre-K and Kindergarten are accessing the internet daily, and they may not know how to use it in a healthy and safe way. You may even be overwhelmed with knowing where to start regarding online safety practices. With cell phone use at an all-time high, cell phone policies are another ballgame we’re trying to win. Regardless, the exposure our students are getting to online spaces every day makes them susceptible to online danger, bullying, hacking, and more.
To get started, and before diving into specific strategies, it's important for teachers to review and understand the various aspects of online safety. These include:
Online Safety for Teachers
Making sure that we are taking our own advice is the first part of internet safety for teachers. With hacking increasing in number and scale, protecting ourselves from scams is critical. Fraud, data breaches, and identity theft can be life-altering, damaging, and hard to navigate. We are not only maintaining our personal information but also the personal information of students and families. Protect yourself and your classroom by following common safety practices such as:
Also consider completing additional courses to better prepare you, such as the Microsoft Digital Citizenship course for educators K-12.
Engaging students with interactive lessons can make online safety more relatable and memorable. Here are a few websites that provide educational and interactive games for students:
Integrate technology into your lessons to give students hands-on experience with online safety. Programs like Google's Be Internet Awesome or Microsoft's Digital Citizenship curriculum provide comprehensive resources to teach online safety. You can also use software that includes safety features to protect students while using technology in your classroom, so students learn by using tools designed with security in mind.
Regular discussions about online experiences can help students feel more comfortable talking about their online activities and concerns. Consider dedicating time each week or month to discuss students’ online experiences and any issues they may have encountered. You could also invite experts to speak to your students, such as local law enforcement officers or cybersecurity professionals, to talk about online safety.
Parents play a crucial role in reinforcing online safety at home. Get parents involved by Teachers can organize workshops to educate parents on how to monitor and guide their children's online activities. If needed, you may consider providing parents with resources and tips on online safety. This could include handouts, newsletters, or links to useful websites.
Ensure that the online tools and platforms used in the classroom are safe and secure:
Use real-life stories and examples to illustrate the importance of online safety. Discuss case studies of cyberbullying or identity theft to show the real-world consequences of unsafe online behavior. Share news stories about online safety breaches and discuss how they could have been prevented.
Teaching online safety is an ongoing process that requires dedication and creativity. By using interactive lessons, incorporating technology, facilitating discussions, involving parents, creating a safe classroom environment, empowering students, and using real-life examples, K-8 teachers can effectively guide their students toward safe online behavior. As students grow more accustomed to the digital world, these foundational lessons will help them navigate it safely and responsibly.
For more tips for teachers, follow the Mobile Ed Blog here.