Educators and students rely on the Internet, as it offers huge opportunities, information, and resources to both; it has become part of their lives. With this reliability, there comes threat also, they must know how to protect themselves from the Internet threat.
Before, we dig out more on web security, internet safety and digital citizenship from students’ and teachers’ point of view; let’s take a look on some of the common myths and facts about web security and internet safety.
Related
If you wish to adopt the Digital Citizenship and Internet Maturity curriculum in your school, visit the website to know more.
| Myth | Fact |
| Internet is a big place that nobody can even find out an online account. | Hackers are very smart and they continuously probe on the web unsecured accounts and computers. If you have an unsecured system then it can be compromised in few minute. |
| There is nothing worth stealing in my system. | Who so ever, uses a system connected to the internet has sensitive data such as email address, password, financial information like account number, credit card information etc. stored in the system. Moreover, documents saved in computers have metadata that gives more information to the hacker. |
| Antivirus software is sufficient to protect my computer. | Just having antivirus software in your system is not sufficient; users have to update it time to time. |
| I have deleted all my sensitive information from my system. | Documents or files deleted from the local drive is either copied or saved as hidden file. Hackers use tools that help them to easily track the hidden files or recover deleted file. |
For Students
In this digital era, chances for students to go online or to join online community for personal and academic reasons are numerous and diverse than ever. However with such opportunities, there come some threats.
In a research published by Norton Online Family Report, it was mentioned that around 62 present of kids worldwide have bad online experience- approximately four kids in every ten involves in grave situation like receiving wrong content or pictures or cyber bulling.
Such report indicates that, we need to educate students more about, web security, internet safety, and digital citizenship to students. There are many ways by which schools can teach students about internet safety. Here are some quick tips for students using web for their studies or for any other purpose.
- Always ask your teacher if you are not sure of anything when online.
- Don’t sign-up websites without your teacher’s permission.
- Never share your personal information such as your home address, phone number or plans online.
- Always use teacher’s suggested online community or social media platform for interaction. Even if you are using any social media platform for personal use then do not add people you don’t know.
- Just remember do not believe on every fact, you read online. Always let your teacher know about what you are reading or listening and verify content from your educator.
- Talk to your teacher or parents when you face any bad experience online.
Here is an amazing video by CommonSenseMedia
For Teachers
Educators play a crucial role in supporting and helping students on how to stay safe online. Although, most of the teachers claims that they receive almost zero training on internet safety and web security. However, if a school is enforcing technology with the internet in the classroom, they must ensure proper teacher training. Even if you do not have training on then here are some very use resource and tips for you.
Resources- Teaching Web Safety
Welcome to the Web: It is a series of lesson for that teacher’s student how to use the Internet. The first lesson is an introduction about the website. Second lesson consists of online safety, search techniques as well as vocabulary of the web. This resource also consists of tough exercise to test the skills and knowledge. The lesson in the series consists of an optional worksheet in PDF form.
Webonauts Academy: PBS Kids provides the Webonauts Academy under which elementary school kids can be educated on how to behave online safely. There are mission and when students accomplish missions they will be passed from the Webonauts Academy. Over this platform, educators can get tips and many practical suggestions on how to use Webonauts in school library and classroom.
LMK Life Online: The platform is also sponsored by Microsoft and Girl Scouts. It is a platform for educating girls about online safety. On the platform site girls can learn about the how to protect themselves over the internet safety via videos and articles. They will also find lessons on cyberbullying as well as online privacy. They can also check their knowledge by participating in interactive quizzes giving test after reading articles and watching videos.
Apart from these there are many other resources dedicated to teaching web safety like The Google Family Safety Center, Own Your Space, A Thin Line, etc.
Tips- Teaching Web Safety
- Ask your student, not to use websites that make them feel uncomfortable and awkward.
- Always encourage your students to share their online experience, so that you can help them.
- Before, you introduce your students to the Internet; ensure you taught them about copyright, plagiarism, and safe search techniques.
- Keep a track on online activities of your students, what they search and what kind of websites they usually visit.
- Revise the Internet safety tips at least once in your classroom.
- Never add parents and students into your personal social media platform, always maintain professionalism with them online.
- Teach your students that everything they read over the Internet is not reliable; ask them to always consult you before they learn any fact.
- Always choose unique and sensible username and email password for creating accounts for your students and change their password time to time.
- If any parent or student approaches you with issues of cyber bulling or Internet safety, try to solve them thoroughly, do not avoid them.
- During parent-teacher meeting also suggest your student’s parent’s to keep a close watch on student’s online activities at home.
The resources were shared by Singlehop.
