Ollie Bray, National Adviser for Emerging Technologies in Learning, LTSThe Internet has completely changed that way we work, shop, play and socialise. However, some schools still do not have a robust system to ensure that the young people in their care are familiar with the issues surrounding Internet Safety and Responsible Use. 

Often a reactive approach is taken to try and scare children away from social networking spaces due to a lack of understanding of how they work or why young people are so interested in them. A different, nurturing approach is needed and early intervention is key. Internet Safety and Responsible Use education for children should be an integrated part of the 3-18 curriculum in all establishments. The main focus should be responsibility rather than blocking and locking things down. 

 

Did you know:

  1. Most young people in Scotland have a digital footprint, which grows whenever they publish anything on-line – and good employers will review this.
  2. Most digital footprints now start at 6 months (when a parent posts a photograph of their child on-line).
  3. You can use your mobile phone credit as a credit card to buy on-line
  4. Often young people are not who they say they are on-line
  5. You can access the internet on a computer, mobile and most games consoles (children have been exploited in all of these environments)
  6. Learning and Teaching Scotland has produce three videos for anyone who works with children (including parents) on Internet Safety and Responsible Use (Essential Information, Emerging Issues and Digital Literacy)

A number of authorities such as East Lothian, Mid Lothian, Stirling and Highland have engaged in extensive programmes (often in conjunction with the local police force) to train parents and the community. This joined up approach is vital if to keep our children safe. 

This week 150 practitioners from across Scotland will discuss these issues in Stirling at the 2011 Internet Safety and Responsible Use conference. Session recordings will be available on the conference website. 

The Scottish Government is developing of a Technologies for Learning Strategy and I remain optimistic that Internet Safety and Responsible Use will form a strand of this. 

Ollie Bray
National Adviser for Emerging Technologies in Learning, LTS