With our brief return to Remote Teaching and Learning last week, it is a good time to revisit how we responsibly use today’s technology for both work and leisure.
This year in the Primary school at our Mt Ridley campus, students will participate in curriculum created by the Cyber Safety Project to enhance their knowledge and understanding of safe online behaviour. Students will participate in four sessions each term, which will be either in their Health lesson or during one of their class’s Wellbeing sessions. We are very excited to use this curriculum as it is purposeful and up to date with the current apps and issues that our students are facing.
The Mt Ridley Primary Wellbeing Team, encourages both our students and families to have regular conversations about being safe online. Remember just because an app is popular it is not always appropriate for our primary aged students. The argument, that everyone else has it except me, is never the reality and it is important to remember that many of the social media apps do not have the protections to safe-guard children. It is these apps that often enable poor online choices which can place your child in harm and potentially encourage online bullying. If you do say no to a particular app, make sure your child understands why you have made this decision. Also, continually revisit what to do if you ever feel unsafe online or come across inappropriate content.
Take the time this week as a whole family to check together the following with the apps and social media accounts you are using:
- Strong secure passwords.
- Highest Privacy Settings.
- No identifying details, including photographs that may have details enabling identification (think uniforms, street signs, letter boxes etc).
- If you are friends with someone online, check that they are someone you know and have spent actual time with in person.
- Apps that are accessible are age appropriate – apps such as Tik Tok may seem fun, but they do not have the protections that make them safe for younger children to be using or accessing.
Social Media and the World Wide Web are wonderful things to be able to use and access especially during this time of social distancing on a global scale. Used responsibly, it can enhance our lives, so continue to have those important conversations. We look forward to working together again with families throughout this year, to help promote safety on and off line.
