This global annual event was celebrated in 2009 in Highland for the first time and as first times go, it was quite a success with lots of media coverage. It is intended to make sure this event becomes a regular annual event on the calendar for Highland school communities. The next Safer Internet Day is on the 7th February 2012. Check www.saferinternetday.org for further info!
Through SID schools and groups are encouraged to hold their Internet Safety discussions, events and activities to make pupils and parents aware of the importance of being good ‘digital citizens’ and ensure they know how to keep themselves safe. Having fun as well as reinforcing the benefits of using the internet safely is the purpose of the iniative. Below are some ideas that we can build on throughout the year, feel free to add more in the comments.
- Registering with the Highland E-Safety Strategy Group endorsed www.thinkuknow.co.uk website which provides free curriculum resources, screen savers and leaflets.
- Ensure all computers in the school have the www.thinkuknow.co.uk screensaver for the week
- Obtaining Childnet resources free through NHS Highland’s, Health Information Resources Service (open to Highland school communities only)
- Holding your own discussions in classes about new technologies, what’s the most popular sites, Facebook v Bebo?
- Use the Childnet’s Cyberbullying class resource to look at issues surrounding bullying and technology
- Use the internet to search for sources of text and discuss the pros and cons of doing so including ‘reliability’ of information further developing literacy skills, use Google Scholar
- Design your own school internet safety poster using an online tool such as Glogster Discover how to make your creative posters easily online
- Looking at different search engines to develop skills in learning how to search the internet safely and effectively such as Google Scholar or Kid Rex
- Investigate the history of the internet and prepare presentations using an online tool such as animoto and search safely for images exploring licenses for usage such as creative commons
- Creative a short animation telling a story about using the internet safely using a tool such as ToonDoo
- Have a practical session about how to set privacy settings on favourite social networking sites
- Create an online collaborative mindmap of all the points relating to internet safety using Mindmeister
- Make sure all the library internet access points display information on internet safety
- Create an online list of school favourite sites and discuss why they are good using tools such as Delicious
- If you have a school website/newsletter put a news item on about internet safety.
- Have the whole class make a cartoon avatar image of themselves and then play ‘guess who?’
- Why not create your own font based on your handwriting and create your own posters, this free tool allows you to create your very own font, very cool! Font Generator
- Explore the issues of downloading music, there are free leaflets and a great website resource www.pro-music.org
- Why not ask the class to have a go at creating heiroglyphics of their name with this handy tool, great picture displays and contexts for learning about history, typography and a fun tool on the internet. The site can be accessed here http://www.upennmuseum.com/cgi-bin/hieroglyphsreal.cgi/hieroglyphsreal.cgi%3C/span
- Why not have a look at this cute cartoon clip of the ‘password Rap;, why not have a look and make a dance to go with the song or make your own rap up! http://www.teachingvideos.co.uk/index.php/find-videos-by-subject-topic/ict/viewvideo/213/internet-safety/the-password-rap
- Use this clever clip about protecting your reputation online, this is a good discussion starter and developed by the clever people at www.commoncraft.com link to the short clip is http://www.commoncraft.com/protecting-reputations-video
- Why not give our new Highland Cyberbullying Guidance to your pupil councils to use as a tool to discuss Cyberbullying with pupils.
I hope this has given you a few ideas!! Please do let myself or Jim know if you have an event or discussion with points of view or photos to share you’d like to share with the E-Safety Strategy Group in Highland.
