16
Once I opened the Netscape browser on a Mac LC II, I began to navigate the Internet in a method I had by no means imagined earlier than. At this time, the web is an unimaginable device. It connects every of us, our lecture rooms, to world information, numerous views, and modern instruments. Even so, the necessity for on-line security has elevated. As our powers to attach have grown, so have the challenges our kids face. One method to heighten consciousness of options to challenges is Safer Web Day (SID).
This occasion is well known yearly and invitations educators, college students, and households to work collectively for a safer, extra accountable web. In some ways, it reminds every person that collectively, we’re a vibrant, numerous, and inclusive neighborhood of individuals. Let’s discover sensible methods to combine this theme into your classroom whereas empowering college students to make knowledgeable selections on-line.
Wait, What’s Safer Web Day?
Safer Web Day promotes consciousness of digital security and well-being. It’s noticed each February. With the theme of “Collectively for a Higher Web”, it encourages stakeholders—lecturers, college students, and oldsters—to collaborate on cultivating protected, respectful, and empowering digital environments.
Beginning as an initiative of the EU SafeBorders mission in 2004 and brought up by the Insafe community as considered one of its earliest actions in 2005, Safer Web Day has grown past its conventional geographic zone and is now celebrated in additional than 180 nations and territories worldwide. From cyberbullying to social networking to digital id, annually Safer Web Day goals to boost consciousness of rising on-line points and present issues (supply).
This 12 months, Safer Web Day could have a world day of focus. That may happen on Tuesday, February 11, 2025.Celebratory occasions will happen around the globe the entire month.
Meet Ally, the Safer Web Day mascot. Get extra assets (zipped file) on your use. Study extra through their LinkedIn web page.
The Safer Web Day web site (see the US web site) affords many assets (get these assets) which you can reap the benefits of. What’s extra, you may discover a useful resource for lecturers on-line that addresses a wide range of matters, reminiscent of manipulative advertising and marketing in video games and a information to age assurance assets for youths.
The US web site for Safer Web Day affords a wealth of lesson plans, together with:
They provide a number of movies, such because the one beneath:
Extra Concepts for Safer Web Day
Listed here are another concepts and assets for selling on-line security in February:
1. Educate Digital Citizenship
Equip college students with instruments to navigate the digital world responsibly. Talk about ideas like cyberbullying, digital footprints, and knowledge privateness. Sources like Google’s Be Web Superior and TCEA’s Important Studying Expectations may also help information these classes.
2. Empower College students to Consider Info
Encourage vital considering by educating college students tips on how to assess on-line sources. For instance, utilizing Padlet to share their findings, college students can analyze on-line articles. They will work to determine indicators of misinformation. This aligns with TCEA’s concentrate on digital literacy and demanding considering. Particularly, it aligns to the TCEA Important Studying Expectations (ELEs) for College students:
For College students (On-line Security):
Indicator 2.2: “I can determine reliable sources of knowledge on the web.” Instance exercise: College students consider web sites on a historic matter, rank their credibility, and clarify their reasoning.
3. Simulate Actual-World Eventualities
Function-playing on-line challenges reminiscent of dealing with cyberbullying or recognizing phishing makes an attempt gives college students with sensible problem-solving expertise. Function-playing on-line challenges, reminiscent of dealing with cyberbullying or recognizing phishing makes an attempt, aligns with the next TCEA ELEs:
- For Lecturers (Digital Literacy):
- Indicator 2.2: “I understand how to information college students in protected and accountable web use.” Instance exercise: College students create digital citizenship posters that define finest practices for on-line security and accountable social media use.
- For College students (On-line Security):
- Indicator 2.1: “I understand how to guard my private info on-line.” Instance exercise: College students develop a digital security plan to safeguard their private knowledge on social media and different platforms.
- Indicator 2.3: “I’m conscious of the potential dangers of sharing content material on-line.” Instance exercise: College students role-play choices about sharing on-line content material and focus on the potential penalties.
These emphasize creating college students’ problem-solving expertise in real-world digital eventualities whereas fostering consciousness of protected practices on-line.
Classroom Actions for Safer Web Day
On-line Security Pledge
Have college students co-create an on-line security pledge utilizing collaborative platforms like digital whiteboards, Canva displays, or Google Slides. This aligns with social and emotional studying (SEL) and relationship-building emphasised within the Wonderful Lesson Design Define (ALDO). It additionally aligns to the TCEA ELEs on this method for college kids’ on-line security:
- For College students (On-line Security):
- Indicator 2.1: “I understand how to guard my private info on-line.” Instance exercise: College students collaborate to develop an internet security pledge that displays methods to keep up their digital privateness and safety.
- Indicator 3.1: “I understand how to work successfully in a crew.” Instance exercise: College students collaborate utilizing on-line instruments to develop shared objectives and create significant outputs.
This exercise encourages teamwork, vital considering, and accountable digital habits. That’s definitely fascinating, no?
Digital Citizenship Wall
Utilizing Canva or different design instruments, ask college students to create posters that spotlight web security ideas. These might be shared in your classroom or as a digital gallery, impressed by way of visuals in TCEA’s academic frameworks.
Gamify Studying
Gamified platforms reminiscent of Kahoot, Quizizz, or Blooket can have interaction college students in interactive classes about on-line security, reinforcing retrieval practices for long-term retention. Along with these classroom actions, listed here are some grade-level particular examples you could need to take.
Grade-Degree Examples
Okay-2: Constructing Consciousness By Tales and Visuals
Interactive Storytime: “What Would You Do for Youngsters?”
Learn a narrative or create a situation about on-line security, like sharing a photograph or clicking a pop-up. Ask college students to debate or act out how they might reply. You might get them to put in writing a script to mirror the favored present.
Listed here are some extra tales to discover:
Digital Security Music or Chant
- Educate college students a easy track about not sharing private info on-line. Songs could make security classes memorable and enjoyable.
- Exercise: College students can draw photos of issues which are protected or unsafe to share on-line.
“Web Helpers” Badge (view full-size)
- After discussing on-line security, let college students design their very own “Web Helper” badge.
- Exercise: Use templates from Canva to create printable badge designs.
infographic goes right here
3-5: Encouraging Digital Citizenship
- Cyber Scavenger Hunt
Create a scavenger hunt the place college students determine good on-line habits from a listing, reminiscent of “Use a powerful password” or “Suppose earlier than you put up.” - “Fact or Clickbait?” Recreation
Present college students actual and pretend headlines and ask them to resolve which is reliable. Talk about why some articles are deceptive. Introduce the SIFT Strategy. - Classroom Digital Citizenship Pledge
- Collaborate on a pledge that outlines how college students will behave on-line. Show the pledge within the classroom.
- Connection: This ties into SEL by fostering duty and respect for others on-line.
Listed here are some books that could be of curiosity:
- A Sensible Child’s Information to Social Media, Browsing the Internet, and Staying Protected On-line – “This ebook talks about an entire lot of points: cyberbullying, synthetic intelligence, wholesome on-line habits, on-line scams, web habit, algorithms, pornography, digital actuality, digital resilience, and far more.”
- #Goldilocks: A Hashtag Cautionary Story – “A hilarious cautionary story for a brand new technology of internet-users.”
6-8: Important Pondering and Actual-World Eventualities
Listed here are some extra concepts to discover applicable for these grade ranges.
Phishing Simulation
- Present college students examples of phishing emails or messages (actual or mock-ups) and ask them to determine purple flags.
- Create an Infographic Concept: Get college students to create an infographic on paper or utilizing a digital device (e.g. Canva, PowerPoint, Slides) on “The best way to Spot a Rip-off” information that includes graphics like an envelope with warning symbols and a phishing hook.
Misinformation Problem
- Divide college students into groups and ask them to analysis a trending matter utilizing credible and non-credible sources. They’ll current findings and clarify how they evaluated every supply.
- Extension: Use Padlet to create a digital “fact wall” of verified info.
Digital Footprint Tracker
- Ask college students to think about their digital footprints 10 years from now. What would their profiles say about them? Talk about how posts right now can have an effect on their future.
- Exercise: College students create posters or Canva designs displaying what a constructive digital footprint appears like.
Sources for Lecturers
- Widespread Sense Schooling: Free lesson plans on digital citizenship.
- DigCitCommit: A world community supporting educators in fostering accountable web habits.
- NetSmartz: Interactive assets for youthful college students.
- Nationwide At this time: Presents a wide range of assets and concepts for celebrating Safer Web Day.
Last Ideas
Safer Web Day is sort of a lighthouse. It reminds us to navigate the huge, shifting sea of the web with care. As educators, it’s our job to show children tips on how to learn the waves and keep away from the rocks. Hold it primary with easy guidelines, actual tales, and straight discuss. Ensure you contain dad and mom and administration. Suppose twice and make it about them studying to swim the Web ocean on their very own, or to discover ways to ask for assist. Use instruments just like the TCEA Important Studying Expectations (ELEs) to help you.
