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As many of the most popular social net- working services do not allow children under 13 years of age to register for their services, we can be quick to dissociate ourselves, and our students, from the problems linked to the use of social networking services. However, two in five 11- 12 year olds in Ireland have a social networking profile, while just under 30% have an account on a media sharing platform (such as Instagram or YouTube), according to Net Kids Go Mobile research published in February 2014. Just as we help prepare students for the transition into post-primary school and the changes they will experience with the onset of puberty, we need to help students develop the skills to be responsible and effective online users before they sign up to these social networking and media sharing services. What is Safer Internet Day 2015? One way of helping your students to become better internet users is to celebrate Safer Internet Day (SID) in school on Tuesday, 10 February 2015. This is the 12th edition of the event, which started as an EU initiative and is now celebrated in more than 100 countries worldwide. Promoted in Ireland by the PDST Technology in Education and Webwise, the whole point of SID is to raise awareness of how we all can help create a better internet. The theme for the 2015 event is ‘Let’s create a better internet together’ and the hashtags #Up2Us and #SID2015 will be used to help raise awareness online. SID and the Anti-Bullying Procedures Celebrating SID in school also provides an opportunity for your school to meet some of the requirements laid down by the Anti- Bullying Procedures for primary and post- primary schools in September 2013. The procedures require all school to implement “education and prevention strategies (including awareness raising measures) that build empathy, respect and resilience in pupils; and explicitly address the issues of cyber bullying and identity- based bullying”. SID is the perfect chance to raise awareness around cyber bullying. New Anti-Cyber Bullying resource Webwise’s new anti-cyber bullying SPHE resource contains five lesson plans and three animations intended for use with fifth and sixth class pupils. The topic of responsible online photo-sharing, which is particularly relevant to students at Confir- mation time and as they prepare to leave primary school, is addressed comprehen- sively throughout the resource. Other topics covered include the feelings that cause cyber bullying, exclusion as a form of bullying and the fact that one upsetting post can have lasting effects. The resource, which will be launched on Safer Internet Day, can be accessed free of charge through www.webwise.ie/myselfie What can we do to celebrate? Check out www.saferinternetday.ie for a list of events and suggested classroom- based activities for marking SID. If you are interested in focusing celebrations around the topic of cyber bullying, www.WatchYourSpace.ie has ideas on how to promote a more inclusive online environment. From interactive poster campaigns to RASK (Random Acts of Kind- ness) days, this site highlights examples of best practice from schools around Ireland. Share your SID plans and get rewarded Webwise would like to support schools’ efforts to mark SID. Share your SID plans through the online form at www.saferinternetday.ie and you’ll receive anti-cyber bullying wristbands and badges to distribute on the day. Try this with your class Watch the Webwise animation on photo sharing at www.webwise.ie/thephoto. The photo animation (and the following maths activity, which can be extended to explain the mathematical concept of indices to sixth class students) shows how picture sharing can easily get out of hand. Emphasise to the students that anything they share online can be shared and is no longer private. Simon Grehan, Webwise Project Officer, PDST Technology in Education and Emily Lynch, Webwise Education Officer, PDST Technology in Education. InTouch December 2014 39 Teaching matters Articles and opinions on primary teaching, with tips and ideas for the classroom Staying safe online Safer Internet Day is on 10 February 2015

PDST-Technology in Education - InTouch DEC2014 dc2 ......PDST Technology in Education and Emily Lynch, Webwise Education Officer, PDST Technology in Education. InTouch December 2014

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Page 1: PDST-Technology in Education - InTouch DEC2014 dc2 ......PDST Technology in Education and Emily Lynch, Webwise Education Officer, PDST Technology in Education. InTouch December 2014

As many of the most popular social net-working services do not allow children under13 years of age to register for their services,we can be quick to dissociate ourselves,and our students, from the problems linkedto the use of social networking services.However, two in five 11- 12 year olds in Ireland have a social networking profile,while just under 30% have an account on amedia sharing platform (such as Instagramor YouTube), according to Net Kids Go Mobile research published in February 2014.

Just as we help prepare students for thetransition into post-primary school and thechanges they will experience with the onsetof puberty, we need to help students developthe skills to be responsible and effective online users before they sign up to these social networking and media sharing services.

What is Safer Internet Day 2015?One way of helping your students to become better internet users is to celebrateSafer Internet Day (SID) in school on Tuesday, 10 February 2015. This is the 12thedition of the event, which started as anEU initiative and is now celebrated in morethan 100 countries worldwide. Promoted in Ireland by the PDST Technology in Education and Webwise, the whole pointof SID is to raise awareness of how we allcan help create a better internet.

The theme for the 2015 event is ‘Let’screate a better internet together’ and thehashtags #Up2Us and #SID2015 will beused to help raise awareness online.

SID and the Anti-Bullying ProceduresCelebrating SID in school also provides anopportunity for your school to meet someof the requirements laid down by the Anti-Bullying Procedures for primary and post-primary schools in September 2013.

The procedures require all school to implement “education and preventionstrategies (including awareness raisingmeasures) that build empathy, respect andresilience in pupils; and explicitly addressthe issues of cyber bullying and identity-based bullying”. SID is the perfect chanceto raise awareness around cyber bullying.

New Anti-Cyber Bullying resourceWebwise’s new anti-cyber bullying SPHEresource contains five lesson plans andthree animations intended for use withfifth and sixth class pupils. The topic of responsible online photo-sharing, which isparticularly relevant to students at Confir-mation time and as they prepare to leaveprimary school, is addressed comprehen-sively throughout the resource.

Other topics covered include the feelingsthat cause cyber bullying, exclusion as a

form of bullying and the fact that one upsetting post can have lasting effects.The resource, which will be launched onSafer Internet Day, can be accessed free ofcharge through www.webwise.ie/myselfie

What can we do to celebrate?Check out www.saferinternetday.ie for a list of events and suggested classroom-based activities for marking SID. If you are interested in focusing celebrationsaround the topic of cyber bullying,www.WatchYourSpace.ie has ideas on how to promote a more inclusive onlineenvironment. From interactive poster campaigns to RASK (Random Acts of Kind-ness) days, this site highlights examples ofbest practice from schools around Ireland.

Share your SID plans and get rewardedWebwise would like to support schools’efforts to mark SID. Share your SID plans through the online form atwww.saferinternetday.ie and you’ll receiveanti-cyber bullying wristbands and badgesto distribute on the day.

Try this with your classWatch the Webwise animation on photo sharing at

www.webwise.ie/thephoto.The photo animation (and the following mathsactivity, which can be extended to explain the

mathematical concept of indices to sixth class students)shows how picture sharing can easily get out of hand. Emphasise to the students that anything they share

online can be shared and is no longer private.

Simon Grehan, Webwise Project Officer,PDST Technology in Education and EmilyLynch, Webwise Education Officer, PDSTTechnology in Education.

InTouch December 2014 39

Teaching mattersArticles and opinions on primary teaching, with tips and ideas for the classroom

Staying safe onlineSafer Internet Day is on 10 February 2015

InTouch_DEC2014_dc2_Layout 1 25/11/2014 16:00 Page 39