Safer Internet Day 2023

4 non-negotiables for online safety

While education is a busy profession and our lives become ever more online; the safety of our communities is too important to leave to chance.

With the above in mind, here are my 4 non-negotiables for a safer online community.

1. Online safety should be curriculum wide

All too often online safety and digital literacy are given too narrow a focus in schools, only featuring in IT or PSHE lessons. In truth, they are critical aspects that should be interwoven across all subjects so that students can be better informed and become well-rounded digital citizens that can use technology safely, effectively, and discerningly. Students need to know how to stay safe online, how to protect their identities and their data; a key part of this is having a clear understanding of the potential risks of using technology, how to interact with others online, and how to use technology responsibly. The more we can weave and teach digital literacy  into tangible examples across multiple subject domains, the more well rounded our learners’ experiences and understanding will be, enabling them to be insightful users of technology.

2. Narrate the good

Quite simply, practice what you preach and highlight good practices.

Sharing good practice around online safety is important as it not only helps to create a safe environment for all within an educational  setting but it also helps to perpetuate positive messages and continues to raise awareness of how to manage and mitigate risk(s).

It is not so important how to share good practices, through reminder emails, spotlights in newsletters, agenda items in meetings, and so on, but what is more important is that good practices become the fiber of your cultural being; ingrained into everyone's habits and attitudes towards online safety. The more we share positive examples and practices, the better informed and ultimately prepared and protected people in our communities will be.

So, why not add some positive examples of good practice to your next notice/bulletin to help keep your community informed.