Strategies for fostering cybersafety in support of student learning

in the 21st century

Mala Bawer IctQatar March 2009

What is the MAIN objective of teaching students cybersafety?

( A ) to protect students from

danger

( B ) to leverage ICT to support 21st

century learning

The missing piece of the conversation

Parental controls

2001 What the newspapers reported

What is the MAIN objective of

teaching students cybersafety?

(A) to PROTECT them from danger

Law enforcement public service ad

The media’s response - a TV show

Lessons from law enforcement funding

What do we now know?

What does the research say?

image of predators using violence and trickery is largely inaccurate

children younger than 13 are not victims of online solicitations

it’s teens who meet strangers and they go willingly

predators rarely lie about their age or true intent

Misconceptions exposed by researchMichelle Ybarra, MPH, Ph.D

Law enforcement message missed educational opportunities

Cyberbullying is of greater concernSameer Hinduja, Ph.D

A new paradigm:

An educational framework

Let’s move educators to the “front of the class” and involve them in the conversation

What is the MAIN objective of

teaching students cybersafety?

(B) To leverage ICT to support 21st century learning

Educators would include topics traditionally part of the school

mission

Character

Respect

Responsibility

Ethics

Manners

Linking cybersafety and characterJohn Lestino, National School Psychologist of the Year

• Critical thinking

• Decision making

• Problem solving

Educators would build on a developmentally appropriate

foundation to teach cybersafety

www.cybersmart.org

Be cybersmart video

A short list for cultural conversion

• Word choices and cultural icons• Graphic relevance

• Adoption for 1:1 classrooms and cell phone distribution

Moving rules into

cyberspace ages 5-6

Teaching context and differentiation

Critical thinking skills ages 9-10

Critical thinking skills ages 12-14

Consistent teacher lesson plan

Hands on training in 21st century skills in professional online learning communities

www.cybersmart.org

IF TIME: have audience do this: What’s the problem

Sample lesson from bullying curriculum