E-Safety Advocates: working with young people to raise awarenessEMMA HADFIELD

LEARNING RESOURCES MANAGER

THOMAS ROTHERHAM COLLEGE

emma.hadfi eld@thomroth.ac.uk

E-Safety & Young People 84% of 5-15 year olds use the internet at home 22% of 8-11 year olds/68% of 12-15 year olds have a social networking profile83% of 8–11 year olds/91% of 12-15 year olds are confident they know how to stay safe online

however……

Ofcom (2013) Children and Parents: Media Use and Attitudes Report http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/research/media-literacy/october-2013/research07Oct2013.pdf

6% of 8-11 year olds have profiles that can be seen by anyone 33% of 12-15 year olds have profiles that can be seen by anyone and 3 out of 10 of their ‘friends’ they have never met53% of 12-15 year olds know how to block messages and 41% know how to change privacy settings on social networking sites

E-Safety & Education OFSTED

◦ “[institutions should] provide an age-related, comprehensive curriculum for e-safety that enables pupils to becomes safe and responsible users of new technologies”

◦ “[institutions should] develop…e-safety procedures, including training, to ensure…a positive impact on pupil’s knowledge and understanding” (Ofsted 2014 Inspecting E-Safety in Schools)

CILIP ◦ “librarians and information professionals, especially school librarians and children’s

specialists in public libraries, have a vital role in teaching children effective and safe use of the internet” (CILIP 2014 Librarians’ Unique Role in Teaching Skills to Stay Safe Online)

E-Safety & Thomas Rotherham College

2011: E-Safety Focus◦ E-Safety Policy◦ E-Safety Officer◦ Risk Assessments◦ Inductions

2012: E-Safety Advocates Pilot

2013: CEOP Ambassador

2014: Whole Staff E-Safety Training

The E-Safety Advocates Project Outline:

◦ trains students to deliver lessons about online risks to pupils in primary schools

Goal: ◦ young people gain new skills, work experience and e-safety knowledge◦ primary pupils gain e-safety knowledge

Setting it Up Collaboration:-

◦ Local Primary Schools◦ The Police◦ Local Government Agency

Yorkshire Humber Grid for Learning (YHGfL)“YHGfL was originally set up to meet the Government target of connecting

all schools in the region to broadband. Now adds value to the region by becoming a strategic partner to the Government and to other relevant

agencies to provide a range of eLearning and eSafeguarding services and resources for local authorities” (www.yhgfl.net)

Key People:-◦ In-House Project Co-ordinator◦ Primary School Contacts

The Students Application process/enrolment Work in groups of 3: mix of boys/girls CRB checked Expectations: work independently, professional approach, commitment, willing to travel Reasons for involvement: teaching career, work experience, build skills

TrainingExternal Speakers

◦ Police: online risks, legal aspects◦ Primary Headteacher: working in a primary school

Internal Project Co-ordinator◦ E-safety ◦ Copyright ◦ Classroom management / lesson planning◦ Presentations

School Visits3 schools – key contact at each

Minimum of 2 visits prior to teaching

Build confidence and rapport with pupils / gain understanding of classroom structure

Discuss ideas with Primary Teacher

Preparation of Teaching MaterialIndependent work

Liaison with Project Co-ordinator

Guidance from schools on topics social networking, gaming, cyberbullying, stranger danger presumptions challenged

Team working skills put to the test

Work Produced by TRC Students (2014)

Time for ReflectionPractice run

Opportunity to make mistakes in friendly environment

Peer feedback

Reflect and improve

Delivery of LessonTeam teach – one hour lesson

Teachers in the making Q&A, group work, individual study good classroom management inventive activities: bingo, word searches, posters, quizzes

Clear evidence of learning

Work Produced by Primary School Pupils (2014)

The School’s Response………

Enjoyable and relevant sessions

Provided a different voice to engage children

Added value – children respond well to teenagers

Stronger message - young people able to communicate risks in a new way

Raised awareness / improved understanding

Evaluation/Celebration Event

The Student’s Response…….Dramatic increase in skill sets – confidence, communication (speaking skills, ability to communicate information to others), team working, organisational, decision making, leadership, presentation, research skills (ability to search for information)

“with the skills I have learnt doing the project it will help me going forward”

Asserted career choices

“I have had a more realistic look into teaching”

“it has made me want to be a teacher even more”

Effectively educated younger generation

“primary pupils learn about e-safety from people who are the main age using social networking”

Improved Digital LiteracyGained e-safety knowledge and increased confidence about safe online behaviour

Changed privacy settings

Deleted ‘friends’ they don’t know

Identified reliable online information

Awareness of copyright

ImpactFor the StudentsE-Safety Advocates for life

Increased ability and willingness to continue to educate others in the future More likely to engage in e-safety conversations with peers/family members

For the CollegeIdentified in whole College Self-Assessment Review

“The college is a pioneer in ‘e-safety for learners’, leading on an E-Safety Advocates programme with local primary schools”.

Identified in Ofsted Report – February 2014 - College graded ‘Good’ overall “The college is very proactive in relation to ‘on line’ safeguarding,

which is included in every student’s induction programme”.

What next………Sustainable project

Positive effect on children and young people

Next cohort to be recruited in September

Prospect of similar initiatives in other schools/colleges