Online safety presents interesting challenges.

Starting out on this class blog,

Teacher decided to err on the side of caution

and so no photos or video footage where a child

can be identified are included.

Instead we try to get the originality,

character and personality of the students

across in other innovative ways.

For example we have used Audioboo,

Voki avatars,

worn hats

 and other disguises.

What started out as a blog policy decision

has become great fun;

part of what we are;

a game and an interesting challenge.

Recently we noticed some other schools using

photo-editing tools to great effect

on Twitter and their school websites.

We imagine many of these are

available on ipads. We work on a laptop

so we have done some research

and some experimenting into what is available.

This was a journey with some complications

as a number of these tools seem to come

with their own malware and adware.

However we came up with two that are

well regarded.

Cartoon.pho.to creates some great effects

as does Befunky.com

Group photos of students where no child is identifiable

by name may be the way to go, but we enjoy the challenge

we have set ourselves and it has become second nature.

There is an excellent article  on 

‘Pupil Safety on the School Website’ on Seomra Ranga,

should you want to read more about this important subject.

Tuesday 11th February 2014 is ‘Safer Internet Day’ 

This year’s theme is a positive one:

“Let’s create a better internet together”

This video is ‘age appropriate’

for 7-9 year olds approximately

and is a little over eight minutes long.

Do check it is suitable for your audience

before showing it.

‘Lee and Kim’s Magical Adventure’ for Internet Safety.

from ‘Locosoho’ on Vimeo

Photo Credit: Thomas Galvez via Compfight

You also may find the following teaching suggestion helpful

for primary school children of all ages:

The Digital Citizen Survival Kit 

from the blog ‘Comfortably 2.o :

Ideas for Integrating Technology Into Your Classroom’.

2nd Class Room 6 got a lot out of this learning tool last year, 

and referred back to it often.

Other resources we have used on the topic of

Internet Safety are here.

In school we are very conscious of Internet Safety.

When blogging in class, Teacher advises the children

in Room 6 on internet safety

in an age appropriate way,

regularly.

Teacher explains that

you can’t believe everything

you read on the internet,

that we have to be careful

and that people may not

always be whom they claim to be.

The children show great common sense

in these conversations.

Teacher feels that the children in 2nd Class, Room 6

know what is the safest thing to do in theory

but that they do need to be supervised online.

The internet is a very valuable educational tool.

However, it is also a portal to the outside world.

Parents may find the following links of interest.

It gives excellent advice about how to keep children safe online.

GUEST POST ON INTERNET SAFETY ON SEOMRARANGA.COM

WEBWISE  is another useful resource for parents.

Webwise.ie Advice to Parents

Update 8th June 2013

CyberSafetyAdvice.com 

is  a ‘free resource for

teachers, parents & children

on how to protect yourself online

& prevent cyber-bullying’.