Applying Social and Ethical Protocols and Practices in ICT
Hello parents and caregivers!
I hope you have all been well and are becoming comfortable with this new blog. Many of you have already taken the opportunity to write comments about some suggestions and concerns you have - this is fantastic!
I want to discuss something that I think is very important for the students’ future abilities at school, and in life: Applying Social and Ethical Protocols and Practices (ASEPP), as described in the ICT General Capability of the Australian Curriculum. The specific capabilities that the curriculum expects of students are: “recognise intellectual property, apply digital information security practices, apply personal security protocols, and identify the impacts of ICT in society” (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2014). The curriculum capabilities are important to utilise in the classroom to be able to teach students how to safely and productively use technology. Technology is a major part of young people’s lives, and it is necessary that we teach them how to be safe on the internet, while also being able to utilise the incredible technology that they have access to. Young people have not known a world without technology, and it is extremely important in their lives, so it is up to us as their teachers and parents to guide them to make the correct decisions.
Safety Centre Videos. (2009, September 15). Playing and Staying Safe Online [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ5zJvA0NYY
The ACARA website outlines all of the curriculum content that will be used to achieve these ICT curriculum capabilities. Have a browse through the website to understand how each subject will implement the ICT curriculum capabilities. There is a stronger focus on these capabilities in Digital Technologies and Design and Technologies. For example, Design Technologies will implement “checking authenticity of data, for example ensuring the source or author is a reliable individual or organisation” (ACARA, 2014). This will educate the students on the capabilities to “apply digital information security practices” and “recognise intellectual property” (ACARA, 2014). This is important for the students’ future because it helps them to learn what is reliable on the internet, which will protect them from potential scams in the future. It is important that teachers from all subject areas work together to correctly implement the curriculum capabilities to educate the students.
How can you help?
You are already helping by participating in this blog! Communicating to the school community through blog posts is a perfect opportunity for you to demonstrate to your children how to behave safely and responsibly online. They need to be aware that the internet can be used for many exciting things, if it is done appropriately. One of the major downsides of the internet is that mistakes are permanent. Children are destined to make mistakes, but with their constant use of technology it means that their mistakes are often posted on the internet. This does not mean we should stop them from using technology completely, because that will disadvantage them more than it will protect them. Instead, it is necessary we all (parents and teachers) have an open conversation with them about every aspect of the online world. This includes all of those hard to talk about topics like sexting and cyberbullying. If we talk openly with them, we can educate them on how to have a safe presence online and manage their digital footprint.
Resources:
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority [ACARA]. (2014) Foundation to year 10 curriculum: Language for interaction (ACELA1428). Retrieved from http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/english/curriculum/f-10?layout=1#cdcode=ACELA1428&level=F
This game provides potential real life scenarios in a fun and interactive way, which allows students to learn how to use the internet safely and correctly. The game explores many scenarios including plagiarism and how to reference correctly, how to build an online profile, and cyberbullying. This game will be shown to students in class and they will be encouraged to spend time playing the game at home. This may be a fun resource for you to work through with your children, and perhaps it can help you learn more about the internet too! (Suitable for year 8 students, could be used for other year levels)
Common Sense Education (2018). Digital Compass. Retrieved from https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-compass
This link provides information on how to correctly report cyber bullying. Discuss this with your children so they know how to report if they need to.
Office of the eSafety Commisioner (2018). Report Cyberbullying. Retrieved from https://www.esafety.gov.au/complaints-and-reporting/cyberbullying-complaints/i-want-to-report-cyberbullying
This link is a great resource for all parents. It provides useful information and more resources that describe how to discuss cyber safety with your children.
Australian Federal Police (2018). Parents Portal. Retrieved from http://www.thinkuknow.org.au/parents-portal
This is a quiz students can take when they are deciding if a photo is appropriate to send. By answering these questions they will stop and think before posting something they may regret.
Making Safer Choices Online. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.nsteens.org/Quizzes/ToSendOrNotToSend
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