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Being Safe in the World Wide Web



The class was assigned to create presentations about digital safety, and my group was assigned to present about cyberbullying. In our respective groups, we were to research and gather context about our given topic and present it to the class. I believe we were given this assignment to be more aware of being safe on the Internet as well as being qualified to teach our future students the significance of digital safety. As the class progresses through the semester, we were introduced to numerous technology tools such as websites, applications, and software. We must be proficient in incorporating technology into the classroom and cautious with what tools we are introducing to our students.  

According to the Lexico dictionary, Cyberbullying is “The use of electronic communication to bully a person, typically by sending messages of an intimidating or threatening nature.” (2019) As a future educator, we are required to use our skills and roles to create a safe environment in the classroom. Although this type of bullying takes place on the Internet, feelings of resentment will most likely start in person. We are also put in a position to notice whether a child is showing signs of being cyberbullied. One way that teachers can prevent or address cyberbullying is by developing self-reflection activities. With these activities, children can recognize how they feel and consider the thoughts and feelings of others. Helping children develop their emotional intelligence will improve their self- awareness and learn to have empathy for others (Tips, 2017).

Topics such as Phishing and Pharming and copyright and fair user practices are also important subjects to discuss in a classroom. Phishing and Pharming refer to the act of stealing private data from users through email, calls, and videos. This topic brings awareness to protect one’s private information and to take specific measures to prevent a scam. Copyright and fair user practices refer to giving a published work acknowledgment and knowing your rights to use that information. Although I find these topics addressing adult issues and are not entirely applicable to elementary students, the topics might fit in a secondary education environment as these students start to create their online personality and have limited supervision.   
As a future elementary teacher, I would incorporate ways of being safe on the Internet by including it in a presentation. I decided to design it in this regard because these topics are things that young students need to be aware of. As I was researching and compiling information for the presentation, I stumbled upon “Kids Helpline,” which is a website that provides stories and animations based on difficult topics such as being safe on the internet, cyberbullying, being different, hurting oneself, etc. The stories are brief and include pictures, so students are not easily bored and are entertained with colorful graphics. If a student is experiencing these events, they are encouraged to call, email, or webchat with a professional counselor. After presenting ways of being safe on the internet, I would invite my students to use this site so that they can educate themselves about Internet safety. Another resource that would be available for my students is “Stop Speak Support,” which is a campaign and website that aims to help young students spot cyberbullying, know the steps to prevent it from happening, and help others who are being cyberbullied.   
Communicating frequently with my group was essential for this assignment because this was the most crucial assignment in which we needed to successfully and effectively relay the information to our classmates. These are serious topics that can happen to anyone, especially young children who are continuously exposed to the world wide web. As we gathered information individually, we messaged each other on our group chat to make sure that the information was crucial for our presentation. Our group also had a conference call to discuss which part of the presentation each member should present. Moreover, during the call, we formulated questions and multiple-choice answers that would appear on our Kahoot Quiz. The conferencing tools worked out great, and I am glad that everyone in my group was able to participate in the call. As a result, my group was able to work efficiently and effectively.   
Digital awareness has a significant role to play in 21st-century learning. As schools are continuously encouraged to utilize and implement technology in the classroom, students and teachers should learn about being safe on the Internet. There are multiple possible threats online, and I want to keep my students safe from these inappropriate events. This assignment taught me that technology could be used for personal benefit. Also, I gained the knowledge of how dangerous the online world can be when ominous individuals handle it. As well as how valuable technology can be with assisting students in learning.  


References 
Cyberbullying: Definition of Cyberbullying by Lexico. (n.d.). Retrieved from      https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/cyberbullying 
Tips for Teachers. (2017, September 19). Retrieved from https://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/tips-for-teachers/index.html 

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