Computers

How can an E-safety Service Better Educate School Staff About Staying Safe in a Digital World?

Written by : Richard Woods Wednesday, 22 June 2011 09:14

Computers - Databases

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We’re all aware that the world is only becoming more digitally orientated, and with the advent of social media, internet-connected mobile phones and portable tablet devices, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to stay safe in a digital world. While most of us like to think that in the real world, we wouldn’t be taken in by a scam or a fraudster is the same true in the digital sphere? It’s a scary world where one click can take you from an entirely innocent search term to a wholly inappropriate website.

And if this is the case for us adults, think of the risks our children face each and every time they use the internet. We cannot keep our little ones from becoming familiar with the internet – it is now an integrated aspect of our lives – but we can, and we must, protect them from the risks of being connected that exist. While it is our job, as parents, to keep an eye on our children’s browsing habits whilst at home, an even bigger risk occurs at school, when all children must now take Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) – or computing.

It is the school’s duty to ensure that our children are kept safe when surfing the web during classes or on school property. Often now expects schools to have a plan in place to make sure that children are kept just as safe online as they are offline – but not all schools know how to do this off the bat. This is where an e-safety service comes into play.

An E-safety online backup for schools means that schools have a plan which will allow children to explore the internet, and all the wonderful things it can show us, without being exposed to things which are inappropriate. From seminars where teachers can discuss their worries and new technologies which may affect children, to planning how to talk to young people about the dangers which can be found online, it seems that E-safety online is a necessity for all schools. Not only will it instruct teachers on how to keep their students safe whilst they are learning, it will mean good internet practise for children, meaning they are less likely to get into trouble at school or at home. Perhaps most valuably, it will also bring a sense of peace of mind to all parents, who can rest safe knowing that even when they’re not at home, their kids are not seeing things they shouldn’t be seeing online.