Cyberzine
In this issue:
Welcome
Welcome to the sixth edition of the Cybersmart Cyberzine, and our final edition for 2011.
Cyberzine will keep you up to date with information about cybersafety, including current issues, new resources and the latest research.
In this issue we look at Cybersmart's new resources including the new short film Tagged, a set of four fun games for children with special education needs called Cybersmart Access and also Cybersmart Networking, the latest addition to the Interactive Shared Learning Program.
This edition also discusses what sets apart a good teacher from a great teacher in the 21st Century, the ACMA's support of the Day for Daniel, and preparing ourselves for Safer Internet Day 2012.
Your feedback and comments are welcome. Please send them to cybersafety@acma.gov.au
We hope you enjoy Cyberzine.
Tagged
Tagged - What you do online could tag you for life
Tagged is a short film developed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority's Cybersmart program and launched on the 23rd September by Senator the Hon. Stephen Conroy, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy in Melbourne. The film explores cyberbullying, sexting, digital reputation and personal responsibility. These issues are crucial for teenagers to understand in order to maintain positive online behaviour and experiences into adulthood.
The Tagged launch was hosted by youth ambassador and Nova radio host, Dylan Lewis, at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image and more than 280 school students and industry stakeholders from across Melbourne attended the screening.
Tagged can be viewed online now or ordered for free from cybersmart.gov.au/tagged. The film is accompanied by flexible lesson plans, activities and character interviews for use in schools which promote positive online behaviour.
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National child protection week
National Child protection week
Cybersmart coordinated cybersafety activities in schools across Australia to support National Child Protection Week, September 4-11.
The annual event raises awareness of child abuse and neglect, and aims to raise the profile of initiatives connected with child protection.
More than 1000 students participated in Cybersmart Detectives and Cybersmart Hero, assisted by police, teachers and safety experts as moderators. These activities are online interactive programs designed for upper primary classes, covering issues of grooming, cyberbullying and protecting personal information.
The theme this year was "Play Your Part to Keep Children Safe" and these activities encouraged students to be safer and smarter when online.
Cybersmart also had 50 cybersafety presentations for students, parents and teachers during the week to raise awareness about how kids, teens and parents can safely enjoy the online world.
National Child Protection Week is an annual initiative of the National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN).
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Cybersmart Access
Cybersmart Access
Cybersmart has released an online cybersafety program, Cybersmart Access, designed to ensure cybersafety messages are accessible to all Australian students.
Cybersmart Access is a free set of online games and teacher resources available for all students and particularly applicable for students with special education needs. The program was developed with the assistance of teachers and tested by students with learning difficulties.
The messages are short, sharp and simple with repetition throughout the games and the activities within the teacher resources. Topics covered include cyberbullying, social networking, keeping personal information private, and appropriate online behaviours.
Cybersmart Access was launched at the Concord School in Bundoora, Victoria on 30 August 2011.
Cybersmart Access is now available online to schools.
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Cybersmart training for your curriculum vitae
With more than 3 million Aussie school children preparing to start their summer holidays over the coming weeks, school Principals are busily advertising and sifting through teacher CVs in an effort to recruit great teachers for the next school year. But in the 21st century, what sets apart a great teacher from a good teacher? Dynamism? Innovation? Organisation? Cyber saviness?
Cybersafety training may be considered a relevant factor between suitable applicants and their ability to relate to the tech-savvy young people in their classrooms.
Thousands of Australian teachers and graduating education students have participated in some level of cybersafety training through Cybersmart Outreach programs. New graduates who have completed the Outreach Pre-Service Teacher program have an increased awareness and ability to deal with cybersafety issues when they first enter the teaching profession and more fully appreciate the influence digital culture will have on their teaching. Many experienced teachers have completed the full day Professional Development workshop or online program, Connect.ed. Cybersmart trained teachers help create and maintain respectful school cultures and contribute to a robust approach to digital citizenship.
For more information or to make a booking go to www.cybersmart.gov.au/outreach.aspx, email cybersmart@acma.gov.au or phone the Cybersafety Contact Centre on 1800 880 176.
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Cybersmart Networking
Cybersmart Networking
The ACMA's new and innovative online social networking activity, Cybersmart Networking, is on its way.
From 2012, schools nationwide will be able to participate in the new activity which teaches students about issues they might face when involved in social networking and how to protect their online reputation when connecting with others online.
Cybersmart Networking is an innovative activity that is run in a safe, school environment. The hour-long activity is designed for students in the last year of primary or first year of secondary school.
This activity is the latest addition to the Interactive Shared Learning programs (ISL) that allow students to participate in an online learning environment.
Over 28,000 students from more than 600 schools across Australia have participated in ISL activities.
Cybersmart Networking registrations open in December 2011. To register, email isl@acma.gov.au
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Day for Daniel
Daniel Morcombe foundation
Day for Daniel is an annual event initiated by the Daniel Morcombe Foundation whose aim is to promote safety awareness for children both in schools and the wider community. The Foundation was established in 2005 by Denise and Bruce Morcombe following the tragic fatal abduction of their 13 year old son Daniel, in December 2003.
In support of this event the Australian Communications and Media Authority will be coordinating a day of online Cybersmart Interactive Shared Learning activities for schools across Australia.
In 2010, more than 800 students from 16 schools Australia wide participated in cybersmart activities on the Day for Daniel. This year, we are hoping for many more. The one-hour in-school activity for children in upper primary years teaches students valuable lessons about internet safety and stranger danger online.
Guided by a series of clues, students work collaboratively in teams to solve the mystery of a missing student. Cybersmart Guides, police, teachers and internet safety experts, respond to the questions and theories posed by the students in real time and guide the teams through each of the clues.
Schools wanting to be involved in the activities can contact Cybersmart on 1300 669 024 or isl@acma.gov.au or visit www.cybersmart.gov.au for more information.
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Safer Internet Day
Safer Internet Day 2012
Safer Internet Day 2012 will be held on Tuesday 7 February. The theme 'Connecting generations and educating each other' will be used to promote safer and more responsible use of social networking sites and will highlight the importance of protecting privacy, the impact on digital reputation and the need for online etiquette.
This annual international event is coordinated by Insafe, the European network for internet safety and supported in Australia by the ACMA.
To help schools take part in Safer Internet Day 2012, the ACMA has developed some tools and tips which will be available from November 2011 onwards at www.cybersmart.gov.au. These will include lesson plans, a poster for schools and libraries, and actions parents, kids and teens can take to stay safe online. All Cybersmart resources and activities are available free of charge.
A Cybersmart Networking event will also be held nationally on Safer Internet Day. Schools interested in participating are invited go online to register for the activity.
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ACMA's Connect.ed reaches 3000 registrants
Over 3000 teachers from across Australia have registered for the ACMA's online cybersafety program "Connect.ed" since it was launched in May this year.
Connect.ed's online format enables teachers across the country to develop their skills and knowledge in dealing with cybersafety issues such as cyberbullying and sexting in their own time and at no cost. It was created in response to overwhelming teacher demand for quality cybersafety training and to complement the ACMA's existing face-to-face cybersafety presentations and workshops delivered throughout Australia.
Gail Tarrant, Education Officer with the Catholic Education Office in Victoria was the first teacher in Australia to complete the Connect.ed program.
'There are ever emerging cyber safety issues and we are playing catch up a lot of the time. We need to be able to instil in our students a sense of confidence in our ability to resolve these situations', said Ms Tarrant. 'Connect.ed is a great way to help teachers learn about social media, be able to teach cybersafety to students and protect them from potential dangers online.'
The professional development program features the up-to-date, thought-provoking cybersafety information including two interactive simulations, teacher resources and video interviews with leading Australian experts in the field. There are also surveys, case studies and quizzes that help teachers reflect on their own practice and attitudes towards social networking.
Connect.ed is available online to teachers around Australia at cybersmart.gov.au/outreach.aspx.
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Understanding internet telephony and implications for school
With the advent of new technologies like smart phones and tablets, internet telephony has become an inexpensive way to have voice conversations in real time. Applications like Skype and Facetime also allow participants to see each other. Generally, two people can only communicate via internet telephony if they have the same or similar programs.
There are obvious benefits with internet telephony in an educational setting such as collaboration and interaction between students across borders and in different locations.
Some Australian schools have rolled out banks of ipads and laptops and it is pertinent to consider any risks that certain applications may provide. With new technology being used in classrooms for educational purposes, it may be timely to examine your school internet policy as new technologies enter the educational setting. Clear guidelines such as "the use of internet telephony is only permitted where there is a clear academic purpose with the permission of a staff member" may be something to consider.
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Subscribe to Cyberzine
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Cyberzine archive
Cyberzine Issue 1, March 2010
Cyberzine Issue 2, August 2010
Cyberzine Issue 3, November 2010
Cyberzine Issue 4, March 2011
Cyberzine Issue 5, July 2011
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