Cyberzine issue 5
In this issue:
Welcome
Welcome to the fifth edition of the Cybersmart Cyberzine.
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 new sexting resources for teachers, the success of Cybersmart's Pre-Service Teacher Program and the Cybersmart Online Helpline.
Your feedback and comments are welcome. Please send them to cybersafety@acma.gov.au
We hope you enjoy Cyberzine.
International Language Brochures
As part of its cybersafety education program, the ACMA's Cybersmart team has produced a range of resources for parents to use with their children. These include a series of brochures about online safety including steps to manage key safety issues.
These brochures are now also available in 5 international languages (Greek, Arabic, Chinese, Italian and Vietnamese) and cover topics such as socialising on the internet, dealing with offensive content, cyberbullying, mobile phone safety and sexting. You can order copies from the Cybersmart website here.
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Sexting Lesson Plans for Teachers
Cybersmart has released new lesson plans about sexting for both middle and upper secondary students. Sexting is the sending of provocative or sexual images or messages generally using a mobile phone. Sexting can have serious social and, increasingly, legal consequences for students.
The lesson plans are intended to encourage students to explore the potential legal and social consequences of sexting in a realistic way. They utilise engaging video footage and scenarios involving young people to prompt consideration of sexting and how to manage it within the peer group. Both sets of lesson plans have an associated Powerpoint presentation that can be used in senior school assemblies.
Greg Gebhart, Senior Education Trainer for the ACMA said the plans provide students with realistic scenarios and educate them about the social and legal consequences of 'sexting'.
'Over the last month over three hundred copies of the ACMA's Cybersmart sexting lesson plans have been downloaded, with over a hundred and twenty sexting brochures for parents also downloaded,' said Mr Gebhart. 'The popularity of these educational resources suggests that sexting is a top of mind issue for schools and teachers and is perceived as a growing risk for teenagers.'
The lesson plans are free for schools to access and are provided under a Creative Commons licence which enables teachers to change, translate and share new creations with other teachers and students.
Cybersmart also provides guidance for parents of children and teens. Sexting is explored in the Parents' Guide to Online Safety which provides actions to help parents guide children and teens around the issue.
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Cybersmart Successfully Partners With Peak Library Body for National Event
The ACMA’s Cybersmart team recently partnered with the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) for Library and Information Week, a national event held 23-29 May 2011.
In May every year since 1968, libraries and information services throughout Australia showcase their many and varied resources and services through different programs and events targeted to a cross-section of the community. The week provides the opportunity to introduce new services and professional skills to the community and to publicly canvas issues of importance to the provision of library and information services in Australia.
Cybersmart has a range of resource materials geared to supporting library staff and library visitors, especially those using computers and the internet. These include the 24 page Cybersmart Guide for Library Staff and the well received Cybersmart Guide for Families. These resources are available on the Cybersmart website along with a series of four information videos dealing with a range of cybersafety issues. A poster geared towards young internet users is also available.
According to Sue Hutley, ALIA Executive Director, “Libraries are a great place to learn about cybersafety and ALIA is proud to have the support of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (the ACMA) for Library and Information Week. ALIA will continue working with the ACMA to make cybersafety resources available in libraries.”
For more information and to access resource materials for library staff and library users, visit the Cybersmart libraries website.
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Cybersafety Program for Final Year Pre-Service Teachers at University Hits the Mark
Following the successful national roll-out of the pre-service teacher program earlier this year, the program continues to go from strength to strength. All 45 universities across Australia with a faculty of education were invited to participate in this new program which is based on a 50 minute resource lecture and a 90 minute interactive tutorial. To date, 29 universities have either held an event or have a booking for an event later this year. This equates to more than 3,500 students attending the program so far with a further 2,400 scheduled to attend an event in second semester.
The program is aimed at equipping pre-service teachers with the skills, knowledge, resources and confidence to educate their future students about cybersafety issues such as cyberbullying, safe social networking, sexting, e-security, identity protection and responsible digital citizenship. There is also the added benefit for the beginning teacher in being more aware of issues related to their own digital footprint and enhanced professional standing from using technology, especially social networks, appropriately.
The pre-service teacher program is based on the very successful Cybersmart Outreach—Professional Development for Educators program and is the result of extensive consultation with key stakeholders and the university sector. Feedback has been very positive with both students and faculty staff enthusiastic about this free program for the university sector. “I found the lecture fantastic and it really caused me to think about and relate to the content discussed. A great resource for new teachers and students.” (4th year Education Student, Australian Catholic University, NSW)
“A fantastic presentation – very well created and presented and highly relevant. Resources are great and easily accessible.” (4th year Education student, Deakin University, Victoria)
“What a treat is in store for you. This is an important program and very timely. Find out exactly what the issues are – issues that may well affect you too –and how best to respond.” (Dr Helen McGrath, Senior Education Lecturer, Deakin University, Victoria).
For more information or to make a booking visit the Cybersmart Outreach website or email cybersafety@acma.gov.au or phone the Cybersafety Contact Centre on 1800 880 176
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Kids Helpline
Many children and young people are clearly entrenched in an online world. But how risky is it? According to the ACMA’s Click and Connect study, children demonstrate a good general knowledge about online behaviours that might be considered ‘risky’. Yet in spite of this, some young people still engage in risky behaviour, and some perceive these behaviours are common across their peer groups.
The Cybersmart Online Helpline, provided by Kids Helpline in partnership with the ACMA, is one option which provides free, confidential online counselling for children and young people. Web counselling lets children and young people connect one-on-one, in real time, with a Kids Helpline counsellor, over the web.
Kids Helpline also offers private and confidential telephone and email counselling 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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Subscribe to Cyberzine
Subscribe to Cyberzine
Cyberzine archive
Cyberzine Issue 1, March 2010
Cyberzine Issue 2, August 2010
Cyberzine Issue 3, November 2010
Cyberzine Issue 4, March 2011
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