During my schooling, the approach to “cyber safety” or digital citizenship was primarily educational, emphasizing proper use and awareness rather than scare tactics. Here are some techniques and aspects of the approach:

Techniques Used:

  1. Classroom Lessons and Workshops:
    • Teachers incorporated lessons on internet safety into the curriculum, focusing on topics like creating strong passwords, recognizing phishing attempts, and the importance of privacy settings on social media.
    • Workshops and special sessions conducted by IT professionals or guest speakers who shared their expertise on safe online practices.
    • For example, lots of activities directly from the Government of Canada we shared as well.
  2. Educational Videos and Materials:
    • Use of educational videos that illustrated common online risks and how to avoid them.
    • Distribution of brochures and handouts with tips on cyber safety.
  3. Interactive Activities:
    • Interactive games and quizzes to test students’ knowledge about internet safety.
    • Role-playing scenarios where students could practice responding to potential online threats.
    • Collaboration done with Google.
  4. Parental Involvement:
    • Information sessions for parents to help them understand the digital landscape and guide their children.
    • Sending home resources and guidelines for parents to use with their children.

Effectiveness and Benefits:

  • Awareness and Prevention:
    • This approach was beneficial in raising awareness among students about the potential dangers online and teaching them how to prevent issues before they occur.
    • Students were equipped with practical knowledge and skills to navigate the internet safely.
  • Empowerment:
    • Rather than instilling fear, the educational approach empowered students to make informed decisions online.
    • It fostered a sense of responsibility and digital citizenship.

Most Helpful Approaches:

  1. Comprehensive Education:
    • Continuous, age-appropriate education starting from a young age and evolving with the students’ growing digital engagement is crucial.
    • Integrating cyber safety into regular curriculum rather than as one-off sessions ensures consistent reinforcement.
  2. Practical Engagement:
    • Interactive and practical activities that allow students to apply what they’ve learned in real-world scenarios are highly effective.
    • Simulations of common cyber threats can help students better understand and retain information.
  3. Parental and Community Involvement:
    • Engaging parents and the community creates a support network for students, reinforcing the importance of cyber safety at home and in social settings.
    • Providing resources and training for parents ensures they can guide their children effectively.
  4. Positive Reinforcement:
    • Highlighting positive examples of digital citizenship and rewarding responsible online behavior can encourage students to adopt and maintain good habits.
    • Focusing on the benefits of safe and responsible online behavior rather than solely on the dangers can create a more balanced perspective.

For me, I believe the most effective approaches to cyber safety education are those that are comprehensive, practical, and involve the broader community. By empowering students with knowledge and practical skills, and reinforcing these lessons through consistent engagement and support, schools can foster a culture of responsible and safe digital citizenship. I believe these were beneficial because we were made aware of the situations at an early age and kept up with the times. I believe any efforts made towards this problem and these situations make it easier for anyone to be aware of their surroundings. It is important for people to know these skills and their options in order to deal with these situations.