Cyber safety is something that I have had very little experience with. When I was in elementary school, we did some activities related to cyber safety. We had a few short presentations about the subject, but apart from that, there was really no substantial time spent on it. Of course, when you bring in people like Saskatchewan Roughriders players or police officers, kids are going to listen. However, beyond these presentations, there was nothing else to reinforce the message. Thinking back to those early lessons on cyber security, there was a heavy emphasis on the scare tactic technique. It seemed like every time cyber security was mentioned, the goal was to scare us into not using technology at all. We were shown worst-case scenarios and horror stories about the internet, which made it seem like a dangerous place to be avoided rather than a tool to be used wisely. Looking back now, I realize that this approach was not very effective. Scaring students is not a sustainable way to teach them about safety and responsibility online.

Instead of using fear, we should be focusing on teaching students how to use technology responsibly. This means educating them about the potential risks and consequences of their actions online in a balanced and informative way. For instance, students should understand what can happen when they post things online, and the long-term consequences of sharing inappropriate content. It’s important for them to know that even if they delete a post, it may still exist somewhere on the internet.

Creating an environment where students feel comfortable discussing their online experiences and asking questions is crucial. I hope to encourage my students to openly talk about cyber safety so that we can make the topic a little more approachable. By showing students responsible ways to use tech rather than pushing for the fear tactic, we can better prepare students to handle the digital world. They need to understand that the internet is a valuable resource when used correctly and that being informed and cautious is key to staying safe.