Staying Safe Online with Diverse Voices

In this short course, you’ll see a webinar from Diverse Voices focussed on staying safe online. Our students have more access than ever to online content and technology. While this can be powerful for education purposes and staying connected with peers, it can also bring dangers with it as well.

Below you will see top 10 tips for teaching children about online safety followed by information about Diverse Voices.

Supporting children to stay safe online is crucial in today’s digital age. Here are ten top tips for educators:

1. Educate About Privacy Settings: Teach children how to use privacy settings on social media platforms, apps, and devices. Ensure they understand the importance of keeping personal information private.
2. Promote Strong Passwords: Encourage students to create strong, unique passwords for their accounts and change them regularly. Explain the importance of not sharing passwords with anyone, except trusted adults when necessary.
3. Discuss Digital Footprint: Explain that everything they post online contributes to their digital footprint. Emphasise thinking before sharing anything online, as it can have long-term consequences.
4. Model Safe Online Behavior: Demonstrate safe online practices in the classroom. Use examples of appropriate and inappropriate online behaviour, and discuss the potential outcomes of each.
5. Encourage Critical Thinking: Teach children to critically evaluate the information they encounter online. Discuss how to identify credible sources and recognise misinformation or fake news.
6. Promote Open Communication: Create a safe environment where students feel comfortable discussing their online experiences, including any concerns or negative interactions. Let them know they can come to you for help without fear of judgment.
7. Teach About Cyberbullying: Educate students on what cyberbullying is, its effects, and how to respond if they or someone they know is being bullied. Emphasise the importance of reporting cyberbullying to a trusted adult.
8. Set Guidelines and Boundaries: Establish clear rules for internet use in the classroom, including which websites are appropriate and what types of online behaviour are expected. Encourage similar guidelines at home.
9. Utilise Educational Resources: Make use of available online safety education programs and resources. Websites like Common Sense Media and NetSmartz offer valuable tools and lesson plans for teaching online safety.
10. Stay Informed: Keep up-to-date with the latest trends and threats in the online world. Understanding new apps, games, and online behaviors can help you better guide and protect your students.

Who are Diverse Voices?

Diverse Voices connect to young people with a rare ease, and use their engaging and entertaining skills with subtlety, to draw young people’s thinking and behaviour towards life-affirming choices. They offer a unique and effective way for drama and the performing arts to foster social and emotional development.