Cybersafety

Oaklands School —

Information and links regarding how we aim to keep our students safe online.

Cybersafety Agreement

The school's Cybersafety policy outlines activities and equipment that are covered by the term "cybersafety".  

NOTE: You may need to enter a username (oaklands) and password (acorn) to view this site.

All parents are asked to read and sign a Cybersafety Agreement, and students in Years 4-8 are also asked to sign.

------------------------------

USEFUL LINKS

  • Hector's World: a unique cybersafety initiative for teachers and parents to help young people learn about safe online practices and digital citizenship. Hector’s World is suitable for children at school, home, in early childhood settings, or community groups that support young children.
  • Keep It Tame: an online social marketing campaign which aims to encourage adolescents to use technology and the internet respectfully. It was developed with input from over 130 young people, specialist creative designers and has an evidence base.
  • NetSafe: an independent non-profit organisation that promotes confident, safe, and responsible use of online technologies.Their website is full of information for parents, students and teachers about computer security, cyberbullying, mobile phones and social networking.

------------------------------  

Notes For Parents Around Cyber Safety

by Constable Maire Froud: Youth Education Officer, Hornby Police Station

The following is some suggested points for parents to discuss with their child/children around computer use and all use of technology. These need to be discussed together first, without the child. There is also an example contract attached, which could be used following this discussion, and could be adjusted to suit.

Remembering that cyberspace is part our lives and that these points are some ways to manage our children's safety and use of technology, however I don't want to give the impression that it's a negative thing as it is very positive too, with many advantages.

SETTING RULES

1. Discuss with your partner what you're happy with your child doing online and note them down.

  • Meet with child and discuss your ideas, including use of the Net, cellphone and gaming consoles.
  • Try not to impose lots of rules but to compromise so it works both ways.

2. Work out how to monitor use.

  • This may be to put the computer in the lounge; however it's not always practical. Plus remembering they have access to internet multiple ways.
  • May mean more specific rules are required about what they do online and an agreement made for you to be able to check up on this.

3. Explain the reason for having ground rules.

  • They may not understand the risks involved, discussing this will also help to open the lines of communication.
  • Relate the rules to already set 'offline' rules, such as not accepting a lift or gift from a stranger or having a curfew.

4. Discuss the importance of alerting you to anything 'bad' they may come across online even if it risks exposing themselves to going somewhere they shouldn't have online.

  • Just as you warn them about bad people lurking the on the streets, the same mix of people are online.

5. If they do come across something accidentally they need to know they won't be punished.

  • They need to be encouraged to talk about it.

6. Make it imperative that they never give out any personal information about themselves. Especially in the heat of the moment such as a chat room.

7. Must never give out their password to anyone. Including boyfriend/girlfriend, brother/sister or friends.

8. Need to understand the gravity of meeting someone in person, including if they believe they're the same age.

  • Discuss the difference of face to face communication compared with online. How easily words can be misunderstood in online chat rooms, IM (instant messenger) or texts.

9. Set limits where money is involved.

  • Such as calls per month - help to teach them the need to budget.

10. Consider some form of filter software or setting on the computer.

  • Remembering these aren't 100% fool proof.

11. Offline you get to meet your child's friends. Online this is difficult - encourage them to involve you in their online life so you know whom they're talking to.

12. The limits may change if there are different age groups in the house.

  • As children get older, you need to build in regular 'reviews' of the agreement so you can discuss any new internet developments.
  • It also means anything that is frustrating your child in the agreement can be brought out into the open early, preventing them simply bypassing or working their way around it.

13. Keep yourself up to date with new technologies - what they do, how they work, and most importantly how kids are using them.

Good Luck!