Free e-safety course to mark #SID2016

New e-safety course launched by Petra's Planet Share for Safer Internet Day 2016

Posted by Rebecca Paddick | February 09, 2016 | Technology

• #sid2016
• #e-safety
• #safer-internet-day-2016
• #petras-planet-share
• #cyberbullying

To coincide with Safer Internet Day 2016, cross curricula learning tool, Petra’s Planet Share, has organised a free online e-safety course for primary schools, to promote the safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones for children and young people. 

The free e-safety course lasts for three lessons and includes homework ideas, with users able to access the course and all other lesson plans for 30 days after registering, as well as gain free access to Petra’s Planet Share for the duration of the course, with no commitment to usage after the course.

“Teaching safe and responsible internet usage and practice is something that schools are increasingly making a higher priority,” said Kimmo Kärpijoki, business director at Petra’s Planet Share. "That’s why we wanted to offer this e-safety course out for free for Safer Internet Day; empowering schools to enable children to make the most of the internet safely is incredibly important in today’s increasingly online world.”

A core part of the course focuses on cyberbullying. According to the UK Council for Internet Child Safety, 52% of primary teachers reported that pupils at their school have experienced cyberbullying, with the most significant form of cyberbullying coming via social networking sites. 

We know that cyberbullying is becoming a problem in schools, so it is our responsibility to help tackle this from the ground up

“We need to ensure that we are educating today’s children as best as possible to navigate the internet as safely and respectfully as possible. We know that cyberbullying is becoming a problem in schools, so it is our responsibility to help tackle this from the ground up,” explained Kimmo.

"Whilst the internet offers an incredible range of exciting opportunities for children’s learning, it also opens up an entire online world in which children can be increasingly vulnerable. Parents and teachers can’t monitor children’s online behaviour 24 hours a day, which is why giving schools the power to educate children about safe online practice is the best possible preventative measure to online dangers.” 

The free e-safety course is designed to cover three core aspects of safer internet usage, with 45 minute lesson plans on how to teach safety aspects behind online profiles, writing for an online audience and dealing with cyberbullying. Upon completion of the course, the school and pupils are given digital E-Safety Course Badge, which can then be proudly displayed on the school website or VLE to celebrate the school’s collective achievement.

To access the e-safety course, follow this link to register here, or visit petrasplanetshare.com for more information.