The digital world is already part of the reality of almost everyone. In the school environment, informatics was regarded as a content to be learned during the main school years and this reality became the advancement of technologies, causing online safety to become an urgent agenda.
Currently, children are already inserted in the digital environment in such a way that it is no longer necessary to teach what the internet is and how it should be used. The vast majority of the population between 3 and 17 years old (99%, according to the report) is already a frequent user of the internet and all the facilities and resources it can provide.
However, while there is already this insertion and the basic knowledge of the digital world, it is very important to establish a guidance protocol to explain and ensure online security. This is because, although it is a tool that presents very interesting resources for the teaching and training process of young people, the internet also has its dark side.
It is common to find young users who are having difficulty performing their tasks, aggressive behavior and lack of interest in the school environment and the contents presented due to the excessive and indiscriminate use of the internet.
Digital security is a very important agenda that should be discussed in both the family and school environment.
What is the role of the school?
It is very important that the school environment is prepared to receive the questions presented by students and know how to deal with online safety issues that may arise. To help professionals in this industry, we have prepared a complete guide with everything you need to know to establish smarter and focused use of this tool that is so important today.
The importance of online safety in the school environment
Although school managers have immense concern for the physical integrity of children under their tutelage, it is also very important that online safety is a primary aspect in the school's strategy.
Considering these factors, there are many aspects that should be considered, for example:
The school is responsible for storing an immense information base related to its students that must be protected at all costs in order to provide more security and confidentiality for this data. The loss of this type of information may not only have financial and judicial risks to the institution, but also a great risk to its holders .
In addition, the internet is full of content that can be dangerous to children and adolescents in ways that effective control can be a valuable strategy to increase online safety.
From the dawn of the internet, when it has not yet been such a popular resource, we have been oriented as to the need to protect our personal data and the information that is stored. And this alert has not fallen into disuse, on the contrary: today, it is even more important to establish safer behavior in the digital environment.
Every day, cybercriminals find more efficient ways to steal data and personal information, making it necessary to find equally advanced resources to bring more protection to this type of sensitive content .
These criminals also plant harmful and dangerous content that can undermine the good development of children such as violent, pornographic content or attempts at scam.
We often hear news about the so -called trends, which can cause the child to commit dangerous acts , endangering the safety of colleagues and family, and their own.
What should be done to increase internet security within the school environment?
There are several resources and strategies that can be applied to increase online safety in the school environment. Here are some essential tips that we separated for you:
Educators Training
It is very important for teachers to be prepared to deal transparently about online safety issues . This new generation of individuals has grown exposed to a large volume of information and resources, and it is important for managers and teachers to clarify doubts and guide them about the correct and safe use of the internet.
This tool, although it has risks, is not an enemy, but a potential ally to provide better and better results . For this reason, it is essential that teachers are prepared to understand what are the difficulties to be presented by the students, to clarify their doubts and to set a code of conduct for the use of the internet more intelligently and safely.
School environment professionals need to be able to understand these issues and align with new technologies in the market.
Data exposure should be discussed
Social networks are used massively, and for this reason it is important that not only students but also professionals understand the risks that these platforms and tools can present.
There are thousands of cybercriminals and misunderstandings who seek from children and young people to collect confidential information and apply scams. It is important that everyone knows that not everything that seems to be interesting can be really publicized on the internet.
Some criminals use social engineering to attract children on game platforms offering schemes and strategies to ensure benefits in the most popular games. In fact, this type of content is intended to collect confidential data and apply several blows.
Only from August 10 to 14 last year, the Mantis (ISH Tech's National Risk Protection Platform) was able to identify 645 videos on the YouTube platform with tutorials and games explanations that offer these advantages to children , demonstrating the size of the risk that this strategy offers to users.
Personal information, family data, goods and locations frequented is hazardous content that can be used fraudulently.
Cyberbullying is a reality and must be discussed
The new generation has grown surrounded by technologies, so that its communication happens largely over the internet. Although this easy information exchange is positive, this digital communication can also be a risk and a weapon when used inappropriately, favoring cyberbullying .
The internet is not a landless land and should be used according to rules of good coexistence and based on appropriate behaviors.
Use a safe research method
As we have seen earlier, the internet is full of traps that can be planted in the most unexpected environments. Thus, it is important that students and professionals understand the importance of using safe and reliable research methods.
There are several fake sites out there that do not have reliable information, and it is necessary to find safe tools that help to escape this kind of threat. Both professionals and students should count on the right tools that help avoid falling into blows and traps.
What are the main digital traps that can appear in the school environment?
We know that the internet has many benefits to our routine, but it can also be extremely dangerous. In the school environment there are some blows and traps that deserve attention and should be avoided to maintain everyone's safety.
Phishing blows
phishing blow is one of the oldest traps on the internet and has been applied for many years. Using channels like email, cybercriminals can make users provide confidential information or install malicious files on their device.
Ransomware
This type of cyber attack aims to apply a substantial financial blow to its victims. This is done by kidnapping information: cybercriminal, through vulnerabilities found in the system or even the phishing blow, can collect data fraudulently.
From then on it requires the payment of a redemption to return such data on the data, making ransomware a great threat.
Pornography and violent content
Unlike many think, this type of content is not only found on specific sites, and do not require very thorough research. Many malicious users hide violent and pornographic content on ordinary websites , causing children to have access to such media, even with the control of education professionals and family members.
A safe use policy of the internet is essential
Although young people and children know how technology works, they often have little guidance to use this feature more intelligently and safely . To help them at this stage, the school can implement a safe use policy that guides them and helps to understand the importance of safe behavior in the online environment. See some tips below:
- Share content with caution: Everything that is shared must be carefully thought and evaluated. It is important to take into account who this information will be shared and the nature of this data, ie data such as home address, information about others or location, must be kept secret.
- Beware of the traps: Several blows can be applied over the internet, so it is important to keep alert to realize possible scam attempts, such as phishing. Any suspicious activity must be communicated.
- Protect your confidential and secret data: For this information to be safely stored, it is essential to create strong passwords that cannot be easily guessed by criminals.
- Prioritize kindness: Cyberbullying is a reality and can often be accidentally committed, with some inadequate games and postures. For this reason, always use positive messages, avoiding harmful or aggressive behaviors with your colleagues.
- You are not alone: whenever any questions arise about inappropriate or dangerous behaviors on the internet, seek help from someone to seek an adult of your trust to report this type of activity.
Count on all the help you can!
For these rules to be followed and understood by students, the school can implement interesting activities that help students understand their importance. We have separated some unmissable tools and materials for you:
Program be amazing on the internet
Google has a program called be amazing on the internet, which aims to teach children about the most important skills for safe and intelligent behavior on the internet.
This program is based on 5 basic principles:
- Intelligent
- Attentive
- Strong
- Kindly
- Brave
Through these principles, the program helps education managers and professionals to establish playful and efficient activities to understand their role for a safer internet .
It brings to teachers and educators important tips and tools for the teaching of these concepts , facilitating the process of learning and understanding children and adolescents. See some useful tools for educators and parents:
Interland game
Through this gamified platform , students will have a more practical contact with the concepts of the theme, simply learning how basic online safety principles work.
The game helps students become safe and confident explorers in the online world. In the form of the game, the teachings become lighter and facilitate learning because it is a relaxed way to learn.
Curriculum do Be amazing on the internet
Aimed at parents and educators, this is a “manual” of training to assist children and adolescents, the basic concepts on online safety. With tools and methods, clear of course, adults will be able to acquire the necessary knowledge on the topic, further strengthening the intention of the “Be Amazing on the Internet” program.
The training is free and separated in steps, with a general view of lesson, activities, themes, and goals for students, see:
- Educator Guide
- Lesson 1: Share carefully
- Lesson 2: Don't fall into traps
- Lesson 3: Protect your secrets
- Lesson 4: It's nice to be kind
- Lesson 5: In doubt talk to someone
Didactically, it is much easier to understand how to protect yourself on the internet.
Oath to be amazing on the internet
With the basic principles of the program and the main teachings in a summary, listed in writing, the oath of being amazing on the Internet demonstrates to students and educators the importance and seriousness of protecting the data and information that travels on the internet.
This PDF document can be used in all school environments and can serve as a kind of “closure” of the program's teachings and learning cycle is amazing on the internet.
It should be used without contraindications by educators and parents seeking to protect students and children from online dangers.
Classroom activities
Distributed to topics, with personalized presentations and documents, this is another tool to become really amazing on the internet.
Based on the basic concepts of the program, suggests interesting activities, see:
- Be smart on the internet, share carefully
- Lesson [in presentation form]
- Instructor Guide [document form]
- Cutouts [in document form]
- Table [in document form]
- Stay tuned on the internet, don't fall into traps
- Lesson [in presentation form]
- Instructor Guide [document form]
- Real signs x false [document form]
- Be strong on the internet, protect your secrets
- Lesson [in presentation form]
- Instructor Guide [document form]
- Cutouts [in document form]
- Be kind on the internet, it's cool
- Lesson [in presentation form]
- Instructor Guide [document form]
- Cutouts [in document form]
- Table [in document form]
- Be brave on the internet, in doubt, talk to someone
- Lesson [in presentation form]
- Instructor Guide [document form]
- Spreadsheet [document form]
Monica's Gang Magazine
Created by cartoonist Maurício de Souza, the characters from Monica's Gang were inserted in several special magazines aiming at presenting highly important topics, such as protecting personal data and behavior on the Internet.
With teachings to students applied to different contexts, magazines can be allies of educators and parents concerned about the theme.
This edition and many others you will find on the Monica Turma website , available for free.
Lumiun can also accompany you on this journey!
With various benefits and extremely simple to be installed and use, Lumiun has been a strong ally of schools and educators against internet problems with students and children.
In addition to digital blows as we saw above, the deviation of attention and the loss of focus on school activities make the internet no longer be a potentiation of results at some school moments.
Lumiun , in its general form, has a set of internet access control (blocking websites and categories) and internet security (firewall and VPN). In school environments it has generated good results , giving managers (educators and principals) the power to block sites considered harmful or outside the school scope. But don't be alarmed, blockages can be done at certain groups and also at specific times , leaving the internet from productive and safe school when and for those who really should be.
With Lumun it is possible, within the school environment:
- Block social networks, games, music and video at specific times;
- Block sites considered harmful , such as digital blows and malware ;
- Pornography and Violence Sites ;
- Filter the search result from Google and Youtube;
- Determine which groups of students will have permitted or blocked ;
- View reports of the general use of the school internet;
- Block ads ;
- Manage the entire school network remotely;
- Much more.
See the opinion of director Gustavo Malschitzky, director of the CEAP College (Lumiun client since March 2017), about one of our solutions, Lumiun Box :
“With Lumiun Box, we were able to restrict internet access to unauthorized people, and can direct the internet band exclusively to students, teachers and administrative sectors. But the main thing, we can prevent access to non -interest sites, blocking sites related to pornography, games and even social networks.
We noticed improvements mainly from students, limiting inappropriate distractions and uses of the internet, leaving them focused on school activities.
In informing the parents of the students at the time of the implementation of Lumiun Box, we generally had positive manifestations, including the school's motivation to obtain better results from the students.
Finally, with the help of Lumiun's support team, the implementation of Lumiun Box was quite simple and did not need technical knowledge, besides the clear agility in meeting our needs in all stages. ”
If you are an educator, principal or administrator of a school, and are looking for more protection of student access , make a demonstration without commitment or ask for a quote with one of our consultants.
Until later!
