How we safeguard online environments
Information and Data Safety
Introduction
Welcome to the "Safety in the Digital Realm" module. Drawing inspiration from the Digital Competence Framework for Educators (DigCompEdu), this section is meticulously designed to bolster educators' capabilities in digital safety. Within this module, you'll explore the diverse facets of digital safety and discover tools and techniques to create a secure and conscious digital footprint, both for yourself and for your students.
Basic Digital Skills - From DigCompEdu
In the digital expanse, safety isn't merely a technical concern; it is a holistic commitment that encompasses devices, data, well-being, and even the environment. To simplify our digital safety voyage, let's envision it as safeguarding a castle in an ever-evolving digital kingdom:
1. Device Defenders: Think of your devices as the outer walls and gates of our castle. How do we ensure they remain sturdy and impenetrable? By understanding potential risks and applying protective measures. Reflect: How can I fortify my devices? Am I aware of potential vulnerabilities?
2. Data Guardians: Within the castle walls are precious treasures, akin to our personal data. It's vital to protect these treasures from prying eyes, ensuring they remain confidential and used appropriately. Ponder: How am I keeping my data shielded? Am I sharing information in a safe manner?
3. Wellness Wardens: While physical fortifications are essential, the well-being of the castle's inhabitants – in our case, our mental and physical health – is paramount. In the digital realm, it's about balancing screen time, understanding the impact of digital technologies on our well-being, and ensuring inclusivity. Reflect: Am I aware of the health implications of prolonged digital usage? How can I make digital spaces more inclusive?
4. Environment Protectors: Every castle is part of a larger ecosystem. In the digital context, this refers to understanding the environmental ramifications of our digital habits and choices. Ask: What's the ecological footprint of my digital devices? How can I be more environmentally conscious in my digital endeavors?
Embarking on this protective journey, we transform the daunting task of digital safety into a structured, intuitive, and comprehensive quest. With these considerations in place, educators can not only safeguard their digital territories but also impart these essential safety skills to their students, ensuring a safer digital world for all.
Getting to Know Digital Basics
Navigating the challenges of digital safety in education can seem daunting. Let's make our digital safety journey more relatable by likening it to a school field trip. On such trips, preparation is paramount. Here's a closer look:
Device Defenders: Think of our digital devices as the bus we take on our field trip. We want to make sure it's secure, functions well, and gets us to our destination safely. Ask yourself: Are my devices protected from threats? How can I ensure they remain uncompromised?
Data Guardians: When we travel, we have a list of all students, their emergency contacts, and important details. In the digital realm, it's akin to safeguarding student data and privacy. Ponder: Am I cautious about where and how I share student information? How do I ensure its safety?
Wellness Wardens: Just as we'd ensure students are safe and healthy during the trip, in the digital space, it's about understanding the implications of excessive digital exposure and finding ways to mitigate it. Reflect: Am I ensuring a balanced digital routine for my students? How am I maintaining digital well-being in the classroom?
Environment Protectors: Responsible educators make sure to leave no student behind and ensure everyone is accounted for. In the digital world, this translates to understanding the environmental impact of our digital habits and striving for sustainable digital choices. Question: Am I aware of the ecological consequences of our digital choices in the classroom? How can we make environmentally-conscious decisions?
With this field trip-inspired approach, understanding and teaching digital safety becomes a more relatable, insightful, and comprehensive endeavor. It's about being prepared, cautious, and responsible, ensuring a safe and harmonious digital learning environment.
For Device Defenders
Step 1: Device Defense Basics: Begin by familiarising yourself with common protective measures for devices and digital content, ensuring they remain uncompromised.
Step 2: Threat Awareness: Delve into understanding the various risks in the digital landscape. Differentiate between the myriad threats and potential pitfalls.
Step 3: Safety Protocols: Implement and regularly update safety and security measures for all devices, staying ahead of potential vulnerabilities.
Step 4: Trust but Verify: Acquaint yourself with the reliability and privacy metrics of various devices and platforms to make informed choices.
Guidance: Browse through our collection of videos for Device Defenders.
For Data Guardians
Step 1: Guarding Personal Space: Educate yourself on straightforward methods to safeguard personal data and privacy while online.
Step 2: Information Sharing: Develop an understanding of how to use and distribute personal identifiers, ensuring you and others remain protected from potential harms.
Step 3: Privacy Policy Patrol: Familiarise yourself with key indicators within privacy policies, ensuring digital services are transparent about their data usage.
Guidance: Browse through our collection of videos for Data Guardians.
For Wellness Wardens
Step 1: Digital Health Check: Identify common health risks associated with prolonged digital technology use, such as digital eye strain or poor posture, and discover ways to counteract them.
Step 2: Safety Shields: Cultivate habits and introduce tools that help safeguard from potential digital hazards, both mentally and physically.
Step 3: Inclusion and Well-being: Explore and adopt digital technologies designed to enhance social well-being and foster an inclusive environment for all users.
Guidance: Browse through our collection of videos for Wellness Wardens.
For Environment Protectors
Step 1: Tech Footprint: Dedicate time to understanding the environmental impacts of various digital technologies, from energy consumption to e-waste.
Step 2: Sustainable Choices: Equip yourself with knowledge on sustainable tech alternatives and adopt best practices to minimize the negative environmental effects of technology usage.
Guidance: Browse through our collection of videos for Environment Protectors.
DigCompEdu Competences
After finishing this module of the Educator Guide, you should have acquired the following four competences at the basic level:
- Protecting devices
- Protecting personal data and privacy
- Protecting health and well-being
- Protecting the environment