Yesterday the Scottish Government announced the launch of an action plan and marketing campaign to improve the safety and of children on the Internet and also to promote responsible use.
Part of the campaign is the development of a national competition to design a national resource to help others learn about on-line safety and responsible use.
The team at the consolarium are committed to the safe and responsible use of new an emerging technologies for learning and will be developing a number of resources to support teachers and parents over the coming months.
Details of the competition are below:
INTERNET SAFETY COMPETITION
The internet is a vital part of modern life. When you log on at home or at school, when you use your mobile phone or i-pod, when you play online games – the internet opens up a world full of fun, new information, and new friends to meet and socialise with.
But with all the opportunities that the internet brings, it’s also important to know how to stay in control when you’re online, and what do to and who to go to if something goes wrong. This could be anything – like someone stealing your password and getting hold of your personal info; being bullied over text or social networking sites; or chatting with someone online who isn’t who they say they are.
That kind of thing can happen whatever your age. And as well as keeping yourself safe online, it’s important to help others feel confident about using the internet in a responsible way – people like our friends, parents, brothers and sisters.
That’s why we want you to design a resource that would help teach other people about what they should think about and do to make sure that they stay safe online.
The competition – design an original resource to teach others about online safety.
The competition is about how you would teach others about online safety, and it’s broken down into three main categories:
A. Resources for primary school-age children
B. Resources for secondary school-age young people
C. Resources for parents and grandparents.
There is also a special category for adults, like teachers, youth workers and even parents, to enter a resource that they have developed to help teach children and young people about staying safe online.
D. Original resources for children and young people
What do I have to do?
First you need to think about who needs to know about using the internet safely, and what kind of risks they might come across on-line. You could also think about the things that they might enjoy about the internet. What your younger or older brothers or sisters will need to think about will be different from you and your friends, or your parents and grandparents.
So think about what you would want to tell them to keep them safe, and then think about how you could best communicate that to them. There are 3 main ways that you could choose to do this:
1) Artwork - you could design a poster, create a game, compose a photograph, or do a sculpture or painting.
2) Creative writing - you could write a poem or song; a rap or a story.
3) Performance - you could direct a short film or animation (5 mins max); write a play, or drama script; or choreograph a dance.
Think about how other people would be able to use what you have created. Do you need to write instructions to help them understand what to do and what they should think about when they are using your resource?
What could make a prize-winning entry?
We are looking for entries that could easily be used by other people to help raise awareness about internet safety. Something that is innovative, and original, and that help get people thinking about what internet safety means to them, and what they can do to stay in control online.
There is also a new digital code – Zip it, Block it, Flag it (www.clickceop.net) aimed at helping you remember how you can stay safe. So you may want to include that message into your resource in some way.
Who can take part?
Anyone under the age of 16 can enter categories A, B and C. You don’t have to enter the category for the group that is the same age as you – in fact, it would be better if you thought about how you would teach someone younger, or older than you about what they should know about online safety. For example, if you in secondary school you might want to develop a resource for primary school children; or if you are in primary school, you could think about how you would tell your grandparents about internet safety.
Adults working with children and young people can enter category D and submit an original resource that they have developed to explore issues around online safety.
When is the deadline?
The deadline for all entries is Thursday 1st April, so there is plenty of time to get involved. Winners will be notified after the Easter holidays.
How do I enter?
Just post us your entry to the address at the bottom of the entry form, making sure that you attach the form to your submission. Make sure you clearly mark what category you are entering, and whether it is a group or individual entry. Please complete an entry form for every individual submission.
What are the prizes?
The winners from each category will receive digital video cameras. Their entry will be posted online, and may then go into a resource pack for people teaching others about internet safety.
Where can I find out more information?
If you are a young person who wants to find out more, call the Young Scot Info Line on 0808 801 0338 or email info@youngscot.org
Alternatively, please email CPRP@scotland.gsi.gov.uk , with the title ‘Internet Safety Competition’ in the subject heading.
You can find other contacts and resources to do with internet safety on the Scottish Government’s website – www.scotland.gov.uk/internetsafety
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