Last year, Google conducted research with more than 200 teachers to learn about their experience with online safety in the classroom. We found that teachers believe children should start learning about online safety as early as the age of seven and that 99% felt that this should be a part of the curriculum. To help teachers educate their pupils about staying safe online, we launched Be Internet Legends in partnership with family internet safety experts Parent Zone, and is accredited by the PSHE association.
Be Internet Legends is an educational programme aimed at 7 – 11-year-olds to help them be safe, confident explorers of the online world – through online platforms, teaching resources, face-to-face workshops and assemblies, and free training resources to over 19,000 UK teachers.
The Be Internet Legends programme has reached over a million children across the UK. It consists of five key pillars, which children in Dartford were taught today, to help them learn the essentials of how to stay safe online:
1. Be “internet sharp” – think before you share
2. Be “internet alert” – check it’s for real
3. Be “internet secure” – protect your stuff
4. Be “internet kind” – respect each other
5. Be “internet brave” – when in doubt, discuss
Children at Belvedere Primary were also shown Interland – a fun-filled adventure game to make learning about online safety fun and informative. Children learn about avoiding hackers, phishers and bullies practising the skills learnt with the programme. This is free online, visit:beinternetawesome.com
“We are delighted to visit Belvedere Primary today to help teach children about how to Be Internet Legends. By getting acquainted with what we believe are the five core areas of online safety, we want to prepare children to have a safe and positive experience online,” said Rosie Luff, online safety public policy manager.
“It is essential that, from a young age, children learn to think carefully and critically about what they see and do online. Parent Zone has teamed with Google to teach children the tools they need to keep them safer, spot scams and unkind behaviour and to understand how their online actions can affect others. These are vital skills for being more confident in the digital age”. Vicki Shotbolt CEO,” saidVicki Shotbolt, founder and CEO of Parent Zone.
“It was wonderful to join the students at Belvedere Junior School today as we all learned the various ways to keep safe online. In today’s ever-evolving technological world, it is imperative that we are equipping young people with the tools they will need to navigate the online space safely. Teaching young people to be kind online, never share personal information, or simply to be cautious when they come across “fake news” we can ensure that they have a positive experience online. Today’s session was fun and informative, even I found out things I did not know before!” Teresa Pearce, MP For Erith & Thamesmead