Phishers, hackers, digital citizenship, empathy for others, password creations. When you read the previous words, what immediately comes to mind?
INTERNET SAFETY
What is it?
Sponsored by Google, Be Internet Awesome was created to help families and teachers educate children on how to be safe when navigating on the Internet both at home and school.
How Does it Work?
The nifty thing about this site is that it actually teaches our children through an interactive game exploring the "Interland". Throughout the levels, children are asked different questions regarding Internet safety, which will help their character progress to harder realms. In addition to the game, a handy curriculum guide is provided as well to further enhance the lessons learned through the game.
How Would I Use This in My Library and/or at Home?
Be Internet Awesome comes with fully written curriculum guides differentiated for both parents and teachers. Parents can use the guide to help teach their children the best ways to be safe when no one is monitoring their Internet searches and activities.
The teacher guide directs students on the basic pillars of being good digital citizens and how to make the best choices online, which are:
- Share with Care
- Don't Fall for Fake
- Secure Your Secrets
- It's Cool to be Kind
- When in Doubt, Talk it Out
Both the parent and educator curriculum guides provide notes, lessons, activities, discussions, posters, crafts and awards. Best of all, it is FREE to use!
What is My Opinion?
I LOVE this website! I think it is very user friendly, even if you are only getting on to allow exploration of the Interland game. I had a lot of fun exploring the Interland and trying my hand at making wise Internet choices. Some of the questions even stumped me and I had to go back and try again. Talk about amping up your perseverance!
Even better, I like that Google has provided a full curriculum guide to help us teach our students the best practices when "surfing the web". I like that the guide teaches the basic fundamentals for digital citizenship and making wise choices. I think these pillars will lead to a lot of open discussions regarding their past experiences and what might have given them a different outcome of the situation. These discussions will help our children see that "when in doubt, talk it out" with an adult. I think this will allow our children to have an open door policy about asking for Internet guidance when needed.
I think most of our students would love to learn these safety tips through a fun, self-paced game. Best of all, it is FREE! (Did I mention that already?!)
Written by: Ashley White
https://beinternetawesome.withgoogle.com/en_us/
I think that it is so important to teach internet safety at a young age and how better to teach it than through an interactive game that will stick with them. Providing the full curriculum guide for teachers is very helpful. I think that even older students would benefit from visiting the site. You can never get enough reinforcement on the need for Internet safely. Anyone can hide behind a computer as we have seen numerous times on the news.
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