Surf Safely

When our school received 1:1 device, I remember helping a teacher prepare the devices for her students. She stated, "Why does every kid have to have one? They are just going to do whatever they want." My reply to her was "You have to teach them how to safely use them." She looked at me like I was crazy and said, "It's the internet, we can't control anything they do on there!"


After that conversation, I realized one of our top priorities as an educator is ensuring the safety of all our students. We try to make sure to protect them from dangerous situations, on the playground, bullying from peers, and much more. But what about technology? The internet? Are we going to dangerously give our students devices daily? NO! We must diligently ensure the safety of our students with technology.

By simply giving them a list of do's and don'ts will not do the job. It is important to remember that we MUST teach our students about computer and internet safety.  Think about it! Did you learn how to drive by just reading a list of things not to do? I am sure the answer to that question is no. You were taught how to drive and practiced to gain experience. Now I am sure you're an excellent driver 😉. Well, it is the same for our students. We must teach them how to use to properly and safely use devices and the internet. Then, we allow them to practice to have experience.

There are two terms to remember when teaching students about safety on the computer: digital citizenship and netiquette. Digital citizenship is having the knowledge and skill to effectively use digital technologies to communicate, create, and consume digital content. Netiquette is the correct or acceptable way of communicating on the internet. These terms are a great start to helping our students safely use their devices.

Here is the good news, you don't have to try to figure out how to plan lessons to teach your students about digital citizenship. There are educators and tech experts like Kathleen Morris that have created wonderful lessons and content for educators. Kathleen has been highlighted for creating the four-layered teaching approach to digital citizenship and internet safety. Check out the poster below:

Keep in mind...technology is becoming apart of our students' everyday learning experience, we must protect them like we would with anything else. Show your students how to "Surf Safely"!

Here are some more resources to aid you in preparing lessons for your students:

12 Great Lesson Plans for Internet Safety

Internet Safety Lesson Plans

Digital Citizenship Lesson Plan: Digital Compass
Cool Cat Teach Lessons

Share your thoughts about internet safety in the comments.