Web 2.0 and E-Safety

 Wikipedia defines Web 2.0 as: 

''a term coined in 1999 to describe web sites that use technology beyond the static pages of earlier web sites.'' Web 2.0

In today's ICT lesson, I was introduced to the term, Web 2.0.  To many people's amazement, I was not familiar with the terminology, which is very surprising as I use many of the new interactive media resources. Web 2.0 is used in all schools. The new and exciting world of Web 2.0 provides teachers with modern and creative ways to engage students and allow them to participate on a global level. In other words, children are becoming a little bored and are less patient with activities such as worksheets and classroom lectures. Web 2.0 tools are therefore needed in the classroom to prepare both students and teachers for the shift in learning...learning expands beyond the classroom four walls!  


Children are now raised in the era of new media technologies. 

This means that more and more children are using:

1. Video sharing; You Tube
2. Social networking; Facebook, Twitter
3. Cloud file storage and sharing; iCloud, Dropbox
4. Blogging; Edublog and Blogger

 All of the above are a result of the new and expansive world of web 2.0. 


Please see video below to see how Web 2.0 has developed over time...

Although web 2.0 has many exciting new learning opportunities for children, there are safety precautions that an individual must follow to stay safe...

The importance and significance of e-safety has grown. E-safety is not an ICT issue but forms part of a school’s statutory duty for safeguarding and child protection. This means that everyone has a role to play in promoting and improving e-safety. Some schools even invite parents in to have informative sessions about e-safety.

As already identified, technology clearly enhances learning. Schools therefore need to ensure/encourage responsible online behaviour. If appropriate schools can involve children in the development of their school’s e-safety policy. 


What schools need to promote...

1. keep personal information private
2. consider the long-term implications of any content posted online
3. do not upload or post inappropriate, offensive or illegal content to their own or other online spaces
4. read and adhere to any website’s terms of conditions of use – including those around age restrictions  E-Safety 1 
 

There are many important facts to remember when thinking about e-safety...

1. Publishing photographs of children on a school website could constitute a breach of the Data Protection Act. Schools should ensure that they have parents’ consent before publishing any photos of children  E-Safety 2 
2. The UK Council for Child Internet Safety is also tasked with the responsibility of monitoring all internet activities that relate to children E-Safety

Some important/useful links about e-safety:

 http://www.childnet.com/

 http://www.teachingexpertise.com/e-bulletins/safe-internet-usage-school-3663