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 South Swindon 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 Millbrook 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.
“We are delighted to visit Millbrook 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 at Google.
“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”, said Vicki Shotbolt, founder and CEO of Parent Zone.
Robert Buckland MP added: “I am delighted to be here at Milbrook Primary School again today, this time with Google, to help teach children to be safe online.
“It is important that internet safety is taught at an early age, to ensure that our children have a safe and positive experience online and an interactive assembly is a great way to do this. The children will be able to continue their learning with PHSE Association accredited schemes of work provided to the school, featuring lesson plans and certificates. “
