Cyber Safety and Digital Citizenship

Cyber safety is part of the PDHPE syllabus (NSW Department of Education and Communities) and there are a range of websites and resources available on this site for teacher’s and student’s use. Disturbingly research (O'Connell, Price, & Barrow, 2004) tells us that 91% of children are aware they should never give out their address or phone number to people they meet. 

Digital Citizenship requires students to practice safe, legal and responsible use of information and technology (Roblyer & Doering, 2014). According to Ribble, Bailey, & Ross (2004) digital citizenship is etiquette, communication, education, access, commerce, responsibility, rights, safety and security.

The ten commandments of computer ethics ( Rinaldi, 1996) are:

1. Thou shalt not use a computer to harm other people.
2. Thou shalt not interfere with other people's computer work.
3. Thou shalt not snoop around in other people's files.
4. Thou shalt not use a computer to steal.
5. Thou shalt not use a computer to bear false witness.
6. Thou shalt not use or copy software for which you have not paid.
7. Thou shalt not use other people's computer resources without authorization.
8. Thou shalt not appropriate other people's intellectual output.
9. Thou shalt think about the social consequences of the program you write.
10. Thou shalt use a computer in ways that show consideration and respect.

The ten commandments of etiquette (Brakeman, 1995) are:

1. Never forget that the person on the other side is a human being.
2. Be brief.
3. Be proud of your messages.
4. Use descriptive subject headings in your messages.
5. Think about your audience.
6. Be careful with humor and sarcasm.
7. Summarize what you are following up.
8. Give back to the community.
9. Do not repeat what has been said.
10. Cite appropriate references.


The need to teach Cyber Safety and responsible Digital Citizenship is essential and teachers need to address the safe, legal and ethical uses when using digital technology (Roblyer & Doering, 2014). 

For students to be “good digital citizens” they need to be well informed and supervised while using technology at school and in the home. 

Websites to use include:
Digital Citizenship - http://www.digitalcitizenship.nsw.edu.au/Prim_Splash/index.htm
Safety Land - http://www.att.com/Common/images/safety/game.html?partner=LinkShare&siteId=je6NUbpObpQ-fB4AxTtaUmwlMjaezomNAw
Be Cyber Street Wise - https://www.cyberstreetwise.com/
Webonauts - http://pbskids.org/webonauts/
BrainPOP - https://jr.brainpop.com/artsandtechnology/technology/internetsafety/

Rinaldi, A. (1996). World Wide Web. The Net: User Guidelines and Netiquette . http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.csu.edu.au/docview/219853714?accountid=10344

Brakeman, L. (1995). E-mail Lists are the Ultimate Electronic Penpals. Managed Healthcare. NSW Department of Education and Communities. (n.d.). Cybersafety. Retrieved January 2016, from http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/secondary/pdhpe/crosscurriculum/ict/ict_00.htm

O'Connell, R., Price, J., & Barrow, C. (2004, February). Emerging trends amongst Primary School Children's use of the Internet. Retrieved January 30, 2016, from Research Gate:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242450803_Emerging_trends_amongst_Primary_Schoo_Children's_use_of_the_Internet