A key component, and one of the largest benefits of the BYOD program at Anzac Park Public School, is that it not only teaches students about the range of opportunities technology offers, but also the range of challenges.
Teachers recognise the dangers of technology and the Internet for both children and adults. They use the BYOD program to proactively teach students the skills they will need to operate successfully in the digital world.
At the commencement of each school year students from grades 3-6 are required to complete a digital literacy learning day suitable to their year level. Teachers and executive work together to design learning experiences that capture the range of challenges that students may encounter online and make expectations around BYOD use clear. Often a Police Liaison Officer is also invited to address students to support learning.
At the end of the day, students are then issued with the BYOD Student Agreement, which they are required to complete with a parents/caregiver. This must be returned to school before the students can begin the BYOD program.
Throughout the year, students receive further learning to support ongoing development of critical skills including:
Internet safety
Student agreements
Digital citizenship
Digital footprint
Cyberbullying
Anzac Park Public School hosts industry volunteers to present to our school community every second year. The presentation covers issues relating to children and young peoples’ privacy and security online, their relationships with other users and their online reputation. It provides insight into the devices young people are using, as well as the popular websites, apps and social networking sites they’re accessing.
Students can only access the internet at school by connecting their device to the Department of Education's wi-fi which is heavily filtered. Web filtering is designed to provide a safe browsing environment for students and staff. Teachers and students have different filtering access according to year level, group and role. This filter is designed to block social networking, adult/mature content, gambling and malicious sources for all students. It is expected that student devices equipped with 4G will have their SIM cards removed or disabled during school hours to ensure that all devices are using the Department of Education’s software security mechanisms.
As all BYOD devices are iPads, teachers are trained in using Apple Classroom to guide learning. Using this app, while students are within Bluetooth range, teachers are able to access all student devices simultaneously to launch apps or websites, share student work using Apple TV, monitor which apps students are accessing and view student screens from across the room. For an overview of this software, please refer to the video.
To support the rigorous cybersafety lessons students experience at school, please feel free to access any of the resources below.
The Department of Education has a Wellbeing site for parents to explore articles and advice to help manage common health and wellbeing issues children may face at school and at home.
Issues include screen time, online bullying and violence in computer games.
The Office of the eSafety Commissioner (the Office) is an independent statutory office that was created by the Enhancing Online Safety for Children’s Safety Act 2015. The Office was established in 2015 to coordinate and lead the online safety efforts across government, industry and the not-for-profit community.
The Office operates a world-first reporting scheme to deal with serious cyberbullying that affects Australian children. There is also a reporting function for Australians who come across illegal content online and the Office is taking the lead on tackling image-based abuse through an online portal and reporting tool.
This site provides tips and online safety advice for kids aged 5 – 12.
As well as giving children access to reporting tools, students can play games and watch videos to learn about how to operate effectively and safely online.
On this student site, children can access a collection of resources to learn about how to be Cybersmart.
https://www.esafety.gov.au/educators/classroom-resources/cybersmart-challenge/student-home
This is a resource specifically for parents to learn about the latest games, apps and social media, including how to protect your information and report inappropriate content.