Play it safe and fair online

* Age recommendations are indicative only. The programs have been successfully used by students outside these age ranges.

At the end of the learning, students will be able to: 

• describe the ways that people use the internet in their daily lives
• share how they and others use the internet to contribute to community life in a positive way 
• give examples of ways to show respect and protect the rights of others online
• provide examples of online activities can have a positive impact on their health and wellbeing
• share effective behavioural and technical strategies to manage online risks
• identify services that can support them if they have an online issue. 

The video features Caitlin Bassett (Australian Netball), Grant ‘Scooter’ Patterson (Paralympic swimming) and Taliqua Clancy (Olympic Beach Volleyball) and helps students to explore strategies for staying safe online and how to get support if something goes wrong.

The resource is designed to be open-ended and responsive to student online safety needs.

Recommended teaching approach: 

• Before you watch the video talk to your students about their online experiences and what they think the video will cover. Suggested questions are provided in the worksheets. (5 to 10 minutes - optional).
• Watch the video as a class or individually. Teachers are encouraged to stop the video to reflect as needed. You can also share the link with students for individual viewing. (15 to 20 minutes with opportunities for discussion and reflection).
• After watching the video use the student activities to support reflection and discussion about the topics covered in the video.
• Follow-up this lesson with regular online safety education. Suggested topics are listed below. 

Discussing online safety can sometimes cause emotional distress for students and it’s important to check how they're feeling during the classroom conversation. Remind them they can ask questions or get support if the content brings up issues or worries. 

Encourage Year 5 and 6 students to continue learning about online safety:

• Explore eSafety Kids for self-guided information on how to stay safe online. 
• Check out the #Game On resource suite. 
• Create a short video, PPT presentation or poster to show how to report a cyberbullying issue. You can watch eSafety’s video to find out how to make a cyberbullying complaint.
• Complete the student voice survey or online safety leadership activities from the Toolkit for Schools (Engage).

Encourage Year 7 and 8 students to continue learning about online safety:

• Explore the eSafety Young people pages for self-guided information on how to stay safe online.
• Use the YeS Project resource to encourage students to reflect on their own digital and social practices.
• Learn about the new Online Safety Act and work in groups to explore the impact of these laws on different people within our society.
• Brainstorm ideas for safer technology. You can use our Safety by Design assessment tool to find out how to design apps that minimize harm.
• Complete the student voice survey or online safety leadership activities from the Toolkit for Schools (Engage).

eSafety’s Best Practice Framework for Online Safety has been used to develop this resource. eSafety recommends educators use these resources as part of a whole school approach to online safety.