ICT and e-Safety

 

The purpose of this guide

Children of today are increasingly using Information &

Communication Technology (ICT) in schools and in the

home. This guide explains:

 How your children are using ICT in school.

 How using ICT in the home can help children to learn.

 How children can use the Internet safely at home.

 Where to access further information.

 

 

 

 

 Using the Internet safely at home.

 

Whilst many Internet Service Providers offer filtering systems to help you safeguard

your child at home, it remains surprisingly easy for children to access inappropriate

material including unsuitable texts, pictures and movies. Parents are advised to set

the security levels within Internet Explorer with this in mind. Locating the computer

in a family area, not a bedroom, will enable you to supervise children as they use

the Internet. However, don’t deny your child the opportunity to learn from the wide

variety of material and games available on the Internet. Instead set some simple

rules for keeping them safe and make sure they understand their importance.

 

 

 

Simple rules for keeping your child safe

 

To keep your child safe they should:

 ask permission before using the Internet

 only use websites you have chosen together or a child friendly search engine

 only email people they know, (why not consider setting up an address book?)

 ask permission before opening an email sent by someone they don’t know

 not use Internet chat rooms

 not use their real name when using games on the Internet, (create a nick name)

 never give out a home address, phone or mobile number

 never tell someone they don’t know where they go to school

 never arrange to meet someone they have ‘met’ on the Internet

 only use a webcam with people they know

 tell you immediately if they see anything they are unhappy with.

 

 

  How your child uses ICT in school

 

ICT in schools is taught as a subject in its own right and also supports children’s

learning in other subjects, including English and mathematics. Within ICT lessons

children learn to use a wide range of ICT including:

 Word Processing to write stories, poems or letters

 Databases to record information, e.g. minibeasts

 Spreadsheets to create tables, charts and graphs

 Desktop Publishing to design posters, leaflets or cards

 Multimedia Presentation to present text, pictures and sound

 Drawing Programs to create pictures and designs

 Internet and CD-ROMs to find information

 Email to contact children and teachers in another school

 Digital Cameras to record what they have done in class or on a visit

 Electronic Sensors to record changes in light, sound and temperature

 Controllable Robots to give instructions and make something happen

 Simulations to explore real and imaginary situations

 Website Publishing to present ideas over the Internet.

 

 

How you can help your child at home

 

ICT is not just about using a computer. It also includes the use of controllable toys,

digital cameras and everyday equipment such as a tape recorder or DVD player.

Children can be helped to develop their ICT skills at home by:

 

 writing a letter to a relative 

 sending an email to a friend 

 drawing a picture on screen 

 using the Internet to research a class topic 

 planning a route with a controllable toy 

 using interactive games.

 

A selection of companies offer school software for use at home.

 

 

Benefits of using ICT at home 

 

How we know that using ICT at home can help 

 

Many studies have looked at the benefits of having access to a computer and/or

the Internet at home. Here are some of the key findings:

 

 used effectively, ICT can improve children’s achievement

 using ICT at home and at school develops skills for life

 children with supportive and involved parents and carers do better at school

 children enjoy using ICT

 using ICT provides access to a wider and more flexible range of learning

materials.

 

 

 How learning at home with ICT benefits children

 

Home use of ICT by children:

 improves their ICT skills

 offers them choice in what they learn and how they learn it

 supports homework and revision

 improves the presentation of their work

 connects learning at school with learning at home

 makes learning more fun.

All this can lead to better performance at school and an improved standard of

work. For further information go to:

Parents Centre:

www.parentscentre.gov.uk/usingcomputersandtheinternet.

From the menu choose either Links by topic or Links by age for details of

websites that will support children’s learning.