Guiding students through the digital landscape has become an essential part of preparing students for life both inside and outside of school. In today’s classrooms, online safety is a must, especially as students gain access to more digital resources. But keeping learners safe online doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With the right tools and strategies, you can create a secure digital environment while empowering students to become responsible digital citizens.
In today’s blog post, we’ll look at some essential tips for keeping students safe online and explore how Hāpara offers a quick and effective solution for educators aiming to prioritize digital safety.
Keeping Learners Safe Online
Regular readers of the blog might remember Hāpara, and their resources to support students in digital spaces. Earlier this fall, I featured Hāpara in a post on “Cultivating Digital Citizenship with Executive Function Skills.” In that post, I shared how Hāpara’s Highlights tool allows teachers to monitor student activity within the Chrome browser. And we looked at how that functionality provides teachers with an opportunity to support their students’ development of executive function skills while building digital citizenship.
If you are working on keeping learners safe online, there are a few actions you can take this school year.
Teach the Basics of Digital Citizenship
For students to safely navigate the internet, understanding the basics of digital citizenship is key. Digital citizenship involves respecting others online, understanding what a digital footprint is, and knowing what types of content are appropriate to share. At any time of the school year you can start a discussion or introduce a quick lesson on the importance of protecting personal information and making responsible choices online.
Quick Tip: Create a “Digital Citizen Checklist” for students. You can have them brainstorm what to include, or help them get started with a few ideas. It might Include items like “I keep passwords to myself,” or “I avoid sharing personal information.”
Encourage Strong Password Habits
Speaking of passwords, you might carve out time to teach students the importance of strong passwords. This can be the first step in protecting their digital identities. Teachers can show them how to create secure passwords using a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. You can also use this opportunity to encourage them to avoid using personal information. For example, you might mention how they should avoid birthdays in their passwords. As part of your goal to keep students safe in online spaces, you can discuss the risks of password sharing and why it’s essential to keep login details private.
Promote Smart Sharing and Privacy Awareness
As adults, it’s sometimes hard to wrap our heads around how much information we share online. So you can certainly imagine that students may struggle to realize how much information they share online, too. Whether through social media or school platforms, students share a lot of information online. Hāpara makes it easier to monitor online activities and guide students toward responsible sharing practices. This platform offers tools for teachers to review students’ online interactions.
Quick Tip: Now that school is underway, you might need a quick but robust solution to address your goals of keeping students safe online. Discover how to keep your students safe online—download Hāpara’s free guide on classroom safety and security today!
Use Monitoring Tools to Keep Students Safe
As students explore digital resources, it’s crucial to have monitoring tools in place to help maintain a secure learning environment. Hāpara provides a comprehensive suite of tools. These tools make it easy for teachers to oversee students’ online activities without invading their privacy. This way, educators can focus on guiding students rather than just supervising them.
With Hāpara, you can ensure students stay on task and avoid harmful content. It’s a great solution for educators looking to manage online safety seamlessly, especially when time is limited. Teachers can take a 30-minute course to get started quickly and put these tools into action right away.
Empower Students with Critical Thinking Skills
To stay safe online, students need to develop critical thinking skills to assess information and make informed decisions. Encourage them to question the sources of information, and understand the difference between credible and unreliable sources. Hāpara supports this effort by providing resources that help students practice evaluating information.
Quick Tip: Check out this free White Paper from Hāpara. It provides tips on how to build a safer digital environment and empower student digital citizenship with powerful tools.
Build a Safe Digital Environment with Hāpara
Creating a safe digital environment doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Hāpara offers an intuitive platform where teachers can manage and monitor students’ online activities effectively. This tool not only helps you keep students on track but also allows them to explore the digital world within a structured, safe setting.
With features that support digital citizenship, Hāpara is designed to fit seamlessly into your routine, even as the school year is underway. The platform’s ease of use means you can have your classroom up and running in no time. There is a quick setup process that allows you to start building digital safety into your lessons.
If online safety is a priority for your classroom, Hāpara offers a great starting point. Download their free guide on classroom safety and security to learn more about the tools and strategies that can help you build a safer digital environment. Empower your students to become responsible digital citizens and give yourself peace of mind knowing they’re safe online.
Explore Hāpara’s Free Guide on Classroom Safety! Discover practical tips and strategies to keep your students safe as they explore digital learning this school year.
