National campaign to help keep preschoolers cybersafe
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - 20 March 2006 - Joint NetSafe and IBM Media Release
New Zealand preschoolers are the focus of an innovative national education campaign to be launched this week by the Internet Safety Group (ISG)-NetSafe and IBM.
The 'cybersafety' initiative offers practical advice on the safe and appropriate use of information and communications technologies (ICT) across the Early Childhood Education (ECE) sector. It is part of the wider "NetSafe® Programme for Schools," which is seen internationally as a model for cybersafety education.
An informative brochure, First Steps to Cybersafety, outlining the safe and responsible use of the internet and ICT devices such as computers, digital cameras, mobile phones, video and web cameras, is currently being distributed to New Zealand's 3600 licensed ECE services and through the Barnardos home-based care and learning service. Aimed at those managing the services, as well as parents and caregivers, the brochure also directs readers to the Netsafe® website where they can access further information, including templates to help them develop cybersafety policy and use agreements. Later in the year, a further development of the ECE initiative will see special NetSafe® training modules available to ECE services.
Representatives from ECE services, the Ministry of Education, the Police Youth Education Service, and IBM were brought together by ISG-NetSafe to develop the programme. Experts in child protection, ICT, forensics and legal professionals were also consulted.
''While the use of ICT has become commonplace in our schools, its use in the ECE sector is not yet widespread,'' says NetSafe® Programme Manager Claire Balfour. ''This means we have the advantage of familiarising young New Zealanders and their families about cybersafety at the same time that the technology is being introduced to the sector, and not afterwards. This will enable children to start school with an awareness of how important it is to use ICT safely and responsibly."
For IBM New Zealand, which sponsored the development of the brochure and document templates, Cybersafety is a natural fit with "KidSmart", another IBM community education programme aimed at this age group. ''IBM is committed to innovation and to improving education for young New Zealanders,'' says IBM New Zealand's Managing Director Katrina Troughton. ''That's why we've already donated 170 'KidSmart' computers to ECE centres, with another 80 in the pipeline for 2006.''
''Keeping children safe so that they, educators and parents can feel confident using technology is very important.''
The campaign is also designed to support parents and caregivers at home. ''In addition to young children inadvertently finding inappropriate material or being exposed to online predators and cyber bullies, they observe and copy the online behaviour of their parents and older siblings to an extent often not realised by their families,'' says Ms Balfour.
She cites the example of a New Zealand family that was surprised to receive a parcel of videos ordered online by their four year old. ''This experience just goes to show how well youngsters can copy behaviour,'' says Ms Balfour. ''Young children may appear skilled in internet use, but they will not have yet developed the understanding and judgment to always keep themselves cybersafe.''
ENDS
*** Cybersafety launch: IBM is hosting an event to launch the Cybersafety initiative at its Wellington office, Level 11, The Majestic Centre, Willis Street, on Wednesday, 22 March at 5:30 pm. Representatives from agencies involved in the programme's development, including Minister of Education Hon Steve Maharey, will be present.
*** About the Internet Safety Group-NetSafe
Established in 1998, The Internet Safety Group (ISG) is an independent, non-profit organisation which specialises in developing NetSafe® programmes aimed at all sectors of New Zealand society, including children, parents, schools, community organisations and businesses. The ISG has been designated as the Ministry of Education's 'preferred provider' of cybersafety education for all New Zealanders, and is cited in the government's 'Digital Strategy' (May 2005). For more information about the ISG, visit www.netsafe.org.nz.
*** About IBM
IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. Drawing on resources from across IBM and key IBM Business Partners, IBM offers a wide range of services, solutions and technologies that enable customers, large and small, to take full advantage of the new era of on demand business. For more information about IBM, visit http://www.ibm.com.
For more information, please contact:
Claire Balfour
ISG-Netsafe Programme Manager
09 353 0627
Julie Landry
021 950 962
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