Theory

This section contains information about the key theories which should underpin a school’s online safety programme.

Digital Fluency and Digital Citizenship

Netsafe has created a white paper outlining our thinking on the relationship between digital capability, fluency and citizenship. This white paper forms the basis to the creation of the Netsafe Kit and our services for schools.

A person is digitally fluent if they have the skills to participate in a digital society, and is a digital citizen when they are effectively doing so.  

Therefore a digital citizen is defined as somebody that has appropriate: 

  • Skills and strategies to access technology to communicate, connect, collaborate and create; 
  • Attitudes, underpinned by values that support personal integrity and positive connection with others; 
  • Understanding and knowledge of the digital environments and contexts in which they are working, and how they integrate on/offline spaces; 

and then critically: 

  • They are using their ‘digital fluency’ competency to participate in life-enhancing opportunities (social, economic, cultural, civil) and to achieve their goals. 
DOWNLOAD WHITEPAPER

Learn Guide Protect (LGP) framework

The Learn Guide Protect (LGP) framework recognises that striking the right balance of promotion and protection activities and strategies requires schools to consider factors such as students’ ages, teacher capability and levels of community engagement.

VIEW FRAMEWORK