OTTAWA – In honour of Safer Internet Day, Canadian media educator Media Awareness Network (MNet) launched a classroom resource called ‘Cyber Bullying: Encouraging Ethical Online Behaviour’ to help address the issue of cyber bullying in Canadian schools.
The resource, developed with funding from the Government of Canada, is a series of bilingual lessons intended to “support and enhance school-based anti-bullying and empathy-building programs,” designed to give students a better understanding of the ethical and legal implications of cyber bullying and promote positive Internet use.
“As youth are using new technologies as their primary form of communications, they need to understand the serious ramifications of negative online interactions,” said MNet co-executive director, Cathy Wing, in a press release. “MNet’s new cyber bullying lessons give teachers the tools to help young people understand the impact of their online behaviours and to empower them to promote pro-social, anti-bullying behaviours among their peers.”
According to MNet research, 94% of youth surveyed reported to have Internet access at home, and of the children that reported having cell phones, 44% could surf the Internet and 56% could text message.
Safer Internet Day is an international event that takes place every February since 2004 to promote safe and responsible use of online technology and mobile phones among children and young people around the world.
www.media-awareness.ca
www.saferinternet.org/ww/en/pub/insafe/sid.htm
