A lot has transpired in the education sector with learning growing beyond the ambit of just textbooks and classrooms. Students are invariably a part of the digital world, where technologies, devices and online platforms become essential educational tools. Therefore, schools are entrusted with immense responsibility to create a safe digital ecosystem that enables students to navigate online spaces with confidence and awareness.
Digital literacy is at the heart of modern education, driving academic growth that shapes future careers. As a result, inculcating digital ethics among students empowers them with healthy digital habits, guiding them to think critically and protect them from cyber threats.
Being exposed to the digital world from a young age, it is very important to sensitise children around crucial aspects of privacy, communication and their responsibility. This mandates integration of age-appropriate digital citizenship lessons into the curriculum across the grades in school. As part of the module, regular sessions should be conducted to promote a culture of respectful online behaviour that is well in alignment with school values. It should elaborate on the significance of safe browsing and providing guidance on password hygiene while fostering a sense of respecting personal data and enable students to recognise underlying online risks.
Internet unlocks scope for endless opportunities however it exposes students to significant risks at the same time. There are high chances of them falling prey to cyberbullying, misinformation, online predators, identity theft, excessive screen time. As a result, schools are vested with the ethical duty to protect the digital well-being and privacy of students. As part of the curriculum, students should be encouraged to openly communicate their online discomfort and any unsafe experiences.
Overall, classroom conversations should focus on making the students cognisant about media literacy, helping them assess the authenticity of information and preparing them to cope with misinformation. To further fortify the efforts, schools should implement strict filtering and monitoring systems on devices and networks with agility. This is an indispensable requirement for providing a secure digital environment that aims at blocking harmful websites, identifying any unsafe searches and keeping a tap on suspicious online activities. Altogether such precautions empower children to surf through educational resources without the fear of exposure to inappropriate or malicious content.
For developing responsible digital behaviour, defining transparent guidelines for operating the device, online submission and driving digital communication needs to be prioritized. It helps in alleviating the ambiguity around the usage. Promoting consistency and accountability throughout the school, the clear protocols are at the forefront of mitigating unintentional misuse of digital tools by students.
Parents’ cooperation and involvement is equally important to confirm cyber safety even at home. Creating awareness with the help of workshops, regular sessions, and guidelines aid parents to monitor screen time, stimulate safe browsing practices and enable responsible online experiences. In the process, teacher training should not be overlooked where they should be updated timely with digital platforms, safe online practices, and maintaining data privacy to equip the students with the right skills. This goes a long way in instilling digital etiquette in an increasingly tech-driven ecosystem.
Therefore, cyber safety and digital citizenship have transcended the scope of optional education in schools and have become a necessity. It plays a crucial role in developing a line of future ready individuals capable of maneuvering the digital landscape with confidence and responsibility.
The author is Chairman of Venkateshwar International School.
