Student Wellbeing

Digital Technologies

At Park Orchards Primary School, the use of digital technologies can improve teaching and learning by motivating students with engaging, interactive and fun learning environments. It offers new avenues for meaningful communication and collaboration between teachers and students and provides students with the additional tools to develop their creativity and design thinking and become critical users of technology in an ever-changing world.

Being a Digital Citizen

The internet and online technologies are incredible tools. They provide an opportunity to communicate, learn, play and be entertained by content from around the world.

For many young people, the internet and mobile phones are their social lifeline. It's where they engage with friends out-of-school hours and keep up-to-date. For some, time away from that network can threaten their sense of connectedness to their social community. Like communicating in the real world, there are risks in interacting online. Cyberbullying, identity theft, scams and inappropriate content are some of the issues that can pose challenges for young people – from pre-schoolers who may be starting to use a computer to more experienced teens.

Tips for Parents

• Remember that even when children seem to have good technical knowledge, their online behaviour still requires parental monitoring and guidance.
• Spend time online with your child – using the internet can be a fun family activity.
• Try to locate the computer in a shared or visible place in the home.
• Help your child use the internet as an effective research tool and teach them that information on the internet is not always reliable.
• Teach your child positive online etiquette. Encourage them to treat others online in the same way they would like to be treated.
• Set rules – make sure your child knows what information they can share by phone or post online and which websites they can visit. Discuss the amount of time they can spend online and ensure they maintain a balance.
• Teach your child that there are ways they can deal with disturbing material – encourage them not to respond to any communication that makes them feel uncomfortable or worried and to report it to a trusted adult.

Please click on the links below to find out how you and your child can be Cyber Safe at home and at school:

The eSafety Guide: Learn about the latest games, apps and social media, including how to protect your information and report harmful content.

The eSafety Guide | eSafety Commissioner

eSafety for Kids: https://www.esafety.gov.au/kids