Digital Learning at Brookside

Digital Learning at Brookside College involves equipping students with the skills to be lifelong digital citizens. This means that students will use technology in a safe and responsible manner and learn essential skills such as collaboration, communication and creativity. In order to allow students to reach their fullest potential in Digital Learning, the College will be utilising EduPass and Microsoft365 as a tool for education.

Seesaw

Seesaw is a simple way for teachers and students to record and share what's happening in the classroom. Seesaw gives students a place to document their learning, be creative and learn how to use technology. Each student gets their own journal and will add things to it, like photos, videos, drawings, or notes. When there are new Seesaw posts, families can be notified via app notification, email or SMS. Parents are only notified about their own child’s work, and all data is safe and secure.

Seesaw will be used in all Primary generalist classes in 2019. For more information, please speak to your child’s classroom teacher.

Digital Safety

This edition of Digital Safety focusses on ONLINE GAMING.

Online gaming - A guide for parents and carers

Online games can be great fun for your child, but make sure you can help them manage the risks. Many games can improve your child’s coordination, problem-solving and multi-tasking skills, as well as help build social skills through online interactivity with other players. But it is also important to understand what might go wrong and have a negative impact on your child.

How to create a safer gaming environment for your child:

Prepare

Locate the computer or games console in an open area of your home, or if your child is playing on their handheld device, get them to do it in the family room.
Install current security software on all devices to protect against viruses, malware and other online threats.
Activate parental controls and safety features on the device or in the app or browser. These controls can help restrict access to certain content and limit spending on in-game and in-app purchases.

Build good habits

Help your child to protect their privacy online — get them to use a screen name that does not reveal their real name.
Teach your child not to click on links provided by strangers, like ‘cheat’ programs to help with game play, which might expose their device to viruses or malware.
Agree on strategies to help them to switch off, like a timer that signals game time is nearly over, with consequences for not switching off.

Stay involved

Talk regularly with your child about their gaming interests and who they play with online. Help them understand the risks.
Play alongside your child to get a better sense of how they are handling their personal information and who they are communicating with.
Monitor the time your child spends online and keep a look out for any changes in their activity, school or social behaviours.
Encourage your child to tell you if they experience anything that worries them or makes them uncomfortable.

Be aware of what they are playing

Games vary in their level of violent or sexual content, and may contain themes, language and images that are unsuitable for your child.
You can check the age guidelines and classification for an individual game on its website or product packaging.

Empower your child

Wherever possible, help them make wise decisions for themselves, rather than tell them what to do.
Try to provide them with strategies for dealing with negative online experiences that will build their confidence and resilience.

Is your child spending too much time gaming?

There is no magic number of hours, but your child may be spending too much time playing games if their gaming starts to have negative impacts on them or your family.

Look out for signs such as:

less interest in social activities like meeting friends or playing sport
not doing so well at school
tiredness, sleep disturbance, headaches or eye strain
changes in eating patterns
reduced personal hygiene
obsession with particular websites or games
anger when being asked to take a break from online activity, or appearing anxious or irritable when away from the computer
becoming withdrawn from friends and family

In some cases, setting firm limits as a family may be enough to help address too much gaming. But there may also be underlying problems like depression and anxiety that are linked to problematic internet use.

Grooming and bullying through in-game chat

Network games involve multiple players — in some cases even hundreds or thousands of players.

With these games, your child could be communicating with strangers, including adults, through web cam, private messaging or online chat, increasing the risk of contact from online abusers, or bullying from other players.

eSafety research insights

Children aged 11 to 12 are most likely be bullied by other players, with around 22% in this age group reporting a bullying experience, compared to 17% of multiplayer gamers overall.
42% of young people bullied while gaming online responded by turning off the in-game chat function, 41% ignored the bullying and 38% stopped playing a game with the person. Nearly 30% reported the bullying to game moderators.
In some cases, setting firm limits as a family may be enough to help address too much gaming. But there may also be underlying problems like depression and anxiety that are linked to problematic internet use.

Help your child maintain their privacy<

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