By Giles Milton, Brand Director at Parent Zone
Media literacy is an essential part of online safety. This year, it has become more apparent through the government’s Media Literacy Strategy, as well as being a fundamental aspect of Ofcom’s work as regulator for the upcoming Online Safety Bill.
However, media literacy is still in its relative infancy when it comes to education. Elements of it can be found across computing and RSHE curricula – but some teachers have told us the concept is unfamiliar, even if its principles are not.
We want to equip primary teachers with fresh, future-facing and accessible resources that are easy to plan, deliver and assess in the classroom. That’s where Be Internet Legends comes in.
Free teaching resources for Key Stage 2 (ages 7 to 11)
Since its creation, the Be Internet Legends curriculum – developed by Google and Parent Zone – has centred on five core pillars which explore key online safety skills and behaviours. These are:
- Sharp – Think Before You Share
- Alert – Check it’s For Real
- Secure – Protect Your Stuff
- Kind – Respect Each Other
- Brave – When in Doubt, Discuss
Through these pillars, children learn about issues such as scams, disinformation, bullying, security and data. With Be Internet Legends, children are twice as likely to show an improved understanding of internet safety.*
This curriculum now also includes new media literacy activities – created by leading experts to help pupils better assess digital spaces, content, and relationships.
An enhanced curriculum: responding to teacher needs
Making the curriculum easier to plan, deliver and track are the driving factors in the latest – and most exciting – development in the programme.
We listened to feedback from teachers across the UK and have transformed the content into a fully digital curriculum – with interactive resources to help bring learning to life in the classroom.
This includes 38 segmented activities and 12 interactive guided lessons, also integrated with Google Classroom.
Schools can spread activities and lessons across a range of age groups and assess progression – as well as use the interactive lessons to save time.
With this enhanced resource, we aim to build children’s understanding of their digital world – and help the UK become a more confident and media literate place to live.
Next steps: Explore the new enhanced curriculum and other Be Internet Legends resources, including virtual assemblies.
*Data based on research commissioned by Google and run by Ipsos from April to July 2021 among 1,638 primary school pupils in years 3-6 at 16 schools in the UK where Google has carried out Be Internet Legends online safety training. For more details, please visit http://assets.ipsos-mori.com/cx/beinternetawesome/