This year, add some pizzazz to your Internet safety lessons with these free resources from
NetSmartz® Workshop
, a program of the
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children®
. NetSmartz provides age-appropriate materials for students in grades K-12 to help them recognize and respond to online risks like cyberbullying, online enticement, and privacy. Explore the resources below by getting a preview of what free resources NetSmartz has to offer.
The middle and high school Internet safety presentations give students an overview of the issues they may face online. Both
presentations use videos and stories of real-life events to help students understand online risks. They also give students tips to help them deal with risky situations they may encounter online like cyberbullying and online enticement. Each presentation is accompanied by a presenters’ guide with detailed notes, making them easy for anyone to deliver.
NetSmartz offers two video series for middle and high school students.
NSTeens
introduces middle school students to a diverse cast of animated characters who help each other deal with online drama like gaming “griefers.”
Real-Life Stories
videos help older teens take a closer look at the choices their peers make online and the possible consequences. All videos are accompanied by a lesson plan to help students think critically about the videos’ issues and their own online actions.
These comics put middle school students in charge, giving them the chance to practice making smart online choices. They decide what characters will do at key points in the comics, from helping a cyber-bullied peer, to forwarding a mean message, to plagiarizing an online essay. After students play the comics, use the discussion guides to help them more closely examine the issues.
NetSmartz educational games let middle and high school students practice their online safety skills while having fun. Many of the games prompt players to take steps which correspond to real-life Internet safety actions. The games can be used on their own or to supplement larger Internet safety lessons.
5. Educator Training | Giving you the best Internet safety tools
The Educator Online Training Program takes educators through a series of six training modules focused on digital literacy, online privacy, inappropriate content, cyberbullying, sexting and online enticement. Each module defines an issue, discusses its potential effects, and highlights ways NetSmartz resources can be used to enhance your Internet safety lessons. Educators who complete the program will receive a certificate they can use to apply for continuing education credits. Check NetSmartz.org for more information.
These resources are just the beginning. NetSmartz also offers educational games, tip sheets, activity sheets and more to help students learn about Internet safety. NetSmartz's website will show you how these resources can fit into your school year.
