Introduction
There is no doubt that Information and Communications Technology (ICT) can bring benefits to young people and enhance their learning experience. The vast array of information, often from the original source, and the instantaneous communication using a variety of media will change the way we experience life and work. It is essential that young people have the opportunity to experience these new technologies and to develop the searching, sorting and filtering skills that are likely to be part of their everyday life.
Nevertheless, this same ability to access information on almost any subject, and to communicate throughout the world, carries with it the risk that young people will be exposed to material, situations or communications that are undesirable. In recognition of that risk, The Scottish Government published, in 1999, advice titled ClickThinking: Personal Safety on the Internet. That advice was addressed to all those who might be involved with young people accessing the Internet and included information and resources for children and young people, parents, carers, teachers and managers.
Many of the issues today are the same as those considered in the original ClickThinking guidelines, and many of the approaches to addressing these are similar. ClickThinking therefore remains as a useful resource for all of those who have an interest in the safety of young people accessing the Internet. Since its publication, there have, however, been a number of developments in:
- applications
- local area networks
- modes of communication
- volume of electronic communication
- speed of access
- availability of access
- the ability to use the Internet from a variety of mobile devices.
All of these have changed the nature and significance of the internet and other electronic communications.
Many of these issues have been addressed by implementing appropriate access and security policies and technical solutions at education authority and school level. The Scottish Schools Digital Network (SSDN) project will also assist in this regard through making available to schools an environment that facilitates controlled and managed access to the internet. There remains, however, a local requirement to manage services and the policies surrounding these on an ongoing basis.
The responsibility of schools and authorities to minimise risk is also more recognised. This publication is designed to support authorities in fulfilling their responsibilities to manage risks associated with internet access and other electronic communications within schools and education authorities.
Many authorities have already considered this matter in some depth and have offered advice to their schools. The Scottish Government is grateful for their willingness to share their work and for their co-operation in the preparation of this new national advice.
One of the significant advantages of the internet is the ability to access a large collection of information that is regularly updated. To take advantage of this dynamic medium this advice has been developed as a website rather than as a static printed publication. This approach has allowed specific advice to be supplemented with links to a number of national and international resources regarding child safety when using electronic networks. It has also allowed dynamic links to education authority advice so that schools can see how this national guidance is being applied locally.
This website was last updated in October 2004. A paper copy of the content of this site at March 2003 was issued to all education authorities along with a circular that reminded education authorities of their ongoing responsibility to issue clear guidance and policy statements on the safe use of the internet and electronic communications both at education authority and at school level.
This site will be updated from time to time to ensure it provides up-to-date advice.
As well as guidance and links to appropriate advice, this site contains sample policy documents, including documents in use in Scotland. These do not preclude the need for education authorities and schools to consider the underlying issues and take ownership of the policies through personal development, staff discussion and local advice. It is hoped that this site will therefore be a practical as well as a policy support to education authorities.
More general advice regarding safe use of the internet, addressed to a wider audience, is available at Be Safe Online and at Thinkuknow.
E-mail comments to DoubleClickThinking@LTScotland.org.uk