Investigating internet safety
Lucy Gallagher teaches a P6 class at Sciennes Primary School. Today’s lesson, part of an Edinburgh-wide personal safety project called ‘Feeling Yes, Feeling No’, is about internet security.
The pupils access two websites specifically designed for children called NetSmartz and Disney Online. Both offer information and interactive activities about internet security. Finally, the pupils create a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation based on what they have learned about the subject.
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Teacher profile
Ms Gallagher has been teaching since 1990. She is currently teaching a P6 class at Sciennes Primary and has special responsibility for the Modern Languages Department in the school.
Ms Gallagher began using computers at college, using BBC and Apple Macintosh machines. She has recently delivered ICT twilight training courses at the Information Technology Support Unit (ITSU) in Edinburgh and is a participant in Masterclasses. Ms Gallagher has also worked on secondment at the City of Edinburgh Education Department as an ICT development officer.
She recently accepted a post as a transition P6-S2 Development Officer, which will provide her with an opportunity to develop ICT in mathematics and language within the Boroughmuir cluster of schools (of which Sciennes Primary is one). She will work with P6 and P7 staff in each of the five feeder primary schools.
School profile
Sciennes Primary School is in south Edinburgh. The school was built in 1892 and has a typical Victorian design. There are 640 pupils and 50 members of staff, including support teachers for pupils with learning difficulties and special educational needs.
There is an ICT room in the school with 35 PCs, and there are at least two computers in each classroom. There are two ICT coordinators, with one of these positions being part of the principal teacher’s remit. The school’s website was highly commended in the City of Edinburgh's Education Awards.
ICT training is available for teaching staff through, for example, City of Edinburgh twilight sessions at the ITSU. All staff have had New Opportunities Fund (NOF) training.