Safeguarding learners online
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The issue
Current and emerging technologies present so many opportunities for new ways of learning, but with it comes a number of challenges for universities and colleges in ensuring their learners know how to behave safely and responsibly in the digital space.
Developing a clear policy, promoting awareness of good practice through curriculum innovation, and investing in a continued programme of both staff and student development can all help drive forward the safeguarding agenda.
In order for students to make the most of digital technologies for sharing, collaborating and research, everyone has a role to play in championing safe and responsible behaviours online.
What you can do
There are clear steps to successfully implementing e-safety. Start by getting everyone involved in developing an e-safety policy that links to other key policies and takes into account current technologies and social media.
Be clear about what is expected of staff and students in your guidelines and deliver relevant training. Provide a named contact responsible for the policy and procedures contained within so all staff know who to contact for further guidance.
Ensure that your organisation reviews and regularly updates its e-safety policies to reflect current and emerging issues around safeguarding, such as the Prevent duty. Most organisations already understand their Prevent-related responsibilities, especially in the context of ensuring the welfare of learners, staff and visitors. Compliance with this duty will reflect existing best practice and should not add significant new burdens on organisations. The Home Office provides detailed guidance on what is expected in order to fulfil the Prevent duty.
Provide examples of online activities for teachers to help embed safeguarding issues appropriately into the curriculum. A number of safeguarding resources are freely available on Jorum by the Heart of Worcestershire College (formerly Worcester College of Technology) and Birmingham Adult Education Centre.
Carry out an audit of current practice to identify risks and key areas for improvement. Peterborough Regional College used the South West Grid for Learning 360 degree self-review tool to help evaluate their college’s e-safety policy and practice. The tool also suggests how the college might do more to protect young people and staff.
Looking ahead
Watch our webinar recording which includes presentations and case studies from Peterborough Regional College and Loughborough College. It also features information regarding the legal risks of social media and best practice guidance on how to address this.
The universities of Leeds, York and Manchester have worked together, and with their students to produce an interactive guide to social media. This is for use at any stage in a course of study but is particularly targeted at new students. Find out more about the guide and about other collaborative partnerships between staff and students from our digital student blog
Listen to our podcast from Safer Internet Day 2015 for details of Weston College’s e-safety campaign which helped to raise awareness of online issues and encourage students to safeguard themselves.
Read our detailed guidance on developing e-safety and practice for more tips and advice.