Issues around web access and use in K-7 classrooms

As part of assignment 1 I have had to research the ‘Issues around web access and use in K-7 classrooms’. I have been searching the internet and have also spoken with the Information Computing Technology (ICT) Coordinator at a Northern Primary School to try to get an understanding of the levels of computer usage in Primary Schools.

To give some background it has been some 20 years since I attended Primary School and during my years I did not use computers as they had not yet been introduced into the classroom and were mainly used at the administration level. The first time that I can remember using a computer was my first year of Secondary Schooling and this did not include the use of the World Wide Web.

In 2006 however, ICT has been thoroughly implemented into schools in Western Australia and even more so, access to the Web. The use of ICT is in my view is common sense as the introduction or expansion in many facets of our society. To help the children’s smoother transition into society and become competitive in the workforce requires a sound knowledge and use of computers and software.

Many children now have access to computers at home as well as school and it is appropriate to teach them how to use the web to their full advantage whilst at the same time keeping them safe from the many traps and pitfalls that are associated with its use. Web access has become cheaper and its accessibility in schools and home is now widespread which in turn is introduced at a younger age.

Through my discussions and research I have discovered a couple of websites introduced by Australia’s Internet Safety Advisory Body at http://www.netalert.net.au/. The first of the programs that I will talk about is Netty’s World (netalert, 2005) at http://www.nettysworld.com.au/, which was designed for use by children aged between two and seven years. This program teaches children at a young age how to use the internet safely with the help of a teacher, parent or guardian. This site is an interactive site where children can follow Netty’s adventures into five different levels, which include the use of audio/visual components followed by a reinforcement activity.

The five levels include:
1. Exploring the net
2. Getting things off the net
3. Using smart phones
4. Putting work on the net
5. Making friends on the net

These five levels are then followed up by the reinforcement activity ‘Netty’s all star Quize’ (netalert, 2005) that informs children to:
1. Get help
2. Be nice
3. Think again
4. Stay safe & secure
5. Protect what’s private

Netty’s World is a good informative tool for young users and also allows the child to join ‘Netty’s Club’ which is free and allows the child to receive internet safety activities in the mail every two months as well as initial gifts. The site was fairly simple to use, however, it is best done with a teacher, adult or guardian.