Better Internet for Kids

The web portal Internet Safety https://internetsafety.pi.ac.cy/kids includes a repository of rich educational / information material, resources and tools for children, teachers and parents in order to help them use the digital and internet technologies in a safe and creative way. Especially, the website provides information and a learning space for ethical and useful use of the internet (possibilities and risks). In addition, the website provides interactive games, videos, as well as other informative resources, including materials developed by children themselves.

The Young coaches for the internet yearly programme aims to train teachers and students in the creative and safe use of the internet (https://youngcoaches.pi.ac.cy). The programme involves teacher mentors as well as student coaches trained to support their school and act as trainers-coaches of their classmates, parents and families. Successful schools and students are certified at the end of the school year.

The eSafe schools yearly programme aims to the training of teachers for creating a culture in the school unit for the creative and responsible use of the internet (https://esafeschools.pi.ac.cy). Through the programme, schools are also involved in the eSafety label (http://www.esafetylabel.eu). At the end of the year, successful eSafe schools and teachers are certified.

In an effort to develop children's literacy skills in Media Literacy, as well as building knowledge and shaping attitudes regarding responsible, creative and safe use of the Internet, the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute offers a year-long competition for the creation of short videos from students on the safe use of the internet.

“The Diary of Olympios” is a story co-written by 17 pupils of the 6th grade of Lympia Elementary School, during the 2017-2018 school year.
This story deals with Internet security issues (addiction to online games, cyberbullying etc.) and promotes ways to deal with them in order to enjoy the internet use in our lives. The booklet is easily readable for children and delivers important messages. “The Diary of Olympios” explains what we gain from the correct and positive use of the internet.

Promotional video for Cyprus1480 Hotline/Helpline created from Cyprus Pedagogical Institute to promote the hotline/helpline.
In the framework of the activities for promoting the operation of the 1480 helpline and hotline, cyclist Antria Christoforou -a new member of the Cypriot team in the upcoming Olympic- stars in the TV spot "Enjoy your online routes safely".

eFollowMe game is an online game related to digital footprint. The purpose of the game is to make students aware of the dangers of the internet and what to watch out for while browsing the internet. Through the three dimentional environment of the game, players walk around in eFollowMe city and are given missions related to their personal data. Depending on their actions they leave behind digital footprints and at the end of the game they receive feedback based on their answers in the game.
The game was created within the CYberSafety project by University of Cyprus students.

The guest of today's episode of the podcast is Hana Petráková, head of the Linka bezpečí e-mail advice center and mother of two wonderful children, with whom we will talk about whether it is possible to use social networks effectively and with benefit, or whether it is better to avoid them altogether.
You will learn what digital detox is and why it is good to try it.

What does cyberbullying look like and how does its victim feel? This is what the educational game DigiStories: Nela deals with. It is mainly intended for the second grade of primary schools.

In April 2020, following an investigation led by the FBI, the police caught the leader of an international neo-Nazi online organization known by the nickname Commander. A thirteen-year-old boy from Estonia was hiding under it. This shocking news launched a new artistic and social project called Farms in the Cave, which includes a theater performance, a film with child actors, an exhibition installation, educational videos and workshops. It examines the functioning of the virtual world and the processes that can lead to the radicalization of adolescents and the polarization of society.