Childnet announced today the start of an important pilot programme to help teachers in their initial teacher training become aware of the e-safety issues relating to their pupils’ use of the internet in both the classroom and outside of the school.
Working with lecturers in a number of teacher training institutions across England, the team are assessing a number of important education and awareness resources including Childnet’s ‘Know IT All’ multi-media tools, and other resources which have been produced by Microsoft. See www.childnet-int.org/kia/schools/teachers.aspx
The programme is being piloted in January – March 2007 with over 400 teacher trainees as part of their teacher training programmes in Middlesex, Brighton, Canterbury and Southampton universities.
John Wollard the lead researcher working with Childnet on this project says,
“It is vital that teachers coming into the profession are aware of the e-safety issues and understand where this subject can be taught in the curriculum. This research will help us ascertain what skills and knowledge those coming into the profession have on this subject and how the existing resources can be used.”
The pilot programme is being funded by the Training and Development Agency for Schools and Microsoft. For further details seewww.childnet-int.org/kia. Entry to the Training area is password protected during the evaluation period however, teacher trainers may contact the evaluation team through Childnet if they wish to join the evaluation process.
After the evaluation and review of the materials, Childnet will work with the review team and the Training and Development Agency for Schools to further adapt the resources in light of the feedback and make these available on-line to all teacher training establishments to support ICT, PSHE, Citizenship and professional studies.
For more information contact:
Stephen Carrick-Davies, CEO Childnet international
