A new professional development program, Youth and Children in Cyberspace: Digital Risk Security and Prevention, has been launched by the Study the Internet Mentorship School.
School teachers from the Kaliningrad Region with whom the Coordination Center for TLD .RU/.РФ established constructive dialogue during the regional Safe Internet Week (held in Kaliningrad in September) have been offered places on the pilot program.
The program was developed by the Academy of Innovative Training and Development.
The primary goal of the course is to train teachers and other professionals working with children and youth to solve issues linked to the development of the internet, social networks, and digital technology in general. Program participants will learn important skills that will help them protect inexperienced internet users from the negative impact of digital technologies and teach them responsible conduct online.
The six-week online course consists of four modules:
- State and public regulation of the internet focuses on the use of digital content and updates in Russian law with regards to personal data protection.
- Prevention of digital risks and improving digital literacy: The module includes lectures on main internet threats, destructive content and manipulation online, shaping digital sovereignty, developing critical thinking, preventing threats on social media and messengers.
- Cybersecurity and positive digital socialization.
- Designing a prevention system for general education institutions.
Every course participant will receive recommendations on designing courses and learning resources that help children and adolescents to successfully interact with digital technology and avoid potential threats.
In addition to study materials, the course includes practical workshops, homework and two certification exams. As a preliminary exam, participants will write an essay on the Study the Internet project resources as a component of the digital risk prevention system. During the final exam, participants will develop a prevention system for an education institution, including a roadmap for the Safe Internet Environment commission.
Successful exam takers will receive a national-standard professional development certificate.
“Clearly, the new study program by the Mentorship School was designed in response to the topical challenges in cyberspace,” notes Olga Yakovleva, Director of the Project Department at the Coordination Center for TLD .RU/.РФ. “These challenges include a rise of so-called cybercrime among youth and an explosion of hazardous content that damages physical and mental health and moral values in teenagers. Finally, the digital generation lacks media and digital literacy. This comprehensive program by the Mentorship School will not only identify real security problems but, most importantly, will provide effective tools to build a working system for preventing digital risks.”
By the end of the year, the pilot program will demonstrate its relevant and effectiveness. The school will consider whether it is reasonable to scale the program up to other Russian regions and target user groups.
