The eSafety Professional Learning Modules are unique professional learning opportunities developed by the eSafety Commissioner and Early Childhood Australia.
The modules are part of the eSafety Early Years program which provides online safety advice and tips within a positive framework for prior to school aged children, their parents, carers and their educators in an Australian context.
Digital technologies are present in young children’s everyday lives. Even if they are not using technology themselves, they are watching and learning from the adults and older children around them. Keeping children safe in digital contexts is a shared responsibility for their educators and families. These modules aim to provide knowledge, skills and practical advice for early years educators to guide children and families in establishing safe practices and positive habits when using digital technologies. Grounded in research and linked to practical advice and resources, these modules will help educators extend their own online safety knowledge and create positive, safe learning experiences for children in digital contexts.
There are four modules in this series. Three modules are designed for educators and contain practical classroom advice and strategies within eSafety’s four key messages:
The fourth module provides information and resources for service leaders to enhance policy and practice in online safety at their service.
Completing We SAY and SHARE with technology, We MAKE and DO using technology & We WATCH and EXPLORE with technology, will contribute 3 hours of PD addressing standard 6.2.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.
Communicating in digital contexts is among the first experiences children have directly using technologies. This module examines the benefits and risks associated with communicating in digital contexts. You will learn how to identify and mitigate the online risks that can happen in these contexts.
Module outcomes
This module will enable you to:
Duration: 50 minutes
Fostering creativity is an essential component of early childhood education. This module explores the ways children can create in digital contexts. You will explore practical examples of the types of creative experiences educators set up, for children to learn with and about digital technologies. You will learn how to set up technology with online safety in mind and how to teach simple habits to make digital contexts safe.
Module outcomes
This module will enable you to:
Duration: 50 minutes
This module focuses on how children engage with content in digital contexts. This is the most common way young children engage online, especially at home. You will learn how to choose content that encourages active participation and group interaction, and will be provided with practical examples of how to share this important information with your families.
Module outcomes
This module will enable you to:
Duration: 50 minutes
This module is specifically for Directors and Managers of early learning services throughout Australia. It is designed to enable a review of a service’s online-safety processes and practices. You will learn how to ensure online safety is considered in the same way as other safety practices at your service.
On completing the module, participants will have a collated list of all their answers. This list can be used as a guide to improve online safety practices, and as evidence for the service’s Quality Improvement Plan.
Module outcomes
This module will enable you to:
Duration: 60 minutes
eSafety is Australia’s independent statutory office for online safety established under the Enhancing Online Safety Act 2015. The Act gives the Commissioner the power to investigate and act on complaints about serious cyber-bullying material targeted at an Australian child. In 2017, the Act was expanded to promote and enhance online safety for all Australians. eSafety resources include programs for schools, women, older Australians and new resources for early childhood.
More information about eSafety and the Early Years Program can be found here.