Australia has recently released two new resources to help teachers support their students in becoming aware of and responsible for their online behaviours. They both focus on educating children about cyberbullying, sexting and protecting their digital reputation.
Tagged was developed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s Cybersmart program and is recommended for students of 14 years and older. It focuses on what happens “when a group of high-school friends post a rumour about a rival it sparks a chain reaction that leaves no one untouched. Cyberbullying, sexting, filmed fights and police action ensue — will these friends avoid being tagged forever?” The website also provides the film script, lesson plans and character reflection interviews to support teachers in their use of this resource.
The other recently added resource is Cyber Sin. This eight and a half minute film was written and produced by Peregian Beach
filmmaker, Evette Henderson and includes in its cast actor John Jarratt and his wife Cody Jarrett. This film follows “a 16 year old school student, Cindy, who is at the core of cyber bullying her own flesh and blood, her cousin Rachel. With the aid of two of her closest friends in the school library, Cindy releases compromising photos of her cousin on her personal social networks via the internet and mobile phone. Before long the whole school knows about it. The parents of Cindy’s cousin, Cheryl and David, reveal the hurt and heartache behind losing their teenage daughter to suicide.”
Information on Cyber Sin is available at the movie’s website, while the movie itself can be viewed on the website for the movie’s charitable distributor, The Corilee Foundation.