Page 53 - EducationWorld June 2022_Neat

Teacher-2-Teacher

Safeguarding students against

harmful technology

LAWRENCE FRAY

URING THE PAST TWO DECADES, progres- In this age of rudderless drift towards
sive schools have successfully moved from the
treadmill of lecture-based instruction to more liberalism fuelled by mobile phones
Dpersonalised forms of learning where students and social media apps, educators need
construct knowledge, develop skills and, through effi-
cient formative assessment, participate in directing their to confront new threats posed by the
own learning. Their teachers have progressed from being internet and dangerous apps
‘sages on stages’ to ‘guides by the side’.
However, there is no shortage of people — includ-
ing educators — who view the educational pathway as a the eventuality of legal action.
well-defined functional process where the most praise- It would be courageous but foolhardy for school man-
worthy hallmark of a successful school is delivery of high agers to deal with these issues in scheduled life skill class-
board examination scores leading to a seat in a renowned es or assemblies as they cover topics that many parents
university which, in turn, leads to a high-flying career. will find sensitive and even toxic. No school wants a trail
Hence, excessive summative testing and intensive and of parental complaints laid at its door. A better option is
(sometimes detrimental) tutoring and high university to render safety advice to parents in scheduled meetings,
admission cut-offs buttress a pedagogy that leaves little first without children present and then with parents and
space for orderly personal development. students together. They should be addressed by guest
If asked to state a school’s most important function, speakers trained to deal with difficulties associated with
most honest responders will cite percentages and grades the temptation of internet apps and other technological
adding that a school’s prestige and profitability, student snares.
career goals and parental satisfaction depend on aca- chools in several countries and cultures have tested
demic results. Sstrategies to address this issue. Most accept that par-
But without diminishing the importance of traditional ents and teachers cannot police children round the clock.
pedagogy and the examination grade sheet, it is high time Therefore, student counseling is generally accepted as
that all stakeholders in education accord equally high the way forward to manage dangers presented by dating
apps, prevent inappropriate interaction between girls and
importance to mindfulness, and safeguarding students’
physical and mental safety. boys, gambling supplemented with advice about the value
of money and the effort required to earn it.
Clearly, schools need to provide safe and secure learn-
Creating the environment for constructive discussion
ing environments where students have opportunities requires care. Three basic principles are:
to attain academic excellence and acquire the skills and
judgement to become valuable members of society. While • that school counselors acquire a reasonable degree of
familiarity with dangerous websites and apps through ap-
school boards, management, teachers and staff accept
this, accountability often ends at the school perimeter, plication and research.
• that educators should avoid mentioning any site by
exit gate or bus stop.
In this age of rudderless drift towards individualism name and avoid condemnatory or judgemental state-
and liberalism fuelled by mobile phones and social media ments during discussions.
apps, educators must acknowledge the need to deal with • that counselors must inspire confidence that they are a
secure point of contact and will not disclose information
new threats posed by the ubiquity of the internet and rise
of dating and gambling apps. Algorithms of these apps provided to them.
It is now clear that post-Covid classrooms will be a
track specific usage and target personal weaknesses and
pressure points of all who download and use them. Chil- blended combination of in-person classes and distance
learning. Implementing blended learning presents its own
dren and youth can be easily led from seemingly innocu-
ous web surfing into darker spaces where they could lose difficulties. But as teachers, we must recognise that holis-
tic teaching and learning goes beyond academics, co-cur-
themselves. Are we doing enough to advise and protect
them against these dangers? ricular activities and enrichment, and should encompass
safeguarding the young against technological exploitation.
While one hopes for leadership at government level, it
Teachers and parents need to equip children with the
is never easy to police the internet, and people who wish skills to be mindful of harmful influences and the tempta-
to access dubious websites will find ways to do so. Also,
the protocols prescribed by app designers ultimately de- tions of the internet. We must protect our children’s
integrity and interests rather than fudge the issue.
pend on users’ honesty, and safety features can be easily
bypassed. Warnings about falsifying names, address and (Lawrence Fray is a Gurugram-based education consultant and partner of
age are merely safeguards to cover the website owners in Polygon Educational Services)
JUNE 2022 EDUCATIONWORLD 53