Digital education needed more than ever

By Helen Maisono

Young people today engage in an increasingly complicated digital world, presented with the challenges of fake news, technology overuse, unsafe gaming practices and privacy and online harassment concerns; all of which were further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This contrasts with a range of positive impacts associated with increased connectivity that brings so many benefits including the ability to engage and interact online and access to information and educational resources. While these challenges are ongoing, the importance of equipping young people with the knowledge, skills and constructive attitude towards digital citizenship is where the Optus Digital Thumbprint program can help now, more than ever.

At Optus, we want to empower vulnerable and disadvantaged Australians, including young people and their families, to thrive in the digital world. Through our Digital Thumbprint program, introduced in 2013, our goal by 2025 is to support 550,000 young people to participate safely online. Digital Thumbprint provides curriculum-aligned impactful workshops and support materials to enable young people to participate safely online, with the tools they need for positive, responsible and authentic experiences. The program is delivered nationally free of charge to primary and secondary students in both metropolitan and regional locations and has been endorsed by the e-Safety Commissioner as a Trusted eSafety Provider.

As a behavioural change program, our aim is to achieve measurable change in student attitudes toward digital safety and an increase in positive behaviours such as help-seeking actions.

The new Optus Digital Thumbprint Program Impact Report outlines key findings and observed trends over the past year and since the program has been in operation.

Digital Thumbprint is helping students to participate safely and authentically online through five key topic areas, listed below with results from the report.

Some 96% of students knew how to keep their personal data secure after attending a Cyber Security workshop.

All the teachers who observed the Cyberbullying & Respectful Relationships workshop believed that their students better understood how to identify cyberbullying and image-based abuse.

Some 91% of students felt they were aware of strategies to identify fake news having participated in the workshop; a 21% increase relative to before the workshop.

After the workshop, 95% of students understood the importance of their personal brand for future job opportunities, a 21% increase from before the workshop

Following the workshop, students were 23% more likely to feel in control of their use of technology

As a result of the program:

• 87% off students indicated that they would be more likely to check the strength of their passwords for their accounts.
• 82% of teachers indicated that their students would be more likely to take actions to secure their personal data.
• 81% of students felt that the content of the workshops was relevant to them right away or in the next few years (33% increase since 2019, pre COVID-19).
• 100% of teachers indicated that the content of the teacher-led digital workshops will be relevant to their students right away.

Digital Thumbprint continues to provide a comprehensive offering for teachers and students when they need it most.

Our support for parents and families has also grown with new workshops, vlogs, and articles all designed to provide opportunity and tips for healthy conversations on digital safety, providing relevant support to young people and educators.

The report shows the program continues to provide crucial support to young Australians, teachers and parents in not only increasing awareness of digital citizenship topics, but also promoting important behaviours and skills relevant in keeping young Australians safe online.

As students and teachers continue to be impacted the COVID-19 pandemic, our blended delivery model of face-to-face and virtual facilitator-led delivery, and teacher-led digital interactive workshops ensures teachers and students across Australia can still have access and remain connected to critical digital education should they be in the classroom or remote learning.

Helen Maisono is Director - Group Sustainability at Optus.

Register for Optus Digital Thumbprint workshops here: https://www.digitalthumbprint.com.au/digital-workshops/

Find more about The Office of the eSafety Commissioner: https://www.optus.com.au/connected/families/meet-the-esafety-commissioner

If you feel a young person in your life needs help and support, please let them know that Kids Helpline is there for them at any time. Find out more at https://kidshelpline.com.au/ or dial 1800 55 1800.

Explore our Family Hub for more great advice and information.