This term we had to look at Online Behavior as part of our Health Curriculum. This is a very important part of life as it ensures that we are polite and appropriate.
At the beginning of the unit I was using some platforms on the Internet, these platforms mainly were Google. But a more detailed list is below:
- Google (and websites from it).
- Youtube
- ABC I-view and other channels online(9,10…)
- ABC listen app and other internet connected apps.
This list does not contain things like social media and playstation. To me playstation has never taken my fancy, and I am not 13 yet so social media is a no.
I learnt some key ideas to do with online behaviours this unit I also had my current knowledge of online behaviors reinforced. We had our learning split up into 6 key elements all building on the program made by the Office of the E-Safety Commissioner.
Our first section that we were educated on was the topic of critical thinking, (we were also educated in the YeS project but they mainly asked about our positive and negatives of tech, so they are not mentioned below):
Here we needed to learn about how some people may do things to show off, and in some of these instances they may not actually do a stunt.
In this photo we can see a guy supposedly jumping off a bridge that is really quite high up. Now some people might think therefore that it could be appropriate to try and do it themself as he survived it. Here comes an opportunity to use Critical Thinking. Here you need to realise that this may be made up, and was most likely video edited.
The modification can also help to change your opinion on a matter or even sway what the truth is. An example that we saw of that was in the photo of the bikies:
Here you can see how with a small change of colours it easily changes the message of the text. If you where to see this on a social media post then you could easily be swayed by the messages to change your opinion on a matter. It is important in this case to use your critical thinking. This needs to be used in daily life to stop you from getting tricked.
We then learned about Empathy.
Empathy is stepping in others shoes, empathy builds societies. Sympathy does not. Empathy is important if you see someone who is having an issue or is crying. You can then help them through their tough times. It is important to note helping them does not involve. “At least…” “Well maybe it isn’t something to be so sad about.” This is sympathy and does not help, it can worsen. Below could be things that you may wish to say that could help in the time:
- I cannot even wish to understand what you are going through at the moment.
- This must be very distressing for you.
You also should not attempt to solve the issue for them as well. This would be quite different from what the majority of people do in real life already as they do the at least… and the other things without realising it, sadly that had previously included me.
Followed by respect.
This is thinking before you post, making sure that you treat others as you would want to be treated yourself. To respect means to understand and value the feelings of others. It means to understand that you may believe different things and not punishing people for that. You need to as you can see in the picture understand that the behaviour that they are showing is not appropriate. You can then stand up for them by saying what they are saying is wrong or getting help. You can also answer and write your opinion respectfully by stating something non-obtrusive like thanks for your opinion my is this. You should never have to say anything rude or inappropriate. In the image next door you should always check the following things about what you are saying, like would you say that to there face?
Next was responsibility:
In responsibility we needed to learn about what it meant to be a bystander and what it meant to be a upstander. An upstander show be known as someone who stands up for someone. In a situation that is inappropriate you should aim to help out. An important thing to note about being helpful does not need to mean entering a situation and saying that this is not okay and that you should calm down. It can mean that but it is important that you assess the situation and in some cases being an upstander means calling someone who can help. These could be like the police, or any emergency service, as well as kid helplines. We also learnt as part of this that we have the responsibility to follow the law at all times and be nice to everyone.
As part of Dolly’s dream we watch a video where we see a girl being attacked on social media and it is said that in a future video kills herself. A part of this would have meant that people would not have shown appropriate responsibility to help her, and everyone was a bystander. It is also interesting to note that she would have had the responsibility to get help.
My online behaviour has hardly changed from this unit. This would be because I have not went on and used any sort social media and do not plan to. This would not mean that the learning in this unit has went to waste as I can know use what I have learnt and apply it to real life. I can use the empathy in case someone is sad in real life and how I can help them. In the future I do not expect myself to use social media or video games for at least a few years.
I would say that I have a goal that everyone should get treated respectfully and valued for who they are on the internet. I think that the government should take a stronger stance against cyberbullying, as well as schools through programs like these and punishing offenders to ensure that the internet stays a nice place.
I would also like to say in relation to the padlet that I though that some people would comment and say that they have already learnt about this. I would say though that they may have learnt it but it doesn’t mean that they cannot get anything more out of it and that information may have changed between then and know.
Our information here can be used in daily life, it relates to real fits not just digital ones. It means that we do not spread rumors or anything like that. But more then that it is being kind to one and another. You can apply everything we learnt here into real life just as effective as we can on the internet. So I must now ask:
Why is this just an online behaviour unit?