Evaluation of e‐safety materials for initial teacher training: can ‘Jenny’s Story’ make a difference?

Abstract

E‐safety issues have come to the fore of thinking about young people’s use of the internet because of their vulnerable position with regard to contact with people who may take advantage of them. The Byron Review in the UK makes explicit the steps that need to be taken to protect internet users. Based upon research across four United Kingdom higher education institutions, recommendations are made regarding the support for e‐safety provision in initial teacher education. The data collection includes: the expert evaluation of a number of e‐safety resources; development of an online form for evaluation of resources; presenting e‐safety sessions to 400 trainee teachers; presenting further resources online and capturing over 73,000 words of comments. Some trainee teachers expressed degrees of naivety with regard to e‐safety, both positive and negative comments were made and a range of trainee attitudes were expressed. The report concludes that there is a need for e‐safety training within teacher training programmes. The DVD ‘Jenny’s Story’ proved to be a most stimulating resource and some revisions to make the narrative focus upon trainee teachers’ needs are recommended. It is recommended that e‐safety tuition in initial teacher training programmes is designed: to be delivered face to face in small groups; with resources to remediate absenteeism; to include direct reference to authoritative and statutory requirements and to be fully integrated into and considerate of the other pressures of training.