More than 2,200 Columbia elementary students are safer online with lessons from Center for Cyber Safety and Education

October 21, 2021

112 Classrooms City-Wide Received Free Cyber Safety Education As Part Of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

The Center for Cyber Safety and Education answered the call of concerned technology and learning coach bringing cyber safety education to thousands of students in a fun and kid-friendly environment during what they called Cyber Safety Days. “Students use technology all of the time; in fact, our district encourages teachers to integrate technology into their curriculum. However, many students (especially this past year) are using their access to devices unsafely, inappropriately or even illegally,” wrote a concerned technology and learning coach of Richland County School District Two. “I would love to help change our students’ mindset about becoming a responsible digital citizen.”

“Cyber Safety Days are a part of our corporate social responsibility program we offer companies looking to make a positive impact within their communities,” said Tara WisniewskiExecutive Vice President of Advocacy, Global Markets and Member Engagement for (ISC)2, the parent company of the Center for Cyber Safety and Education.

The Center’s award-winning digital safety education materials feature Garfield and his friends and make it fun to learn how to be safe and responsible citizens online.

“Our students are becoming more technology savvy, and it’s hard to keep up with constant changes,” said one of the Columbia elementary school teachers about the need for this type of program in schools. “One of the biggest concerns I have with talking with students is how to approach posting and chatting on social media sites: They just don’t understand how dangerous it is or that once you put something out there, it stays forever. It would be great to have one program that I can get lessons from for my students.”

The Center for Cyber Safety and Education was proud to work with community-minded organizations, including partner sponsor BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, gold sponsors CyberSC and Check Point Infinity and silver sponsor TEKsystems, as well as individual donors to provide more than 2,200 elementary school students with critical online safety education in honor of Cybersecurity Awareness Month. “We’re grateful to be able to leave such a positive impact in the communities we offer cyber safety education to through our Cyber Safety Days,” said Wisniewski. And, so, on a single Cyber Safety Day, teachers in 112 classrooms across Columbia taught the “Safe Social Media Posting” lesson to their second- through fifth-grade students.

Online safety lessons are vital to protecting children in our communities because 50 percent of children aged 6 to 9 regularly use social media. According to the Center’s research, 40 percent of fourth- to eighth-grade students chatted online with a stranger. Of that 40 percent, 53 percent revealed their phone number to a stranger and 11 percent met with that stranger. This is why cyber safety education is so necessary—and yet it’s missing from all levels of the U.S. education system.

The Center’s programs feature Garfield and his friends in engaging and interactive lessons via computer games, comic books and a coloring book that illustrate how—and why it’s essential—to practice online safety. To learn more about their programs, visit iamcybersafe.org.

 

About the Center for Cyber Safety and Education (https://iamcybersafe.org)

The Center for Cyber Safety and Education (the Center) is a nonprofit charitable trust committed to making the world a safer place for everyone. The Center works to empower individuals, families and communities to secure and protect their digital lives through cyber safety education, scholarships and awareness programs. Visit www.IAmCyberSafe.org to learn more.