Staying Safe Online
Staying Safe Online
E-safety for our students at The Manchester College
The use of technology has become a significant component of many safeguarding issues such as child sexual exploitation; radicalisation and sexual predation. The breadth of issues classified within online safety is considerable, but can be categorised into three areas of risk:
- Content: being exposed to illegal, inappropriate or harmful material
- Contact: being subjected to harmful online interaction with other users
- Conduct: personal online behaviour that increases the likelihood of, or causes, harm.
New technologies are enhancing communication and the sharing of information, which inevitably challenge the definitions and boundaries of the College environment.
Current and emerging technologies in College and more importantly, in many cases, used outside the College by students, include (but are not limited to):
- Internet websites
- Virtual Learning Environments (Moodle)
- Instant messaging
- Social networking sites
- Emails
- Blogs
- Podcasting
- Video broadcasting sites
- Chat rooms
- Gaming and gambling sites
- Music download sites
- Mobile phones with camera and video functionality
- Digital cameras
- Smart phones, iPads and Tablets with e-mail and web applications.
The College has an Online Safety policy to protect students, staff and visitors. The policy recognises that Online Safety encompasses not only the Internet, but also any type of electronic communication, such as mobile phones and devices with wireless technology.
It is important for all students to understand the internet is an unmanaged, open communications channel. Anyone can send messages, discuss ideas and publish material with no restriction. These features of the internet make it an invaluable resource used by millions of people every day - however not all information is correct, accurate or valid.
The College will continually make it clear to all our students that the use of College equipment for inappropriate reasons is unacceptable. The College will take reasonable actions and measures to protect all its users, including (although not limited to) disciplinary action.
During your induction with us, your tutors will cover the E-safety Policy and how best to keep yourself safe whilst online both inside and outside of College.
You will also have an agreement with us to ensure you remain safe whilst using College IT equipment that will be agreed and signed.
Further tutorials, enrichment activities and raising awareness will be delivered throughout your learning experience this year through the enrichment calendar and your study programme.
If you have any concerns around staying safe online or any other safeguarding concern, please contact your Designated Safeguarding practitioner on your campus, a list of all DSPs can be found on the College intranet.