New issue of Digital Parenting magazine out today!

Tue 18 September 2012

Following on the phenomenal success of its first issue, Vodafone’s Digital Parenting magazine Issue 2 is out today for schools to order for free! The magazine is a great resource aiming to help parents feel more confident about getting involved and setting boundaries in their child’s digital world. This new issue covers the latest technologies (especially the rise of apps, games, smartphones and...
resources, parents

PhoneBrain launch their free national competition for 11-19s!

Sun 16 September 2012

PhoneBrain is calling on young people aged 11-19 to enter the digital economy with a phone-paid service. This free national competition closes on Monday 17 December. Phone-paid services, including many mobile apps, are big money makers – not just for companies but for charities too. These are services that make money by charging the cost to a phone bill or phone credit. This could be anything...
resources, teachers, competition

Resources and information on esafety and learning disability

Sun 16 September 2012

The East Midlands Specialist College group have spent the last year working on an LSIS funded project to provide age appropriate and relevant resources for adults with learning difficulties. The final outcome – a website for young people, their parents and carers and for staff was launched last week at the ALT-C conference at the University of Manchester. The site can be found here - http://www...
resources

Five new Research Highlights from the UKCCIS Evidence Group

Fri 14 September 2012

Today sees the launch of five new Research Highlights from the UKCCIS Evidence Group , summarising research that covers a broad range of topics, including sexting and vulnerability online, as well as providing recommendations for policymakers about how to create a safer online environment for young people. 37: T owards a better internet for children: Findings and recommendations from EU Kids...
research

Participate in a study on parental attitudes towards children’s use of computer games and the Internet

Mon 20 August 2012

Understanding parental mediation of, and attitudes towards, computer games and Internet usage Do you have a child who plays computer games? Researchers at the University of Central Lancashire are looking for parents of children under 16 who play computer games several times a week to take part in a study. Participants will be asked to complete an anonymous online questionnaire, which asks about...

Win up to £10,000 in the TalkTalk Digital Heroes Awards

Wed 15 August 2012

The search is on for this year’s TalkTalk Digital Heroes, and there are awards of up to £10,000 for individuals and groups who use digital technology to help their communities. TalkTalk, the communications company, is running the awards for the fifth year and has already helped 49 projects across Britain, including various charities which have used technology to help children and youth, the...

Common Sense Media study on how U.S. teenagers view social media

Fri 03 August 2012

On 26th June 2012 Common Sense Media published its latest survey entitled "Social Media, Social Life: How Teens View Their Digital Lives" around how U.S teenagers view the impact of social media on their lives. The national survey involved 13-17 year olds and revealed some interesting findings. We asked Ben, a 15-year old British teenager, to give us his interpretation of the study as well as...

Ofsted and Esafety: a renewed focus

Fri 03 August 2012

Esafety is one of those areas of safeguarding that never seems desperately important until things go belly-up; only then do a host of authorities appear to point out the massive gaps that you missed. The recent SCR at a North Somerset First School where a member of staff had been systematically abusing children over a period of time had technical safeguarding firmly in the spotlight, right down...
teachers

PEGI now the age rating system for video games in the UK

Thu 02 August 2012

New rules have come into force meaning that it will be illegal for retailers to sell video games rated 12, 16 or 18 to anyone under that age. These new rules are part of a transformation in video game regulation, with a simplified ratings system which is now in effect. Video games will now be classified by a single authority, the Video Standards Council (VSC), under the Pan-European Games...

It's all about the Games

Mon 30 July 2012

This summer, the UK is alive with Games fever. But much has changed since the chariot-racing origins of the Games nearly 3,000 years ago, and when asked what games they play, young people are more likely to refer to online and console games than javelin, discus and hammer throw! According to Ofcom , nearly half of children aged 5-7 have a games console in their bedroom, rising to seven in ten 8-...