Get Resources
The team at Webwise has put together a number of internet safety teaching resources. The resources are available to you, your school or your organisation for free. They can be used to help young people learn all they need to know about using new media in a safe, secure and positive way. Additional internet safety resources are available to download from the Guides for Parents and School Policy pages.
The new Webwise Junior Cycle SPHE Unit of Learning: The Respect Effect is now available for teachers and schools to order or download for free. The aim of this educational resource is to empower students to recognise and take action against online bullying, through their own positive actions and behaviours and through helping to create an anti-bullying environment on a school-wide level.
Please Note: Orders for hard copies of resources will open again soon. In the meantime, digital copies of all of the Webwise resources are available to download for free.
Primary Resources
HTML Heroes - 1st and 2nd Class Online Safety Programme
The HTML Heroes Programme has been designed for teachers of 1st and 2nd class to introduce pupils to the first steps of accessing and using the internet in a safe and responsible manner. The resource contains five lessons that can be explored separately or delivered as a whole unit.
The lessons explore using the internet safely, communicating online, playing and learning online, getting help and support. Each lesson is supported by a short illustrated story, lesson activities, and take-home information for parents/guardians. The programme concludes with an animated online safety code song.
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As Gaeilge
HTML Heroes: An Introduction to the Internet - 3rd and 4th Class
The HTML Heroes Programme is for primary school teachers who wish to introduce internet safety into SPHE for 3rd and 4th classes.
Topics explored include respectful online communication, privacy, searching for information online, online well-being and screen time.
The programme is supported by interactive activities and 4 short animations featuring Ruby and Archie; the HTML Heroes who come to life when the classroom empties out.
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All Aboard for DigiTown
A learning path for 9 -12 year olds to become smart digital citizens. Help pupils explore the concept of digital citizenship across 10 themes in the DigiTown activity book. Topics include consumer awareness, rights, wellbeing, media and information literacy, ethics and empathy, privacy and more!
Hard copy is currently out of stock
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MySelfie and the Wider World
This Primary Anti-Cyber Bullying Teachers’ Handbook is an SPHE resource developed to engage 5th and 6th class primary school students on the topic of cyber bullying. A series of short animations are the centrepiece of the resource. These will help students develop the skills and understanding to be responsible, socially conscious and effective internet users, as they explore social networks for the first time.
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Online Safety Supports for Primary
Schools and Parents/Guardians
Garda Schools Programme
Be Kind Online
The Garda Primary Schools Programme is delivered to all classes in primary school level. Gardaí visit each class at least once every academic year and use these visits to engage with children and deliver key safety advice. Be Kind Online, developed in partnership with Webwise is designed to enable 3rd and 4th class pupils to understand what cyberbullying is, how it can hurt someone and how it can be prevented. The lessons in this pack promote respectful communication online and aim to foster a sense of care and respect for others online. The programme will equip children with the skills to deal effectively with cyberbullying.
Post Primary Resources
Connected
Connected has been specifically designed for teachers of the Junior Cycle Digital Media Literacy Short Course who wish to explore Online Wellbeing; News, Information and Problems of False Information; Big Data and the Data Economy; and My Rights Online. Connected aims to empower young people to be effective, autonomous and safe users of technology and online media.
Please note: Following recent amends to legislation and the introduction of Coco’s Law, updates to the legal information in Connected, Lockers, and Be in Ctrl Resources have been made. Please familiarise yourself with the most up to date legislation here:
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Be in Ctrl
Be in Ctrl is a Junior Cycle SPHE educational resource addressing the issue of Online Sexual Coercion and Extortion. The resource includes information for school leaders, three lesson plans and is supported by the Garda School Programme. Teachers are free to adapt the resource depending on their class requirements. The Be in Ctrl resource complements the Lockers resource. It is recommended that Lockers is used in the SPHE class before the Be in Ctrl resource.
Please note: Following recent amends to legislation and the introduction of Coco’s Law, updates to the legal information in Be in Ctrl, Lockers, and Connected Resources have been made. Please familiarise yourself with the most up to date legislation here:
Note: Hard copies of BeinCtrl are currently out of stock.
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#UP2US Anti-Bullying Kit
Take the first steps to beating bullying in your community by ordering a free #Up2Us Anti-Bullying Kit today. In the kit you’ll find activities for addressing bullying, colourful stickers and supplies for creating interactive poster campaigns. Also included is the #Up2Us Anti-Bullying Teachers’ Handbook with Junior Cycle SPHE lesson ideas.
#Up2Us is currently out of stock
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Lockers
Lockers is an SPHE resource developed to engage 2nd and 3rd year students on the topic of non-consensual image sharing. The resource includes two short high-quality animations, six lessons and information for school leaders.
Please note: Following recent amends to legislation and the introduction of Coco’s Law, updates to the legal information in Be in Ctrl, Lockers, and Connected Resources have been made. Please familiarise yourself with the most up to date legislation here:
Download resource
Garda Schools Programme
Connect with Respect
Connect with Respect, developed in partnership with Webwise, addresses the topic of cyberbullying, and aims to try to prevent this behaviour from happening and to empower pupils to respond effectively if cyberbullying and harassment does occur. The lesson is designed to help students at the Junior end of post-primary, between the ages of 12-14, to understand the impact of their actions and that it may in fact constitute cyberbullying and online harassment. It aims to help students recognise that online harassment and cyberbullying is not acceptable and in some cases is a criminal offence.
Lesson: What is Coco's Law?
Understanding the Harassment, Harmful Communication and Related Offences Act 2020 and the legal consequences of it for young people. This lesson is intended to be appropriate for the 3rd to 5th year demographic.
Students will be able to recognise the key offences under the Harassment, Harmful Communication and Related Offences Act 2020. Students will understand that their online actions have consequences for both themselves and others and that they are accountable for their actions. Students will feel empowered to speak up about online sexual harassment and know where to go for help if it occurs.
Media Smart
Managing your online advert experience
In this resource, students will be familiarised with digital advertising and equipped with the necessary tools to help them manage their online advertising experience. Students will be able to draw on their own knowledge of interacting with online adverts and participate in discussion. They will be introduced to the AdChoices icon and the YourOnlineChoices website as a way of managing these adverts. This is a flexible cross-curricular resource that can be used as a standalone lesson plan or be adapted to run as part of an SPHE lesson or as part of the Digital Media Literacy Short Course for Junior Cycle.
The Full Picture Lesson
The Full Picture Lesson has been designed to assist and support teachers of SPHE when teaching their students about the influences and pressures young people may face while using social media, the impact on their self-esteem online and how to manage their online wellbeing. The aim is to encourage students to be mindful of the impact, both positive and negative, social media can have on how we feel and empower them with the resources and strategies to manage their own online wellbeing.
My Online World
Developed in partnership with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), the five lessons in the ‘My Online World’ unit are designed to support teachers in planning learning and teaching for first year students.
The lessons are linked to the following learning outcomes in Strand Two: Making healthy choices in the Junior Cycle Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) short course (2023).
Safer Internet Day Hub
The dedicated Safer Internet Day Hub has resources, activities, idea and inspiration for planning your Safer Internet Day activities.
Safer Internet Day (SID) is an EU wide initiative to promote a safer internet for all users, especially young people. It is promoted in Ireland by the PDST Technology in Education and Webwise.
Safer Internet Day 2023 took place on Tuesday, February 7th with almost 200,000 people taking part in the celebrations!
SID Presentations
Free Safer Internet Day Presentations are available for Primary and Post-Primary level.
These include Primary school presentations for use with 1st and 2nd class, 3rd and 4th class, and 5th and 6th class.
The Post-Primary level presentation explore topics including News, Information and the Problems of False Information; Managing Your Online Wellbeing; Respectful Communication Online; Self-Esteem Online – The Full Picture.
The presentations include a full script/notes, and Take Home Activities
Parent Resources
Webwise Parents Hub
The Webwise Parents Hub is the key internet safety online access point for parents in Ireland. It provides free advice, information, and resources to ensure that your child makes the most of their time online. Get advice from experts in parenting, education, technology and psychology, access Explainer Guides to popular apps and platforms, How To Guides, downloadable resources, and much more.
Online Safety Booklet
This guide gives parents support, advice and information to help their children have a positive experience online. Topics explored in the guide include cyberbullying, screen time, sexting, social media and online pornography.
#TalkListenLearn
The #TalkListenLearn campaign supports children and parents/guardians online.
Having regular open conversations is one of the most effective ways of supporting your child online. The #TalkListenLearn campaign has a range of free resources and advice to support families, and you can start the chat using our Topic Generator!
Other Resources
Online Safety Checklists
The Webwise Checklists which address a range of topics including cyberbullying, online reputation, fake news, and catfishing.
STAR SEN Toolkit
This Toolkit provides practical advice and teaching activities to help educators explore online safety with young people who have special educational needs.
Inclusive Digital Safety
Empowering parents, carers, and professionals with tailored advice and insight to make meaningful interventions in the lives of children and young people most likely to experience online risks.
Better Internet for Kids
BIK is a platform where key online safety stakeholders can exchange knowledge, and resources to help create a better internet for children and young people.
Be Media Smart
A Media Literacy Ireland campaign to help people tell the difference between reliable and accurate information and false or misleading information.
EDU Media Test
Audiovisual media regulators and public institutions in seven European countries have developed this interactive tool, EduMediaTest, to evaluate and improve media education for European pupils aged 14 to 18 thanks to the partially funding received from the European Comission under the Media Literacy for All programme.
