Internet Safety Consultancy


FOR THE ATTENTION OF THE PRINCIPAL


Internet Safety January-June 2024:
I wish to thank those schools that availed of my services, during this academic year. I am in the process of updating my website and my Internet Safety Presentations, for the next academic year (September 2023 to June 2024).

I received this valuable resource for parents from Nicole Frank (VPN Mentor). It covers a wide range of online activities, potential risks, and encourages the fostering of open communication between children and parents.
https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/the-ultimate-parent-guide-for-child-internet/.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
I do not use schools to conduct research. Please reply OPTOUT, if you do not want any further contact from me. I send out 3 emails to schools during the academic year.
I do not use the children to conduct research using questionnaires. This is best done by Irish or European Universities using a large data sample. A good example of this is the EU Kids Online Survey which was carried out by the London School of Economics and Politics, using 25 European countries, including Ireland. I also use OECD statistics. After an Internet Safety visit, I ask schools that I have visited for permission to allow other schools to contact them for a confidential appraisal of my work, if they are intending to book my services.

Each presentation lasts for approximately one hour (primary schools), followed by a question and answer session. I can modify these presentations to last 40 minutes to fit the timetables of post primary classes. The main points for discussion are:

  • The law and the Internet (Online Harassment and Cyber Bullying).
  • Legal steps that can be taken to deal with Online Harassment and Cyber Stalking, including the case of the former English footballer Ian Wright’s successful case against an Irish teenager for online racism.
  • Should social networking sites be treated as publishers?
  • Digital Age of Consent in Ireland. Is it relevant without age verification?
  • Educating children to be aware of online racism, homophobia, grooming and indoctrination, while being exposed to content on social media.
  • Use of research conducted by universities at home and abroad to give an accurate insight into children's online usage and the problem that this poses.
  • Social Networking and Gaming Sites, including TIK-TOK, Fortnite, Sarahah, SnapChat, Instagram, Roblox and the latest trends in this area.
  • How to monitor home computers, laptops, tablets, mobile phones, using an array of software, such as Norton, Kaspersky, Eyezy, Intego, McAfee, Net Nanny, Quostodian and Mobiflock (Mobile Guardian).
  • Basic common sense strategies to keep children safe while using the Internet.

I was the ICT Advisor for Waterford Teachers' Centre (2000-2008) and part of my duties was giving Internet Safety presentations to schools. I was trained in Internet Safety by the DES and NCTE (PDST) and now continue this in a private capacity. I rely on research conducted by the Kids Online Survey which was conducted in 25 EU Countries, including Ireland. I also use research conducted by Irish Universities. My presentations are my own and are not a template created by an outside agency, or franchise.

Parents will again be purchasing the latest mobile phones for their children, without due regard to filtering the content. I give a practical demonstration on how to do this using a lightning adaptor connecting my mobile to the data projector. I also explore the array of software that can deal with this problem. I like to encourage the pupils to work collaboratively with their parents to keep themselves safe online. I remind parents that cyber harassment/bullying is against the law and give them legal methods to deal with this problem, without involving the school.

I continue to give presentations on Internet Safety and Cyber Harassment to school pupils, teachers, Boards of Management, and Community Groups. These take the format of a PowerPoint Presentation,examining the latest research in this area. I have experience in both primary and post primary schools and taught in London for 14 years. Iam the former ICT Advisor for Waterford Teachers' Centre (2000-2008). I hold a BA Degree, Higher Diploma in Education, Post Graduate Diploma in ICT in Education and an MA in Education. I am registered with the Teaching Council (Full Registration: No:160158) and Garda Vetted.

These talks include video clips analysing Social Networking and gaming sites. I also discuss the latest research findings in this area. Each participant is given a
CD-ROM containing these resources.

PLEASE VISIT MY WEBSITE FOR FULL INFORMATION
REGARDING MY SERVICES. THIS IS CONSTANTLY UPDATED:

www.internetsafetyconsultancy.ie

Please click on the FEEDBACK FROM SCHOOLS link for a list of schools that will give a confidential evaluation of my work. I never ask for testimonials, as I believe that a confidential chat on the phone is the best way for a school to ascertain if my presentations meet their requirements. The list of schools is also at the end of this email.

I am registered as a sole trader and am fully tax compliant. I try to keep prices as low as possible.

Regards

John Murray, BA, MA (Ed), H.Dip.Ed.
Mobile: 086 4001234
Email: internetsafetyconsultancy@gmail.com
Website: www.internetsafetyconsultancy.ie