Teach-Primary-Issue-20.1

M ost teachers are already confident with the basics of online safety – spotting phishing emails, using search filters, and teaching pupils how to stay safe online. But the digital landscape is rapidly changing; as artificial intelligence, deepfakes, and new online platforms emerge, so too do new risks. AI – opportunity vs risk AI is rapidly becoming a useful part of teachers’ digital toolkits, but these new tools also bring new responsibilities. Before using any AI platform, it’s essential to check that it has been approved for use by your school (as per your school’s policies and procedures), and that due diligence has been completed to ensure that it complies with the DfE’s Product Safety Expectations. Any new tool should have a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) before being approved for use, to help safeguard the whole school community. Many of the mainstream platforms we use – including things like Google search – now include AI functions, meaning pupils could already be accessing these features. Similarly, other programmes widely used in classrooms, now include chatbot functions that may go unnoticed, but present significant risks. It’s important to review learning resources already in use, identify what GenAI capabilities are built in, and consider whether additional safeguards are required to protect pupils. Always confirm with your tech team or designated safeguarding lead if you are unsure. If you are using free-to-access versions of any AI platforms, never enter pupil names, identifying details, or any personal data, as it may be stored or used by the platform. Even with paid-for AI tools, you need to make sure that they are not using the data you enter for training. It’s also important to consider the accuracy and bias of AI-generated materials, so double-check any AI content before sharing it with others. Ask the AI tool for references, and check they are not ‘hallucinations’. In it together Pupils are increasingly independent online – especially at home – so building their digital skills and competencies across the curriculum helps keep them safe. Demonstrate how you use safe search engines and explain why filters are in place to protect them. Model safe online behaviours – such as ‘thinking aloud’ when using devices, asking questions about information sources – ‘How can I make sure that’s true?’ ‘Let’s find more information to verify this.’ ‘Is this a safe site – how do I know?’. Researching together can help build and reinforce critical thinking skills, encouraging pupils to question the reliability of sources and to recognise misinformation, including content generated by AI. Useful guiding questions around researching can help scaffold pupils’ learning. Discussing the permanence of our digital footprint helps pupils understand that what they share online can remain online forever. Make sure you remind them to tell you or another trusted adult if they see or read something that makes them uncomfortable. Refreshing the basics Even as new technologies develop, the fundamentals of cyber security and safeguarding remain vital – while your school will manage system-level protections, individual vigilance and curiosity makes a big difference. A well-informed teacher is the first line of defence against a potential security incident. It is usually the simplest actions that cause breaches. Always use strong, unique passwords for each account, and enable multi-factor authentication wherever possible. Be cautious about links or attachments in emails, calendar invites, and online communication tools – especially now that AI is being used to craft highly convincing phishing messages – and ensure that software, apps, and browsers are updated so that the latest security patches are in place. Technology will continue to evolve at pace, and so will the challenges, but you don’t need to be a cyber security or safeguarding expert, just engaged and aware. By keeping up with school guidance, checking the safety of new tools before using them, and teaching pupils to think critically online, you can create safer digital classrooms for everyone. TP Now and THEN Alex Dave is safeguarding lead at LGfL – The National Grid for Learning. genai.lgfl.net Staying safe online requires being on top of new developments in a continually evolving landscape, but wemustn’t forget to keep our eyes on the basics, argues Alex Dave S T EM S P E C I A L 44 | www.teachwire.net