Maddie is Online: Ethics of Online Safety and Security

Maddie is Online, in partnership with Robert Gordon University, is a series of innovative educational resources supported by cartoon video stories with real voice-overs from young people and toolkits that contain learning activities. The series addresses the everyday life experiences of pre-teen children (9-13 years old) in an online, connected environment. It also empowers them with information and digital literacy skills to help them deal with challenges in their digital lives

The fourth series of Maddie is Online specifically focusses on Ethics of Online Safety and Security. Phase One of the programme saw S1 and S2 pupils submit short stories aligned to the project’s key themes. Five of these were then selected by a panel to be animated by the stories’ authors (including 60% female participants). The winning story, ‘Lucy the Influencer’, was announced at an online event.

Phase Two of the project saw 25 primary and 115 secondary school pupils take part in six online workshops and two careers’ talks related to the project’s key themes.

Finally, Phase Three saw the publication of an online toolkit with resources and activities about ethics and online safety and security.

“This opportunity has helped me both with my computing and story writing skills. I’ve also learned more about how to avoid getting scammed online and I hope our animated stories can help other pupils learn more about avoiding this happening to them too.” – Student at St Andrew’s and St Bride’s High School

Each Ethics in Tech activity is still publicly and freely available for educators to use to engage and enlighten young people about ethics in digital technology. Learn more about ‘Maddie is Online’.