Launch of cyber class

JAMES ENSING-TRUSSELL

MAKING LEARNING FUN: Students from Mission Heights Primary and Junior College on the Hector’s World website. From left: Caleb Nair, 6, Hemin Lee, 10, and Prabhjit Johal, 14.

JAMES ENSING-TRUSSELL

GETTING INVOLVED: Jashil Prasad, 6, from Mission Heights Primary School checks out the Tech Cave on an interactive touch screen.

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ANIMATED sea creatures are helping children become savvy in cyber space.

Google has partnered up with Kiwi education charity Hector's World to provide an online resource teaching children to use technology safely and responsibly.

Mission Heights Primary and Junior College in Flat Bush, two of the most digitally advanced schools in the country, were chosen for the launch of the under-the-sea themed Tech Cave.

Hector's World managing director Liz Butterfield says she is inspired by the way the schools work.

"They are the best example of what kind of role technology can play in education and why it's so important.

"Most schools work a lot with technology now but what these ones have done so beautifully is fully integrated it into their philosophy and embraced it."

Mrs Butterfield says they chose the ocean theme because the sea has many similarities with the web.

"We thought it was a good metaphor for the internet because it helps kids get their head around how vast the internet is. You can also use the fact that if you put pollution into the water you can hurt people far away – so it just worked."

The interactive Tech Cave explains how aspects of technology work, including the internet, cellphones and GPS.

It also promotes the idea of "digital citizenship" that means respecting yourself and others on the internet, and being a positive member in your online community.

"These days our children are starting to use computers as soon as their fingers can reach the keyboard so it's important to teach them from the start about how technology works, and how to use it responsibly as they make their way in the online world," Mrs Butterfield says.

Mission Heights Primary year 5 and 6 teacher Robyn Wills says the Tech Cave will be a fantastic resource for teachers because it's so user-friendly.

"The challenge we face in a highly digital learning environment is finding digital resources that are authentic, relevant and engaging – Hector's World meets all of these." Visit www.hectorsworld.co.nz for information.

- © Fairfax NZ News