When we look around, the kids of today’s generation are totally around the web. Be it anything everybody seems to be so curious that they just want to use it without considering the safety checks.
But the question is do these kids know the ethical use of web. Are they aware of dos and don’ts of the web?
Be it social media or anything they want to get their hand on everything as soon as they hear of it. Web is so vast and is used for every possible purpose that unfortunately involves the bad things too. Kids are more prone to the ill happenings that take place over Internet, as the innocent minds are not wise enough to differentiate between right and wrong. This issue definitely calls for digital citizenship but is not taken charge by many authorities due to the nature of it being not obligatory (which definitely should be).
But as parents and educators, you can help your kids learn the ethical behavior that they must act upon while using Internet. The best way to teach them is by placing them in those situations and guiding them through but those situations doesn’t have to happen in real just to teach them!
So you can try the games with your kids that are mentioned below that will help you teach your kid about the “netiquettes”.
1) Quandary
About: This game moves around a futuristic space colony on a new planet. A three-episode story helps the player for development of the city. Whenever there is some issue, the problem is reported to the captain, which is the player. The captain is responsible to get the facts rights and solve the issue at hand. As the captain of the colony, players have the final say in the multifaceted problems that residents bring up. Once presented with an issue, they must first sort facts from opinion and evaluate stakeholder arguments on the available solutions.
By working through each scenario, players improve their critical thinking, understanding others’ perspectives and decision-making skills. Players receive more points as they uncover more relevant information while avoiding illogical jumps in arguments. Each episode, designed for players ages 8 through 14, take about 10 to 30 minutes to complete.
How can it Help: Now this game can help kids to understand the importance of ethical thinking and reasoning before making any decision. While Playing this game kids will take on the role of a leader of a space colony and spend time meeting with villagers, reading or listening to their dialogue, making meaningful choices, and seeing the outcomes. While this will be valuable, much of the real and authentic learning will happen when parents and kids play and discuss choices in the game together. With a sense to make right decisions, kids can be careful while handling web and will be able to make ethical decisions when operating the web.
Quandary can also be used in the classroom to help develop a range of essential literacy skills and life skills including:
- Problem solving
- Communication
- Information literacy
- Global awareness
- Collaboration
- Creative thinking
Awards and Appreciation: The game has been awarded as the game of the year 2013 in Games For Change Festival 2013.
Pricing: Free of Cost.
Idea & Aim: With an aim to achieve something unique, Scot Osterweil, Creative Director of the Learning Games Network, said “Although many games have design elements that engage players in critical thinking, perspective-taking and decision-making, Quandary directly addresses these essential competencies.
Support: Before getting your kids on this amazing game you must go through their teacher’s guide and parent’s guide as to make most out of it.
2) Webonauts
About: The Webonauts Internet Academy empowers kids to make responsible and respectful decisions in their online interactions. Taking on the role of a Webonaut, kids explore a series of 12 missions that teach key issues of web safety and digital citizenship. Webonauts are entirely noble and respectful citizens of the academy who do not wish to do wrong to anybody. They only want to help others and even show forgiveness towards the game’s villain. The game starts with the motto of the academy being Observe, Respect and Contribute. The game gives a complete knowledge as to how one can enjoy the perks of Internet in a safe manner. The motto stands for:
To observe: carefully watch what is happening & decide wisely.
To Respect: treat everyone well.
To Contribute: help others in the academy and the community.
Few missions in the game were about how to differentiate between credible and non-credible sources of information and how to react to bullying. The importance of protecting passwords and maintaining privacy settings is also conveyed properly. While preceding ahead in the game the options to change uniform of the player and color options make it even more entertaining for the kids.
How can it Help: The game helps kids to understand how they can use internet and social networking sites safely. The play teaches them the meaning of credibility, cyber bullying, and privacy and also helps them to project such thing wisely. When using the game in the classroom there is a key words section that defines the new technology words to help the students better understand and comprehend their learning. Through decision points in the story kids will learn about Internet safety concerns, good v/s bad information sources, and so on. The lessons kids learn via this game are so important and hence this game is a must try for all those who are looking for some resources by which they can teach their kids about the Internet safety.
Pricing: Free of cost. Requires registration if user wish to save his game in between.
Support: Before getting started you must check their tips for educators and parents so that kids can learn most about Internet safety.
Also to check your kid’s understanding of this issue of utmost importance you can play or converse this quiz that moves around the game and can be fun to play for children while you see how much they have learned about it.
You must try these games and teach your children about the ethical behavior they should practice while using Internet and if you are aware of more such games, share with us in the comment box below.
