Abstract:

A Malaysian baseline study on the level of cyber security awareness among school children and parents (2021) by CyberSecurity Malaysia shows internet addiction, lack of digital citizenship awareness, ineffective parental control, and inappropriate content, increase cybersecurity risks amongst students. Students need to have the knowledge of the danger of the internet and learn the skills to avoid the psychological and physical effects that can potentially be inflicted by online hazards. With rapid technology development and the proliferating use of the internet amongst the younger population, the pertinent role of both home and schools in preparing students with the knowledge and skills to manage their online interactions is irrefutable. This paper shares CyberSecurity Malaysia’s approach in facilitating primary and secondary students in the national schools the acquisition of knowledge and skills to self-regulate and stay resilient when online. CyberSecurity Malaysia prioritizes six topics which are digital fluency, digital health and wellness, digital etiquette, digital rights and responsibilities, digital commerce and digital privacy and security targeting Grade 1 (7 years old) to Grade 11 (17 years old) students. The paper explores the innovative pedagogical model that is being used in the development of the modules. The innovative pedagogical model is important to keep students engaged while going through the modules which are intended for self-paced and self-learning. In exploring the innovative pedagogical model, the paper will extrapolate three key components which are the digital citizenship framework and the national principles, the characteristics of the target audience and the rubric. The resources of relevant research, content, and international standards form the basis for the rubric which guides the development of the intended learning outcomes of each of the modules. While the national cyber ethics modules are not an academic subject within the national curriculum, the approach and development ensures alignment with the principles of the national curriculum, as in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the modules will be made accessible via the national platform, Digital Educational Learning Initiative Malaysia. The paper posits that the primary goal of teaching primary and school students about staying safe online is equipping them with the knowledge and skills to self-regulate and be resilient, through an innovative and engaging pedagogical model.

Keywords:

Students and Teachers Well-being, Instructional Design and Curriculum Priorities, Keeping Students Engaged, Educational Trends, Best Practice Contributions.