Source: Information
Edition: Spring, 2007
PDF Version: Download
There’s never been a more important time than now to remind youth that the Internet is a fascinating world, but one they need to explore with caution.
This is the message Internet 101 has been promoting since the day it was created by members of “A” Division in the fall of 2004.
The idea of creating a police-driven Internet crime prevention tool was first discussed in late 2003 during a meeting with partners from the Surete du Quebec, Gatineau police and MRC des Collines. All were on board about coordinating and crafting a safe surfing message geared towards both youth and their parents. A few months later, the idea hit home when one of our members, Cpl. Yvon Brault, stumbled upon a popular web site for teens where some had posted scantily-clad snapshots and personal information. When Brault found that his daughter and her friends were using the site, he knew they were in danger of becoming targets of online predators.
The new joint committee of police forces brainstormed through several meetings, finally agreeing on the concept for the Internet101.ca website – a glossy collection of safety tips, presentations and links to other government and police-approved resources.
As word spread within Ottawa-area communities that there was a police-driven Internet safety program in the works, interest from local educators began to grow. The Internet 101 team received dozens of request to make presentations, and the Ottawa Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police and Military Police joined the initiative.
Within just a few months, several schools in the Ottawa area encouraged their students to visit the Internet 101 site. Mme Francine Beaudin, vice-principle of Beatrice Desloges Secondary School in Ottawa has added Internet 101 to her school’s regular curriculum. “There is a real need in our schools for police-approved programs like Internet 101,” says Beaudin. “I continue to encourage my teaching staff to use the program to help the students navigate the Internet with caution.”
In Gatineau, on February 5, 2007, Internet 101 officially kicked off its national launch of Kit101, the hard-copy educational component of the web site. The kit, aimed at children between the ages of 10 and 14, was created to foster discussion between police, educators and youth. The unique cue cards, video and slide presentations provide police and educators with powerful visual on safe Internet use.
The content and material for both Internet 101 and Kit101 were created with the assistance of subject-matter experts, such as RCMP Sgt. Robert Bisson, senior cybercrime instructor at the Canadian Police College and the “A” Division Integrated Tech Crime Unit. With their insight on Internet crime trends, Bisson and the policing partners helped shape Kit101's key messages. Other community members, government partners and stakeholders also provided input. The presentations were adjusted and adapted according to the feedback received.
Kit101 was launched across Canada during February 2007. Two team members traveled to 11 cities, from Vancouver to St. John’s Newfoundland, reaching out to youth, educators and media on a one-on-one basis. The reaction to Kit101 was favourable, to say the least. As the team moved cross country, the number of hits to the Internet101.ca site spiked – 101, 324 hits during the month of February alone.
The media picked up on the team’s progress too. On February 12, the Regina Post newspaper reported that Kit101 was a “new resource for Saskatchewan parents, educators and school liaison officers to help protect children from cyberspace predators and bullies.”
Paul Crawford, Superintendent of Education, Toronto Catholic District School Board, attended the Internet 101 presentation in Toronto on February 16. Immediately after the presentation, he requested 200 copies of Kit101 which he would place in each school under the supervision of each elementary guidance councillor and the Safe School department.
The Halifax-area school board is looking to adopt Kit101 in its schools and spread the surf safely message, especially since Statistics Canada has found that 11 and 12-year olds spend more time surfing the Internet today than they do watching television. Furthermore, two-thirds of these kids use the Internet unsupervised.
RCMP D/Commr. Harper Boucher, champion of the strategic priority working group on youth, is a strong advocate of the Internet 101 initiative. Overseeing the Strategic Priority Working Group on Youth, he added the initiative to the Youth Strategy Balanced Scorecard. He also sent a memo to all CO’s across the country asking them to support Internet 101.
“Protecting youth is one of the RCMP’s priorities. Internet 101's mandate is an important part of that,” says A/Commr. Ghyslaine Clement, Commanding Officer of “A” Division, who introduced the initiative to an enthusiastic group at the 2005 Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) conference. “Internet 101 was several years in the making. I am proud of the team’s work, but especially proud that we are reaching out to youth in such an positive and effective manner.”
The entire Internet 101 kit can be downloaded at www.internet101.ca.