In today’s increasingly digital age, equipping children to navigate the internet safely, responsibly, and respectfully is more critical than ever. Recognizing this, Google developed the “Be Internet Awesome” curriculum, a comprehensive program designed to teach children and families essential digital citizenship and online safety skills. With engaging lessons, interactive games, and dynamic partnerships, “Be Internet Awesome” empowers communities to build a safer, more informed, and kinder digital environment.
A Curriculum Built for Educators, Families, and Students
Developed in collaboration with The Net Safety Collaborative and the Internet Keep Safe Coalition, the “Be Internet Awesome” curriculum provides tools and resources that teach kids about online safety, digital citizenship, and emotional intelligence in their interactions with technology.
Google continues to refine and expand the curriculum with new content, including:
- 10 New Activities: Developed in partnership with the Committee for Children, these activities incorporate social-emotional learning to guide children through their digital journeys.
- Search Literacy Lessons: Teaching students to evaluate credible sources and avoid misinformation.
- Updated Safety and Security Content: Addressing today’s evolving digital challenges.
The program’s flexible design makes it easy to implement in grades 2–6 and beyond. Each lesson is self-contained, requires minimal preparation, and doesn’t rely on special equipment, ensuring accessibility for all learners.
The Five Pillars of Be Internet Awesome
At the heart of the program are five core principles, known as the Internet Code of Awesome, which equip students with essential habits for safe and responsible online behavior:
- Be Smart/Share with Care: Students learn about digital footprints and responsible online communication, understanding how their actions can have long-term consequences.
- Be Alert/Don’t Fall for Fake: Lessons teach students to identify phishing scams, evaluate website credibility, and avoid misinformation—critical skills for today’s media landscape.
- Be Strong/Secure Your Secrets: This course emphasizes the importance of cybersecurity. Students learn to create strong passwords, safeguard personal information, and protect their online accounts.
- Be Kind/It’s Cool to Be Kind: By fostering empathy and respect, kids learn to build positive online communities.
- Be Brave/When in Doubt, Talk It Out: Learn to stand up to cyberbullying and negativity. Students are encouraged to seek help from trusted adults when encountering questionable online content, reinforcing the value of open communication.
Building Digital Media Literacy with Google’s “Be Internet Awesome” Program
At Ascension Learning, we recognize the critical importance of equipping students with digital media literacy skills—navigating, evaluating, and engaging responsibly with digital content. Google’s “Be Internet Awesome” program offers an engaging and comprehensive approach to teaching children how to interact safely and effectively with the online world.
What is Digital Media Literacy?
Digital media literacy goes beyond basic internet usage. It teaches students to:
- Evaluate Credible Sources: Identify trustworthy information and detect misinformation.
- Recognize Online Risks: Avoid phishing scams, fake news, and online predators.
- Foster Positive Online Interactions: Build respectful, empathetic communities and counteract negativity.
- Protect Personal Information: Understand the importance of privacy and strong digital security practices.
Through hands-on lessons and immersive activities, Be Internet Awesome ensures students learn and practice these skills meaningfully.
How “Be Internet Awesome” Develops Digital Media Literacy
The program’s five core principles, encapsulated in the Internet Code of Awesome, are directly aligned with building media literacy:
- Share with Care. Students explore the concept of digital footprints and learn how to communicate responsibly online. Lessons emphasize that what they share—whether through text, images, or videos—can have long-term consequences.
- Don’t Fall for Fake. One of the most vital skills in today’s media landscape is distinguishing fact from fiction. Students learn to spot phishing scams, evaluate website credibility, and avoid misinformation. These lessons strengthen critical thinking and skepticism when consuming digital content.
- Secure Your Secrets. Privacy and security are foundational to digital literacy. The curriculum teaches students how to create strong passwords, protect their accounts, and safeguard their personal information, emphasizing the importance of cybersecurity in an interconnected world.
- It’s Cool to Be Kind. Digital spaces thrive on respectful, positive interactions. Students learn to recognize and counteract cyberbullying, spread kindness, and contribute to a more supportive online community.
- When in Doubt, Talk It Out. When online content or interactions feel questionable, students are encouraged to seek help from trusted adults. This principle builds confidence and reinforces the importance of open communication in navigating digital challenges.
Interactive Tools to Reinforce Learning
Google has taken the digital safety message into the immersive world of Roblox with Be Internet Awesome World—a vibrant, interactive space where kids can learn online safety through gameplay. Players join the Internauts, Google’s colorful digital mascots, to take on challenges designed to teach critical internet safety skills.
Interland, the program’s online game, brings these concepts to life through fun, interactive experiences. Students join the Internauts in tackling digital safety challenges in colorful, engaging worlds:
- 🏰 Kind Kingdom: Promote kindness and combat negativity to keep The Hater’s influence at bay. Encourage kindness and positivity in online interactions.
- 🏔️ Mindful Mountain: Learn how to share information wisely and outsmart Impostors who try to steal sensitive data. Reinforces the careful sharing and protection of personal information.
- 🎣 Reality River: Hone your phishing detection skills while protecting the river from scams. Teaches them how to spot scams and evaluate online sources.
- 🛡️ Tower of Treasure: Use powerful security tools to defend the tower from cyberattacks. Focuses on cybersecurity, helping students learn to secure their digital accounts.
By gamifying digital literacy, Interland ensures that students retain and apply their knowledge in real-world situations.
Dive into the Roblox experience here.
Additional Digital Media Literacy Resources to Empower Families and Educators
The program extends beyond the classroom, thanks to partnerships with organizations like Highlights and Google Families:
Highlights Collaboration: Making Digital Literacy Fun
Google’s partnership with Highlights, a trusted leader in children’s education, brings the Be Internet Awesome curriculum to life.
- Family-friendly activities, stories, and worksheets developed in collaboration with Highlights bring the curriculum into homes, making digital literacy fun and relatable. They are available here.
Google Families Resources: A Hub for Learning Together
Access digital parenting tips and tools at Google Families to support safe internet use.
- Google Families offers an extensive library of tools and resources to help parents and guardians foster healthy digital habits at home. From tips on creating strong passwords to games that teach phishing awareness, the platform provides families with the tools they need to explore the internet responsibly.
- Explore more family-friendly resources and digital parenting tips at Google Families.
Both initiatives ensure students have the resources to practice digital safety in both structured and informal settings. To make digital safety education accessible to all, the curriculum also includes:
- Pear Deck Slides: Ready-to-teach presentations for educators.
- Printable Activities: For both classroom and home use.
- Family Guides: Practical tips for fostering safe online habits at home.
Additional Resources
- Visit the Be Internet Awesome curriculum for classrooms and families: https://beinternetawesome.withgoogle.com.
- Discover more educational collaborations and tools at Google Education.
Why This Curriculum Matters
“Be Internet Awesome” stands out for its holistic approach, combining:
- Classroom lessons are tailored to diverse learning styles and age groups.
- Immersive games that make learning fun and memorable.
- Partnerships that extend the curriculum’s reach to families and communities.
The internet is an incredible tool for learning and connection, but it requires thoughtful navigation. By teaching children to stay safe, identify credible sources, and interact with empathy, Be Internet Awesome lays the foundation for a future of responsible, informed digital citizens. By building digital resilience and fostering kindness, the program ensures the next generation is ready to navigate the digital world confidently and responsibly.
Proven Impact on Digital Media Literacy
“Be Internet Awesome” goes beyond teaching internet safety—it equips students with digital media literacy skills to evaluate credible sources, recognize online risks, foster positive interactions, and protect personal information.
The curriculum’s alignment with the ISTE Standards for Students and its Seal of Alignment for Readiness demonstrates its effectiveness. A study by the University of New Hampshire’s Crimes Against Children Research Center confirmed its positive impact on students’ understanding of online safety and digital citizenship.
Empowering the Future with Media Literacy
Digital media literacy is an essential 21st-century skill, and programs like Be Internet Awesome provide a blueprint for success. By teaching kids to evaluate content, protect themselves online, and foster positive interactions, this program ensures that the next generation is prepared to navigate the digital world responsibly.
Explore the Be Internet Awesome curriculum and help your students become savvy, informed digital citizens. Visit the curriculum here and join the movement to build a better, safer digital future.
Stay tuned for a major announcement regarding how we are bringing these principles to early childhood education in Gainesville, FL.
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