Our education researchers worked with primary school children to develop a series of picture books on online safety and digital literacy.
The project, led by Dr Cristina Costa from our School of Education, involved pupils from a North East England primary school collaborating with our researchers.
Through discussions and workshops, our researchers explored the pupils’ understanding of social media, their knowledge of digital safety and their thoughts on our digital footprints.
The pupils also created the artwork for the books which was later adapted by a professional illustrator.
The books are available to download for free.
Dr Costa said: “This has been a very special project to work on and has brought us closer to our own community.
“Our hope is that young people, parents and teachers will draw on these books as learning resources to support important conversations about online safety.”
Our researchers are now working on a plan to ensure discussions of social media and digital experiences can be supported in schools, households and community spaces via the books and the discussions they can inspire.
Work is also ongoing on a digital literacy programme linking our students with schools and the wider community.
Project co-lead Dr Michaela Oliver said: “It is incredibly important to create opportunities for young people to discuss their experiences with social media, providing them with a platform to voice both their concerns and the perceived benefits of these technologies.
“The digital world can be overshadowed by the risks it presents to young people and our approach aims to address these challenges proactively.”
Main image shows pupils in Durham with copies of the books they helped produce. Image credit: Chris Barron
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