Online gaming gives kids the freedom to explore new environments and socialize in ways that they might not be able to in real life. Unfortunately, its increasing popularity has also given rise to cyberbullying and young people are more likely to become targets.
Recent research has shown that 17 percent of those aged 8 to 17 who play multiplayer games online were bullied and abused during gameplay.
The Lost Summer, a new video game launched by the Office of the eSafety Commissioner is designed for students to play in the classroom to help encourage digital intelligence and online safety skills.
According to eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, the video game is a fun and engaging way to teach young kids how to respond to what they encounter online and navigate the online world safely.
The Lost Summer immerses players in a virtual environment where they are required to exercise skills such as critical thinking, empathy, resilience, respect and responsibility to complete challenges and advance through the game.
“We know that online gaming is hugely popular among young people,” says Ms Inman Grant.
“We’ve created a gamified experience that is engaging and will resonate with young people as they learn the importance of digital intelligence.”
The game consists of five chapters, with each focusing on a key area of digital intelligence.
The game immerses players in a futuristic environment that displays different scenarios they may encounter online Source: Office of the e-Safety Commissioner website
•RESPECT - act respectfully towards others, acknowledging and appreciating that others may have different points of view, cultures and backgrounds.
•CRITICAL THINKING - think critically about what you see online and ask questions to identify and analyse information that may seek to exploit or misinform.
•RESILIENCE - be resilient and respond with strength and maturity when risks are encountered online.
•RESPONSIBILITY - be responsible about what you say and do, by engaging positively with others and being accountable for your behaviour.
•EMPATHY - be empathetic to others and use emotional intelligence to respect opinions, embrace diversity of opinion and freedom of speech.
