1) While digital technologies provide immense opportunities, relying solely on repression and control is not enough to protect kids from risks. 2) We need to educate children on how to exploit the potential of digital tools, not just restrict them, but most assume kids already know how to use technologies without understanding key concepts. 3) Examples of important concepts include how to evaluate online sources, use social networks safely, and understand basic digital literacy ideas like algorithms and information. Educating educators, including parents and teachers, is also critical.

1. We Need Education, Not Just Repression
Alfonso Fuggetta
CEFRIEL – Politecnico di Milano

2. The Digital Age
• Immense opportunities
• Indisputable risks
• ... especially for kids.

3. What's The Answer?
• Too often, we just talk about repression and control
• Technical means
• Enforcing rules
• Do they work?
• Partially
• Are they enough?
• No
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4. Why Are Not Enough?
• It is difficult to enforce them effectively
• We need to help our kids exploit the potential of digital
technologies and Internet, not just protect them from
their “dark side”
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5. The “Digital Natives” Myth
• A “digital native” is someone born into an innate "new culture”.
• We often assume they know “how to use” digital technologies
and the Internet
• What do we mean by “how to use”?
• This belief is significantly flawed and is causing a number of
misunderstandings and mistakes.
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6. What a Digital Native Really Is
• Someone who is familiar with the “mechanics” of digital tools
and the Internet.
• how to operate social networks and messaging apps
• related jargon
• Too often, a person who is totally ignorant of key concepts and
principles
• Which ones?
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7. Some Examples
• Rules, criteria, and guidelines to
• search the Internet and assess sources
• use social networks
• browse web sites
• use digital communication tools
• share information
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8. But There Is More …
• At Elementary School we learn
• How to read and write
• How to make simple computations
• Some preliminary concepts and notion in History and Geography
• What about the digital world?
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9. Some Critical Notions
• The notion of algorithm
• The notion of information
• The notion of representation
• The notion of coding (e.g., Scratch)
• …
• Of course, tuned to the specific age and maturity level
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10. Educating The Educators
• Who should help our children to learn and grow?
• Educators
• Who are they?
• Parents
• Teachers
• and also media (e.g., broadcasting companies)
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11. The Critical Role of Media Companies
• Can we stop depicting the Internet only as the place of sins,
risks, and “dark forces”?
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12. A Very Critical Agenda
• For all stakeholders:
• Public bodies
• Education institutions
• Media
• Families
• …
• The essential role of Governments and Political Parties