Digital Safety Initiative

The project addresses the need for digital safety education in rural areas. In an increasingly connected world, we are exposed to various online risks, including cyberbullying, identity theft, online scams, fake news, and privacy breaches. This project seeks to equip students, parents, and teachers in rural communities with the knowledge and skills required to navigate the digital landscape safely, make informed decisions, and protect their personal information. Besides digital literacy, the project will address related topics such as media literacy, the digital safety of girls since they are more in danger, and the safe use of artificial intelligence. The project will educate students, but also parents and teachers. Students are digitally native and use digital technologies, but parents and teachers are not following that trend and in many times are not informed about the digital environment. The project will decrease the gap between students who are digital natives and parents and teachers and increase digital safety in the local rural community.


This project was made possible by and award sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX. The views and information presented are the grantee's own do not represent the U.S. Department of State or IREX.

Activities

In February, "Petro Kuzmjak" school held workshops on internet safety for students aged 13 to 18.


The workshops talk about one important topic - digital security, because in today's digital world, where technology is ubiquitous and the Internet is an indispensable part of our lives, it is important to understand how to protect yourself from potential dangers that can arise in the digital world. We spend more and more time on the Internet, whether we study, have fun or communicate with friends. However, with this huge benefit comes the responsibility to protect ourselves and our data from the various threats that exist online.

  • How much time per day do you spend on the Internet?

The amount of time children spend online depends on many factors, such as age, socio-economic status, access to technology and others. However, there is a general trend of increasing the amount of time children spend online. Children mostly spend time on social networks, playing games, watching videos and researching information. Excessive use of the Internet can have negative consequences on the mental and physical health of children, so it is important to ensure healthy and safe use of the Internet among children.

  • What is digital violence?

Digital violence includes posting disturbing, offensive or threatening messages, pictures or videos on someone else's profile or sending such materials by SMS, instant messages, email, leaving them on chat; recording and distribution of images, messages and materials of sexual content; harassing calls; impersonation, using someone else's identity, creating a profile on social networks in someone else's name; unauthorized disclosure of other's private information, publication of false accusations or rumors about another person on social network profiles, blogs, etc.; hacking or stealing passwords; sending viruses; ridicule in online chat rooms and internet forums, inappropriate commenting on other people's pictures, messages on profiles, blogs; ignoring, excluding (eg from a group on social networks), inciting hatred on various grounds and others.

  • Have you ever found yourself in an unpleasant situation on the Internet?

Some of the most common unpleasant situations in the online environment that children can encounter are cyberbullying, sexual harassment, stalking, identity theft, inappropriate content, fraud, false information and the negative influence of social networks, including the creation of unrealistic expectations, an eating disorder or a mental breakdown due to constant comparison.

  • If you find yourself in an unpleasant situation on the Internet, what to do next?

It's important to know that wherever violence happens, you don't have to suffer it, but you can report it and stop it.

If you think you are a victim of violence, the first step is to seek help from a person you trust, a parent, guardian, close family member or other adult. At school, you can turn to a psychologist or pedagogue, the school director, as well as a teacher or professor you trust.

If you do not want to contact someone you know, call the toll-free number 19833. This is the number of the National Contact Center for Child Safety on the Internet.

If the bullying is happening on a social network, block the bully and report the bullying to that social network. Companies must protect their users. It could be helpful to collect evidence - messages and pictures that prove that you were exposed to violence.

If you are in immediate danger, contact the police or other emergency services in Serbia.

At the workshops, students were given a questionnaire to learn more about their attitudes and habits on the Internet.

In an increasingly interconnected world, the role of educators in equipping students with essential skills for navigating the digital landscape has never been more critical. To address this need, in the frame of the project Initiative for Digital Safety, we had a workshop for teachers where we included 20 teachers. The workshop focused on creating effective and engaging lesson plans centered around digital safety, media literacy, and artificial intelligence. At the workshop we have discuss digital safety in school settings, made lesson’s plan structure and collected ideas for lesson plans. The workshop was designed to empower teachers with the knowledge and tools necessary to educate students about the complexities and challenges of the digital world. It will cover key topics such as online safety, critical thinking in media consumption, and the basics of AI. The goal of the workshop was to help teachers develop lesson plans that are not only informative but also interactive and inspiring for students.

The workshop was held in March, and after that in April we collected ten lesson plans, that covered different subjects, topics and students age range.

We created the following lessons:

1. Digital safety dictionary

In this lesson, students create a Digital Safety Dictionary to familiarize themselves with key terms and concepts related to online safety. By defining terms such as "phishing," "cyberbullying," "two-factor authentication," and "digital footprint," students gain a deeper understanding of the digital risks they may encounter. The activity involves researching definitions, discussing real-life examples, and creating illustrated entries for each term.

2. Digitale Sichrheit

In this lesson, students explore the concept of digital literacy in the German language and its importance in the modern world. Activities will include practicing safe online behaviors. Through interactive discussions, students develop vocabulary and the skills needed to navigate, understand, and responsibly use digital technologies in their daily lives.

3. Artificial intelligence

In this lesson, students explore the basics of artificial intelligence and its significance in today's world. The lesson will begin with a brief overview of AI concepts. Activities will include interactive discussions and simple AI models. By the end of the lesson, students will have a solid understanding of AI fundamentals and its implications for the future.

4. Comparing newspaper articles

In this lesson, students learn how to critically analyze and compare newspaper articles from different sources. The lesson begins with a discussion on media bias and the importance of evaluating the credibility of sources. Students select articles on the same topic from various newspapers and compare their perspectives, language, and presentation of facts. By the end of the lesson, students will be equipped with the skills to critically assess media content and understand the importance of diverse viewpoints in journalism.

5. Internet frauds and how to be protected

In this lesson, students will learn about common types of internet frauds, such as phishing, identity theft, and online scams. Students explore strategies for protecting themselves online, such as recognizing suspicious emails, creating strong passwords, and using secure websites.

6. Sharing and liking

In this lesson, students explore the mathematical concepts behind sharing and liking on social media platforms. Students analyze data sets to understand how different variables, such as the number of shares, likes, and comments, impact the popularity of a post.

7. Difference between traditional and digital violence

In this lesson, students will examine the distinctions between traditional violence (physical bullying, harassment) and digital violence (cyberbullying, online harassment). Students compare the effects, methods, and potential consequences of traditional versus digital violence. Activities include analyzing case studies, discussing the emotional and psychological impacts on victims, and exploring strategies for prevention and intervention in both contexts.

8. Digital safety on social media during traveling

In this lesson, students learn how to safeguard their digital presence while traveling. The lesson covers key topics such as avoiding location sharing, managing privacy settings, and recognizing potential security threats. By the end of the lesson, students will be equipped with practical tips to ensure their online safety and privacy during their travels.

9. Fake news

The lesson begins with an overview of what constitutes fake news, including misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda. Activities will involve group discussions on the impact of fake news on public opinion and individual decision-making.

10. Ethical aspects of artificial intelligence

In this lesson, students will explore the ethical considerations surrounding artificial intelligence (AI). Students engage in discussions and case studies to examine real-world examples of ethical dilemmas in AI. Activities include debates and develop strategies for addressing ethical challenges.

Teachers left the workshop with a deeper understanding of digital safety, media literacy, and AI, equipped with innovative strategies to engage their students. Some of them developed complete lesson plans, ready to be implemented in their classrooms. These plans included a variety of teaching methods. The workshop provided an opportunity for teachers to collaborate and share ideas. This workshop equipped school teachers with the knowledge and tools they need to prepare their students for the digital world. By fostering critical thinking, ethical awareness, and technical skills, we can help shape a generation of informed and responsible digital citizens.

Collection of lesson class

During this project we had a workshop for parents in May, 2024 about digital safety where parent gained better understanding of digital safety issues, such as protecting personal information, identifying cyber threads, understanding privacy setting on various platforms, but also how to recognize if their child has a problem in digital world and help them.  There are many potential dangers that children might face online, such as cyber bulling, online predators or inappropriate content.


We also analyzed bad and good sides of using internet, we showcased examples from our school and showed our parents how students used the Internet and social media for good, but we also show them examples where social media was used in unacceptable manner. After the presentation, we opened effective conversation among parents and discuss their family communication regarding online activities and behaviors. In the discussion parents felt confident to share their thought and concerns in the process of protecting their children online and guiding them in making safe and responsible digital choices.


Parents were very interested and willing to take proactive steps to implement digital safety measures at home, such as setting up parental controls and monitoring online activity. They all agree that their actions as parents are very important and establishing clear rules and guidelines for internet use, could help to create structured and safe online environment for their children.


Parent were very dedicated in the workshop and they created recommendation for safe online parental practice. They analyzed digital safety in several aspects:

  • Using technology to increase children creativity
  • Recognition of potential risks in digital world
  • How to react when child is a victim of cyber bulling
  • Development of realistic attitudes towards virtual reality
  • Correct use of the Internet


The outcomes of their work was used to make a parental brochure. The brochure was made to help other parents in our community to adopt sustainable digital safety practices that could be maintained over time, contribution to a long-term culture of safety within the family and in wider community. Workshop definitely contributed to building the stronger collaboration between parents and school, and ensured that digital safety education is consistent both at home and in the classroom.

Brochures printed as learning resource

Round Table as a part of the "Digital Safety Initiative" was an opportunity to invite teachers in rural areas and discuss digital safety challenges that they are facing during their work with students. About 40 teachers effectively took part in lectures and contributed to the vibrant atmosphere, shared their concerns and thoughts about this relevant topic. 


The round table was held on 24th May in Petro Kuzmjak school, and it was certified with by the Province Vojvodina Pedagogical Institute, so the certificate received on this round table is a relevant document for teachers' professional document. The round table was opened by Natalija Budinski, who greeted participants, and wished them successful work. Further on, she introduced the "Digital Safety Initiative" project, and it aims to the audience. In this part, we presented students videos, teachers' lesson plans dedicated to digital safety and flyer prepared by parents. 


Petro Kuzmjak school has a great opportunity with the project to improve digital safety education and raise awareness about various online risks, including cyberbullying, identity theft, online scams, fake news, and privacy breaches. Through various workshops with students, teachers, and parents we increased the knowledge and skills required to navigate the digital landscape safely. Also, this round table was a great opportunity to analyze various aspects of the digital world and its influence to our everyday life and try to decrease the gap between students who are digital natives and parents and teachers and increase digital safety in the local rural community.  


Teacher Tamara Budinski presented different activities and workshops dedicated to digital safety that our school was part of. Teacher Ljiljana Rudakijević presented reasons why are taking part in programs such as Erasmus, but also in another important for the school development, while teacher Daliborka Vukasović discussed ethical aspects of the use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence. 


At the end of the round table, we had a fruitful discussion and we concluded that digital technology has become an integral part of life, and thus it has become part of school life. Communication, educational content, and even social interaction are moved to the virtual environment, which, apart from many benefits, brings and causes problems, as well as risks. An increasing number of children use the Internet, and on that occasion they can find content that is not suitable for children or is not safe. In addition to the need to empower children in the use of digital technologies. Also, we concluded that parents and teachers also need support to be able to recognize potential problems and to help and protect their children and that we all together as a society need to work more and make a digital world a safe place for everyone. 


Digital security is not only a technological aspect but also a key skill in today's life. Security on the Internet is the foundation for a free democratic society, and individuals who relate to the online environment should contribute to its safety through the strengthening of transparency, freedom of expression, respect for privacy, and basic human rights.


As a part of the activities, students created short videos where they explained situations related to digital safety. Through these videos, students gained a deeper understanding of digital safety issues such as cyberbullying, phishing, privacy protection, and secure online behavior. They also improved their ability to research and verify information related to digital safety, enhancing critical thinking abilities.


Also, significant skills were required, and through those activities, students developed technical skills.

The importance of those videos is in peer education since the videos created by students are a strong tool to educate peers and can be used for raising awareness and responsibility towards this topic. This activity engaged in active discussion about digital safety in the school community, its promotion, and the creation of a digitally safe environment. Activities supported students' confidence and creativity, collaboration, teamwork, and communication skills.


All students received certificates and the jury decided which video was the best, so students received prizes. Outstanding videos will be used as examples of good practice and showcase involvement in how students can contribute to the promotion of safer and more responsible digital practice. Also, we wanted to promote possible choices of careers for students in the field of digital media, cybersecurity, or digital safety.


The outcomes of this activity collectively contributed to a safer and more informed community and empowered students to navigate the online world responsibly.

Working in teams students created ten creative and educative videos that could be used in further activities in school for the promotion of digital safety.

Students video playlist

Champion video - Breaking silence

Champion team

About project

This project was made possible by an award sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), with funding provided by the U.S. Government an administered by IREX. The views and information presented are the grantee's own and do not represent U.S. Department of State of IREX.  


The Digital Safety Initiative is a project focused on improving digital safety awareness and practices in rural areas.


The project aims to educate students, teachers and parents about online security, including how to protect personal information, recognize cyber threats, and safely navigate the internet. Through workshops, training sessions, and resources  the project empowers students, teachers and parents with the knowledge and tools necessary to stay safe online. 

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