VodafoneZiggo introduces a free teaching module for pupils in special secondary education (voortgezet speciaal onderwijs, VSO). This new module is focused on improving the digital skills of young people between the ages of 12 and 18 in special education and forms part of the broader teaching programme Online Masters for pupils in primary and secondary education.
The importance of teaching materials for special education is great. A report* by the Netherlands Youth Institute (Nederlands Jeugdinstituut) shows that children in special education fall victim to cyberbullying, manipulation and sexual abuse via (social) media more often than other children.
WhatsApp
In the new module, pupils in special education learn what you can do with WhatsApp, how it works and how you can ensure that WhatsApp remains enjoyable for everyone. On the basis of examples of online bullying and sexting, for example, they hold discussions with each other and the teacher. They discover, for example, what they can do if someone asks them to send photos with sexual overtones. How can they set their boundaries?
Example of online bullying – how do you deal with it?
Need
VodafoneZiggo developed the new teaching modules for special secondary education in collaboration with ECP/veiliginternetten.nl, Dutch Media Literacy Network (Netwerk Mediawijsheid), STIP and VuoriAdvies speciaal onderwijs.
“There is a shortage of teaching materials for digital literacy in special secondary education. That is why we are happy with the development of this new module that ties in well with the needs of the pupils. With the aid of this teaching package, children can prepare for their future even better,” according to Louise Doornenbal, coordinator and specialist teacher at STIP, a school for special secondary education in Utrecht.
Digital progress
"VodafoneZiggo uses technology to bring fun and progress to people and society. The digitisation of society creates enormous opportunities, but also a great deal of challenges. We believe it is important that everyone can keep up with this, which is why we have programmes for primary education, secondary education and now also special secondary education,” according to Laura van Gestel, director Corporate Social Responsibility at VodafoneZiggo.
Equal opportunities
Since 2017, VodafoneZiggo has reached more than 550,000 pupils in primary and secondary education with the teaching programme Online Masters. This new module is yet another step towards improving the digital skills of children and striving for equal opportunities for everyone.
The second teaching module for special secondary education is currently being prepared and will be introduced at the beginning of next year.
*Source: Netherlands Youth Institute, Mediawijsheid bij kinderen met een lvb (Media wisdom for children who are slightly mentally impaired, 2018).