In winter 2006, Ophea in partnership with the OPP, provided CyberCops Team Training across Ontario. The six regional training sessions and one French (via video conference) training session engaged school board personnel, parents and local law enforcement officers. The goal of this team based training model was to create a team of trainers or Internet safety champions within each school community to be accessed over time providing additional and ongoing training within each board. The training sessions facilitated the formation of the school community team as well as the team’s development of an Action Plan or strategy to support implementation in its unique school community. Here’s what some of the participants said about the training:

Excellent material - kids learn usually through videos etc. versus someone just talking to them - kids can see how easily things happen. Great resource!! Fantastic!

Thanks for the opportunity to be informed. Well done!

Great to see the actual software and work through it. Taking this information to parents is essential so they become informed and share the responsibility of cyber-proofing our children.

I thought I was pretty internet savvy before this presentation which is how I think most parents feel. Now I know more about the dangers of cyberspace and I feel every parent should have the chance to attend this presentation. I will do my best to inform the parents of our school of the things I have learned today through handouts and at a parents meeting. 

Training Success Stories

From Ottawa Carlton District School Board:

First we trained technology coaches, then they offered to present CyberCops to schools in grade 7 classes. The goal was to reach as many grade 7 students as possible with the help of the technology coaches. We promoted CyberCops Mirror Image at meetings and via email.

In total approximately 500 students viewed the workshop. All the workshops were successful, thanks to the engaging format of the presentation. Students liked being ‘deputized’ as CyberCops and getting a chance to input clues and find the latitude and longitude using the mouse. I think all of the students were impressed by how little information it would take to find them, and seemed to be reconsidering any risky habits they might have with regard to the Internet.

We would like to share your training success stories to assist other school boards implementation of the CyberCops Internet Safety Initiative. Please email your success stories to cops@ophea.org.