CyberCops is an educational, computer-based program that teaches students in Grades 7 & 8 about the risks and safety issues associated with Internet use. CyberCops assists students in acquiring the skills needed to recognize and respond to situations that threaten their personal safety and well-being as a result of using the Internet.
CyberCops consists of two resources, Mirror Image (for Grade 7 students) and Air Dogs (for Grade 8 students). Each resource is designed to be used in a classroom setting and features a CD-ROM that invites students to assist the real life characters in a truly interactive, gaming experience. The resource also includes a Parent/Teacher Guide, lesson plans that are directly linked to the Ontario Health and Physical Education Curriculum, and tools for students to develop an Internet Safety Plan. CyberCops addresses elements of the Personal Safety and Injury Prevention component of the Healthy Living strand of the H&PE Curriculum and is available in both English and French.
The interactive CD-ROM software and Parent/Teacher Guide for CyberCops was developed by LiveWWWires Designs Ltd., a software development company, while Ophea developed the lesson plans to accompany the program. The Ontario Provincial Police, in partnership with Ophea delivered province-wide team training (in 2006 and again in 2007) which engaged representatives from school boards (including teachers, IT specialists, principals and superintendents), as well as School Council Chairs, parents, local law enforcement officers and local community leaders.
Mirror Image has been distributed to all public and Catholic English and French schools in Ontario that have Grade 7 classes. Air Dogs has been distributed to all Ontario public and Catholic schools with Grade 8 in February 2007.
CyberCops was made possible by a grant from the Ministry of Education in partnership with the Ministry of the Attorney General's Victim Justice Fund.
Mirror Image is the first game in the CyberCops series. It is based on a real case study from Eastern Canada. Three criminal behaviours are introduced to students:cyberstalking, Internet luring and child pornography.
Air Dogs is the second game in the CyberCops series. Based on a real case involving a young American, Air Dogs was designed to open a dialogue with young teenagers to make them more aware of the consequences of being involved in the following three types of Internet crime: credit card fraud, software piracy, and bullying.