LAGATAR24 NETWORK
Ranchi, July 21: FLAIR (Forum for Learning with Innovation and Rigour) on Wednesday organised a skill building workshop on ‘Safe and Healthy Internet) at +2 High School Petarwar, Bokaro.
This workshop was organised as part of a skill building workshop series on “Child Online Safety and Well-Being”. The aim of the workshop was to sensitize schoolchildren about how to use the internet in a safe and balanced manner, and not fall prey to the trap of “Internet Addiction”. The workshop also introduced and discussed ‘Fake News’ and the dangers involved with it.
Speaking at the workshop, Ajay Kumar Sinha, founder and executive director FLAIR, hosted an interactive session on the several aspects of internet usage and the dangers involved in it. Sinha took questions from faculty members and stressed that a ban on internet gaming cannot be a practical reality and the kids should be allowed to use smartphones in a regulated atmosphere, in an age-appropriate manner. “Internet has several positive usages and one should focus on the positive side of it more, and positives can be achieved only when we are prepared to navigate the Internet in safety and balance”, he said.
He reiterated, “Safe and Healthy usage of the Internet among children and adolescents can be achieved by careful and planned skill building of students and teachers”.
The workshop also had a session on fake news. Speaking at this session, Praveen Raman, consultant at the FLAIR, highlighted the dangers of fake news and why it is important to identify them. He also said that fake news leads to wrong decision making and loss of time and energy.
Later, the principal of the school, Rajesh Kumar Vishwakarma, stated that smartphones are the need of the hour especially for students. “It helps immensely in learning and the Internet opens gates of information. However as a Principal, I am concerned about how today’s youth are using the internet. Before the Corona Period, carrying smartphones at school premises was prohibited for students. But it has become necessary now. It therefore becomes very necessary that students are taught how to use smart phones for learning and fun,” he said.
He thanked FLAIR for conducting the workshop and stated that such events should take place in other schools also. The delegation of FLAIR also included Sumita Kujur and Shubham Verma.
