70% of children have free access to the internet, and according to a recent survey, they find themselves browsing the web alone from the age of 7. But how many have been made aware by a parent of potential dangers they might encounter on the web ? It is for this reason that the National Education has embarked on the design of an educational game to raise awareness (and their parents too).
Bringing answers to children
This game was developed in Bessan, west of Béziers, in particular by Harold Eurcar, a teacher specializing in the education of students with disabilities. “The children immediately joined the project and thus allowed its improvement” according to this teacher in charge of a class of pupils from 7 to 12 years old suffering from a cognitive handicap at the elementary school Victor-Hugo.
The Bessan school is a pilot in France in the design of this game born from an Erasmus initiative in partnership with Sweden and England. The project was launched in September 2020. The beta version has since been improved thanks to feedback from 130 children from five CMI and CM2 classes.
Stéphanie participated in the game with her son Paul, in CM2 class: “I am seduced by this game. It allows children to materialize the risks incurred.”
This game called Bao aims to make students aware of uses and practices on the internet.
A free game for CM1, CM2 and 6th graders to play as a family
Bao is the adventure of a panda who wants to be a great adventurer. Bao launches into the internet jungle. Different themes are offered to players: the use of social networks, cyberbullying, information sharing and the notion of friend.
“It is essential to give them the tools to help them discover the internet while being completely safe“explains Claire Mangin, a teacher in this primary school. “Half of the 22 students in my CM1-CM2 class have a mobile phone“.
“Bao is relevant because it uses video game codes.” – Claire Mangin, teacher at the Victor-Hugo school
The time spent on the internet has increased considerably for a child since the health crisis and the various confinements, sometimes without parental supervision. And some young people find themselves exposed to danger. “There is a real urgent need to educate children vis-à-vis practices and uses on the Internet. The Mila case and cyberbullying are concrete proof of this“adds Harold Eurcar, designer of this game. Mila, it is this 16-year-old teenager who had been threatened with death and rape on social networks in 2020 after the publication of a video on her Instagram account.
Allow parents and teachers to address all scenarios that students may encounter
In August 2021, the game was officially presented at the Ax-les-Thermes digital fair. Next March, it will be the turn of the Bett Show in London, a benchmark show for the international e-education sector.
Bao has since been offered to other establishments in the district of Pézenas, in particular to 460 students in around twenty CM1 and CM2.
The game is offered free of charge to all parents and children who wish.
– Stefane Pocher