The Method of Teaching Schoolchildren the Basics of Security on The Internet
Authors: Romanova M. V. , Chernova E. V. 
Published: April 2022

The purpose of the study is to substantiate and test an interactive methodology that involves the active interaction of a high school student - a moderator and schoolchildren in the process of developing their competencies in the field of information security, allowing them to successfully socialize in the information environment. The relevance of this problem is due, on the one hand, to the process of informatization of all spheres of society’s life and the demand in this regard for the subjects of society who have both knowledge in the field of information security and the ability to ensure their own technological, ideological and psychological security and, on this basis, objectively analyze and evaluate information coming to them, taking into account the threats contained in it. On the other hand, the need for practice in the methodological support of the process of teaching schoolchildren the basics of security on the Internet and the insufficient development of this issue in pedagogical science.

Materials and methods. To achieve this goal, we used a systematic approach to create a model of an interactive methodology for teaching schoolchildren the basics of information security, an activity approach that allows us to activate the process of interaction between subjects of cognitive activity and the possibility of increasing its effectiveness based on gamification. The following methods were used in the work: analysis of pedagogical, psychological, scientific, technical and methodological literature on the research problem, systematization, generalization, experiment, questioning, testing, survey, diagnostic methods (methods of Internet addiction by S.Kulikov and Kimberly-Young in adapted by S. Loskutova), and methods of mathematical statistics and visual presentation of results. The experiment involved 66 schoolchildren from the fifth to the ninth grades and five high school students as moderators of school No. 28 in Magnitogorsk.

Results. As part of the study, an interactive methodology for teaching schoolchildren the basics of Internet security was developed and tested, implemented as part of extracurricular activities based on the author’s program, developed on the spiral principle of presenting the content of training, interaction between a teacher, a high school student - moderator and schoolchildren on the principle of mentoring, using gamification. The game scenario developed by us on the principles of gradual complication of situational tasks depending on the age of schoolchildren (gamification mechanics), cooperation (gamification dynamics) and motivation (gamification components) is implemented as a mobile application with elements of additional reality. Within the framework of this methodology, senior students act as mentors for students of middle school age. The study of the opinions of schoolchildren indicates that they are satisfied with the process and the result of education.

Conclusion. The proposed interactive methodology for teaching schoolchildren the basics of security on the Internet, combining elements of traditional and e-learning as part of extracurricular activities, ensures the involvement of school-children in the educational process based on the development of external and internal motivation, increases the productivity of their cognitive activity, eliminates formalism in interactive interaction and allows effective implement monitoring and evaluation of learning outcomes.