Towards an Heuristic Approach to Cybersecurity and Online Safety Pedagogy

Abstract

Using a realist review approach from a qualitative and pragmatic perspective, the ultimate aim here is to develop a Cybersecurity and Online Safety (CSOS) pedagogical approach for Initial Teacher Training. The approach here is needs based whilst societally situated. It is primarily intended for the preparation of initial teacher trainees. However, this emerging approach could also be of interest to those developing CSOS educational programmes. The aim here is not to outline specific instruction for a particular online harm. Neither is it to provide further security instruction, for example, on how to manage passwords. The aim is to propose a theoretical approach to CSOS contexts, mechanisms and outcomes. From this the future aim is to curate a set of appropriate tools, or heuristics, that can be taught and utilised by lay people or experts to address established or new CSOS issues. The work considers the current education landscape and the CSOS issues. Using Friere's pedagogical approach, the emergent themes are situated to the needs of the individual and society. The resulting theoretical approach should facilitate initial CSOS dialogues between educators and learners. These initial findings are surprising when situated alongside known pedagogies and theories.