iKeepSafe’s Partner South West Grid for Learning Wins Another Prestigious Award

Washington, D.C. (myPressManager.com) November 14, 2011

The Internet Keep Safe Coalition (iKeepSafe) is thrilled to announce that partner South West Grid for Learning (SWGFL) has won yet another prestigious award for their 360 Safe Tool: The British Computer Society’s Community Project of the Year Award.

The British Computer Society and Computing UK IT Industry Awards provide a platform for the entire IT profession to celebrate best practice, innovation and excellence. This year’s awards featured 23 categories covering projects, organizations, technology and individual excellence.

Other finalists from the award gala (attended by 1,200 people) include: Tesco.com, BT, JP Morgan, Shell Aviation, Beam SRC, Community Gateway Association, Go ON Adopt, MSM, UK Safer Internet Centre, World Vision UK, WORLDwrite, and the Zoological Society of London.

Like the Generation Safe™ 360 Self-Assessment Tool—which is a customized version of South West Grid for Learning’s 360 Tool—schools use the tool to find out where they lie on the digital citizenship spectrum. Once they receive their results, they’re directed through the next steps for achieving Gold Medal School certification.

“We are delighted to have received this further prestigious national award, the 4th this year, for 360 degree safe,” David Wright, SWGFL e-safety consultant said. “It is clear from this and also the judge’s comments that the tool has significant impact in schools to the benefit of the children and staff. Preparing and improving online safety provision is an increasing priority for schools and their leaders and it is fantastic that 360 degree safe can help in this very regard.”

The three additional prestigious awards that Mr. Wright refers to include the: BETT (British Education Technology Tradeshow) Award, ISPA (Internet Services Providers’ Association) Award, and Nominet Award.

Across the United States and in Asia Pacific, teachers using the Generation Safe™ 360 Self-Assessment Tool have expressed their enthusiasm for the tool—clearly indicating that the awards are well deserved.

“Before Generation Safe, we talked about how to address issues of digital citizenship, but we had no common framework to drive our decisions,” explained Senior Director of Instructional Technology from Tamalpais Union High School District, Joel Hames. “Now that we have completed the 360 assessment, we have been able to develop specific action plans, and to involve a broader group of stakeholders. All of this is contributing to a more robust and impactful digital citizenship program in our district.”

iKeepSafe congratulates SWGFL for their impressive achievements this past year and looks forward to a continuous and successful partnership moving forward.

About the Internet Keep Safe Coalition

The Internet Keep Safe Coalition is a broad partnership of governors and first spouses, attorneys general, public health and educational professionals, law enforcement and industry leaders working together for the health and safety of youth online. The Coalition provides innovative resources, including parent tutorials and educational materials like the Faux Paw the Techno Cat® Internet safety book series and animated films for children. iKeepSafe uses its unique partnerships to disseminate the safety resources to families worldwide, including its Generation Safe™ pilot programs launched in China, India and Australia.

About the South West Grid for Learning

The South West Grid for Learning is a not for profit, charitable trust company, funded by 15 Local Authorities across the South West of England. The organization provides maintained schools and many other educational establishments throughout the region with safe, secure and reliable broadband internet connectivity; broadband-enabled learning resources and services and help, support and advice in using the internet safely.