Treat your password like your toothbrush...It’s a message that elementary students at The Children's Montessori and Preparatory School (CMS) aren't likely to forget.

"Do not share it, and change it often," adds Trent University's Dr. Sabine McConnell, in talking to the students in grades five to eight about how to stay safe online.

She visited the local downtown school as part of Trent's 50 Talks for 50 Schools, an initiative that sees graduate students, faculty and staff members visit schools to talk to students about their work. Part of Trent's 50th anniversary celebration, the initiative highlights the community partnerships that have allowed the university to grow and prosper.

This talk focused on cyber bullying, and coincided with Ontario's Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week.

In addition to teaching the students how to create a strong password and offering them some practical tips on how to respond to cyber bulling, Prof. McConnell, of the Computing and Information Systems, discussed the differences between bullying and cyber bullying.

"If it's (bullying) happening on the school yard, you can get away from it," Prof. McConnell told the students. "One of the major differences is, you can't get away from cyber bulling - it follows you home."

Though the students were surprised by the prevalence of cyber bullying, CMS Principal Jennifer Connelly says this type of conversation is critical, as communities work to promote safe schools and positive learning environments.

"This is important information, and we were thrilled to welcome Prof. McConnell to CMS. We are so fortunate to have Trent University in our backyard, and take every opportunity to expose our students to its experts, and to the campus itself."

The 50 Talks initiative continues until June 2015. Upcoming talks include Trent president Dr. Leo Groarke at a Bowmanville school to discuss “Preparing for the Future”; Dr. Melanie Buddle, academic advisor, in a Durham area school to talk about common stresses and pressures in first year and how to prepare for the transition to university; two Peterborough high school classes coming to Trent to meet professors Dr.  Joanna Freeland and Dr. Andrew Vreugdenhill and tour state-of-the-art research labs; and more.

Prof. McConnell, who is also an organizer of 50 Talks, says she and her colleagues would still like to hear from speakers, as well as schools, interested in participating. For further information, please email 50talks@trentu.ca

Posted on Wednesday, November 26, 2014.