Google:
Interland & Be Internet Awesome
+ Team
Google
Robert Thompson
Sarah Wilson
Wade Convay
Javier Lopez
Game Development
North Kingdom
+ Project Information
The Be Internet Awesome Program
We partnered with the Internet Keep Safe Coalition and educators across the country to create a classroom curriculum that brings the five principles of being Internet Awesome to life, at school. To practice being Internet Alert, for example, students can work together to identify whether websites and emails contain signs of a phishing attempt. The lesson plans, activities and worksheets align with the International Society for Technology in Education’s Standards for Students, which educators look toward to define skills for safe and positive action online.
After reviewing the game and curriculum, ISTE has awarded Be Internet Awesome its Seal of Alignment for Readiness. Educators can find the curriculum on the Be Internet Awesome resource hub, or as part of a new online course in the Google for Education Training Center.
Intrland
We joined forces with game developer North Kingdom to create the free, interactive, browser-based game, Interland. The game is the focal point of a program called “Be Internet Awesome” which aims to teach children how to be safe and responsible online.
Interland is comprised of four distinct worlds where children tackle challenges, puzzles, and games that will prepare them to be on guard against internet threats, including hackers, cyberbullies, and phishers. Once completed, our Internaut will have been taken on a journey through five key messages:
Be Internet Smart: Share With Care
Be Internet Alert: Don’t Fall For Fake
Be Internet Strong: Secure Your Secrets
Be Internet Kind: It's Cool To Be Kind
Be Internet Brave: When In Doubt, Talk It Out
The program includes a range of specific resources for kids, educators and parents, so everyone has the tools they need to learn and participate in the conversation.
How do you keep children safe online?
As part of the global program, we created Google Interland. An easy-to-play game that prepares children to be on guard against Internet threats including hackers, cyberbullies and phishers – and helps children navigate safely and responsibly in the digital world.
The Challenge
The digital world connects people from all over the world and has, in many ways, democratized knowledge. However, being safe online is becoming a larger issue, and with children becoming more involved in the digital world at a younger age, it’s growing into a vital issue. How can we help younger and younger children to become safer online?
The Solution
We discovered early on that to introduce these helpful tips for children, it is essential to create something that inspires playfulness, creativity and yet conveys the message of staying safe online. Therefore, North Kingdom collaborated on a global program with Google, called Be Internet Awesome. The program consists of five fundamental learnings – Be Internet Smart, Alert, Strong, Kind and Brave.
The Result
Achieving change all around the world.
For teachers, a curriculum was designed with lesson plans that have received the ISTE Seal of Alignment. In the first four months, the curriculum was downloaded 30 000 times and Interland was played over 163 000 hours. Since it’s release, Google Interland has been localised in Spanish, Arabic and Portuguese, helping children all over the world to become safer online. Google Interland has also been awarded European Design Awards, FWA Top 100, FWA site of the day and Awwwards site of the day.
