ICT Teachers and Technical E-Safety: Knowledge and Routines

Abstract The article looks at how competent ICT teachers in primary, lower secondary and high schools are as regards the issues of Internet safety, the use of secure passwords, protection against malware and data back-up. Specific knowledge and routines are described whilst discussing the ways teachers are influenced in these areas. In-depth semi-structured interviews have been carried out with chosen ICT teachers. Teachers were presented with several situations from the issue in question and the way they reacted in given situations was observed. Data gained from the interviews and the triangulation that had been carried out was processed through open and axial coding. The results of our investigation show that teachers do usually try to behave in a relatively safe way but their reasons for such behaviour differ greatly. The main external determiners include reactions to a certain negative experience, active self-study of the issue and organised instruction (not only at high schools and universities but voluntary attendance of courses). Factors preventing teachers from behaving as safely as possible have been identified. It may be due to working or teaching limitations. Teachers might lack professional knowledge or there could be a problem with security, perhaps being time-consuming or difficult to remember passwords.