CARNet WebWorld - CUC 2005

CUC for Kids is a novelty at Internet Users' Conference – a significant additional programme dedicated to the children and their activities on the Internet.

It’s relevance lies in the fact that children, the youngest Internet users, and the future of the ICT community, are daily coming across numerous information and various online content, often facing different challenges, sometimes quite puzzling or even intimidating.

CUC for Kids is meant to offer a new communication platform, a specific time and place for respectable experts to discuss this relevant topic, to exchange their opinions and experiences, but is also meant to be an additional initiative that stimulates creative expression towards and by the children.

CUC for Kids is a beginning of a new segment of the Conference, the one that is a sequence of a new direction within Croatian Academic and Research Network policy related to the connection of elementary and high schools on CARNet network, and multiple increase of the number of new CARNet users – the pupils.

Children online security

This year CUC for Kids has offered a panel session with prominent domestic and international experts from deferent sectors discussing the security of the kids on the Internet.

The organizers main intention was to point the risks on the Internet that are threatening children, and to contribute the public discussion of this matter.

there is a problem of the children security on the Internet in Croatia,
it is found that pedophilia and violence are not the only problems on the Internet and thus it is necessary to pay more attention to children’s security and privacy problems on the Internet, but avoiding the unnecessary panicking,
it is necessary to promote the positive aspects of the Internet ,
it is necessary to educate children how to critically judge the information found on the Internet ,
parents’ ignorance on technology matter should not be an excuse for unawareness of what their children are doing while using a computer – an open discussion among children and parents should be stimulated (especially about the benefits and the threats that may occur while using the Internet),
it is necessary to educate teachers, parents and children on the computer security issue,
it is necessary that computer security and privacy protection become an important component of the informatics lessons in schools,
this issue needs to be promoted into the regular topic of public discussion and Croatian Academic and Research Network - CARNet will try to remain active participant in this process.

Pupils’ art exhibition

CUC for Kids 2005 provided an opportunity for the youngest users of the Internet to express what does the Internet represents to them, and for what purposes do they use it.

More than 30 pupils from six elementary schools in Dubrovnik, using different artistic techniques created beautiful and picturesque drawings that were exhibited at the University of Dubrovnik during CUC 2005. Little artists’ effort was recognized by CARNet who awarded them with CD Učilica (sponsored by Markottel), an example of education process supported by technology.

This extraordinary exhibition named "The children and the Internet" drew the attention of many conference participants inspiring them to discuss the Internet in a completely different and more joyful way.