Information for educators

We have a range of primary and post-primary resources on the topics of media literacy, AI, rights online and digital citizenship.

These resources are suitable for subjects such as Wellbeing, CPSE, SPHE, Digital Media Literacy and Politics and Society. They would also be suitable for Tutor Time, or for Transition Year modules. All our resources are available in English and in Irish.

Post-primary resources

Rights, Rules and Reporting Online

Our lesson plans have been designed to help you introduce the role of Coimisiún na Meán to your class and to explore rights under our Online Safety Framework.

Here is an outline of what each lesson plan includes:

Junior Cycle Lesson Plan

Senior Cycle Lesson Plan

Each Junior and Senior Cycle Lesson Plan is accompanied by the following:

Schools can email [email protected] if they’d like to receive hard copies of posters.

The video below forms a part of the lesson plan. It outlines the rights that our Online Safety Framework affords young people.

Be Media Smart

These top tips for the classroom use the STOP, THINK, CHECK method to find out if a piece of information is accurate.

This resource is available for download and is a useful discussion point around fact-checking and spotting disinformation.

Be Media Smart Tips

Be AI Aware

We and the Data Protection Commission have produced five essential tips to help teenagers to navigate AI safely and responsibly.

This resource is available for download, and is a useful point for discussions around the use of AI in the classroom.

Top tips for using AI responsibly

Primary resources

Digital Citizen Education Programme

Webwise, in collaboration with and supported by us, has developed a new national digital citizenship programme for 5th and 6th Class pupils.

Switched On

The Switched On Programme has been created to assist and support educators in teaching pupils how to be safe, responsible, and competent digital citizens, as they prepare to transition into post-primary education.

Access programme

Teacher handbook

Media Matters

Written in collaboration with News Mag Media, the Media Matters modules run over ten issues of the Primary Planet magazine between February 2026 and January 2027. The Media Matters modules cover the following topics:

What is the media? (February)
Who owns the media? (March)
Fact or Fake? (April)
STOP. THINK. CHECK. (May)
Advertising and persuasion (June)
Meet the Online Safety Commissioner (September)
Rules and rights (October)
Safety and privacy (November)
The role of AI (December)
Top online safety tips (January)

These two-page modules are suitable for pupils between 3rd–6th Class and may also be suitable for some 1st Year students. The modules contain classroom activities that expand on the learning and are available in English and Irish.

Read Media Matters

FAQs for teachers

Teaching the Rights, Rules and Reporting Online Lesson Plan

I’m a bit nervous about teaching this material. I don’t know a lot about it, and it all changes so quickly. Will there be more resources from Coimisiún na Meán on other topics?

Yes, Coimisiún na Meán has a dedicated Media Literacy and User Education team. This educational resource is our first publication, but we anticipate that more resources will be created in the future. Your feedback is important and valuable so please fill out our survey to let us know what areas/topics you would like to see covered.  

What does a ‘timely reply’ mean? Are there any guidelines as to how long that is?

While there is no definitive timeframe set out for a ‘timely reply’, platforms will generally try to remove this illegal content in as fast a time as is practicable.

I’m worried about terrorist content online. As a teacher, what do I do if I see this?

If you see content on a platform that is encouraging, supporting, glorifying or promoting terrorist activities, report it immediately to the platform where you found it. You should also report this content to the Gardaí.
If there is an immediate threat to life or your safety, call the Gardaí on 999 or 112.

Harmful and illegal content online

Can Coimisiún na Meán remove illegal content for me or my students?

No. Coimisiún na Meán does not have the power to immediately remove or take down illegal content from the internet. As a media regulator, our job is to make sure that platforms are following the rules under the Online Safety Framework. If you call our advice centre and Coimisiún na Meán is not the correct organisation to help, you will be signposted to the right organisation.

What do I/my students need to do if I/they see harmful content online? 

The Online Safety Code in Ireland defines what harmful content is. Harmful content includes the promotion of suicide material, cyberbullying and eating disorders where this content gives rise to a risk to a person’s life or significant harm to a person’s physical or mental health. Under the Code, where such content causes a risk to someone’s life or a risk of significant harm to someone’s physical or mental health, platforms have to restrict the content from their service through their Terms and Conditions and allow users to report or flag such content.

You should always report harmful content to the platform where you saw it. If platforms don’t remove this harmful content in a timely manner, you can report this to Coimisiún na Meán. 

If you think your life or your students’ life is in danger, you should always contact the Gardaí on 999 or 112. 

A student has come to me asking for help reporting illegal content. What do I do?  

If you see illegal content online, report it to the platform using the illegal content reporting mechanism and clearly state which law it breaks. Our What is illegal content? page might be of assistance.
You may need to provide the URL/s of the content you think is illegal, as well as an email address, so that the platform can get back to you. 

Under the Digital Services Act – one of the laws in our Online Safety Framework – the platform must reply to you in a timely manner and either remove the content, or explain to you why they are not removing it.
If you’re not happy with their decision, they must also give you a way to appeal their decision.  

If the platform doesn’t reply to your report in a timely manner, or if you can’t find the reporting function, you can report to Coimisiún na Meán.

What can Coimisiún na Meán do next if platforms might have broken the law?

Coimisiún na Meán has various powers. When we receive reports from the public about platforms allegedly breaking the rules, we look into this. If we find that a platform is breaking the rules and is not complying with its legal obligations under the Online Safety Framework, we can start an investigation. 

If we find that a platform has broken the rules, we can issue warnings and fines. For example, breaches of the Digital Services Act can result in fines of up to 6% of the platform’s turnover. 

While not every report we receive results in an investigation, the more information we receive about your experience of reporting content and dealing with platforms, the better we can do our job. 

AI

How do I prepare my students for good use of AI in schoolwork?

Before using AI, it’s important to consult the Department of Education Guidance and your own school’s relevant policies, to ensure the planned use of AI is suitable and appropriate. Most AI tools have a minimum age limit of 13 years of age. If choosing to use AI, privacy and the use of data should be an important consideration when identifying tools to use.

When it comes to making use of AI, students need to be taught how AI works and its possible uses as well as its limits. Show how communicating with AI requires skills like critical thinking and evaluation, and how it’s not the same as traditional online searching. Explain privacy concerns, bias, and misinformation risks. Set clear guidelines for acceptable use and stress academic integrity, including crediting AI sources. Encourage students to verify, critique, and refine AI outputs. Suggest using AI for brainstorming, proofreading, or coding – not full answers – and require documentation of AI use. Under supervision, give students the chance to explore real tools to build competence. Explain that an AI chatbot is not a friend and may give unsafe emotional or personal advice.

Do you have any other helpful resources on AI for the classroom?

For AI specific resources, check out:
The Department of Education and Youth, Guidance on Artificial Intelligence in Schools
ADAPT, the SFI Research Centre for AI-Driven Digital Content Technology:
– AI in my life
– AI Literacy in the Classroom
– AI for Schools
Webwise, the Irish Internet Safety Awareness Centre, provides information, advice and resources for schools:
– Key Supports in AI
Kinia, an education focused social enterprise, offers a free course and resources for teachers:
– Experience AI