Technology
Battle of the Screens
It was an information-packed session. The third in the Parent University: Wellbeing Series focused on screen time in all its forms. Geoff Wheeler and Stephanie Howdle-Lang looked at our understanding of screen time, how it is embedded into our children’s lives and how we can help them find balance. Anthony Copeland spoke as a Science teacher, a tech coach and, most importantly, a gamer, about his experience with gaming online. He shared top tips for parents to do with managing and understanding their children’s game use. A group of our exceptional student from Primary and Secondary demonstrated their games and engaged in discussions with parents about the games they were playing, why they enjoyed them and what they got out of them. <Phil Knight and Jay Prohaska summarised their excellent top ten tips for social media, and Geoff and Stephanie finished the session with suggestions for supporting balance (including tips for digital single-tasking), setting schedules with your children and answering questions generated during the session. Thanks to all those who came, especially as the topic proved so interesting that we overran by half an hour!
The files we promised to share are below:
- Screen Time for Kids Getting the Balance Right
- Presentation: Battle of the Screens: Gaming, Screen Use and Finding Balance
- Common Sense Media report – Technology Addiction: Concern, Controversy, and Finding Balance
Growing Up Online (Cyber Safety)
An informative and entertaining presentation, ‘Growing Up Online’, by Australian cyber-safety expert Susan McLean. The session was delivered with Susan McLean’s famous ‘no-nonsense’ approach and cover the positive benefits of technology, as well as what parents need to be aware of in terms of children’s cyber-safety.
Topics included:
- What are kids doing online – The popular social networking sites and apps such as Secret Calculator, Musical.ly, Instagram and Yubo as well as live streaming sites.
- Online Grooming – What is it and when/how does it occur? What are the warning signs and what to do if you suspect this is happening to your child.
- Cyberbullying – What it is, where it happens, what it looks like, how to prevent it and what to do if it occurs. Also the legal consequences and the possible criminal charges.
- Sharing Nudes – The taking and sending of explicit images. The social and emotional consequences as well as the Law.
- Top Tips – How to assist the children in your care to stay safe online via parental controls and restriction passcodes.
- Problematic Internet use and gaming issues.
Social Media
Phil Knight and Jay Prohaska led this session to share their Top Ten Tips for Social Media Use. The full slide deck, which contains lots of useful hints and tips can be found here.
