Online Teacher Training Portal

It’s time to face the issues head-on.

Keeping your head above the rising tide of online risks facing today’s primary and secondary students is one of the biggest challenges (and most time-consuming tasks) you face as a teacher.

Just when you think you’ve got a handle on your students’ latest tech-obsession (be it Fortnite, Snap Chat, Instagram), along comes the next big app, platform or game to keep them perpetually plugged into their devices and checked out of any meaningful communication.

But it’s not their fault. We have a whole generation of kids growing up in a screen-saturated world and parents who are themselves struggling to keep up. Sadly, this cyber-tsunami is having a profound impact on children’s long-term health, development and learning.

As teachers, we’re seeing first-hand the consequences of our students’ digitalised childhoods and adolescence

Chronically-tired students who cannot pay attention in class as a result of unhealthy late-night tech habits

Waning attention spans and little or no desire to play, create or even draw without the use of a device

Alarming patterns of cyber-bullying as normal and premature introduction of social media

Unwittingly engaging in dangerous online activities that compromise their cyber-safety (being groomed by online predators)

Digital dependency with students sneaking off to the bathrooms to game, or constantly checking their phone in class

A rise in mental health issues such as anxiety and depression (of course, these are not always solely due to technology use)

Exposure to, sharing and imitating pornography

Social isolation and loneliness

Decline in fine motor, social and language skills

And whilst most teachers acknowledge that ‘digital amputation’ is NOT the solution, many are at a loss as to what to do.

You have questions

SO MANY QUESTIONS...

So what ARE the big issues and risks facing kids and teens today? Tech changes so quickly, what should I be most worried about?

How are kids’ digitalised childhoods and adolescence shaping their capacity to learn and impacting their wellbeing?

How do we guide students and their parents to manage these issues for the long term?

And these are just the very tip of the iceberg when it comes to the digital dilemmas facing teachers, in the digital age.

Technology is not going away. It touches every aspect of our lives and is having a profound impact on student’s learning.

It’s time to face the
issues head-on.

It’s up to us to get and stay informed, to better understand the digital playgrounds our students are playing in and to empower them to use technology in healthy, helpful and productive ways. And here’s how you can do that...

Untangling kids’ and teens’ tech habits one professional development session at a time

With the Online Teacher Training Portal, you can register for any upcoming accredited teacher training webinar, complete the quick online quiz and receive a certificate of attendance to count towards maintaining your proficient teacher accreditation.

Annual members gain exclusive access to Dr Kristy’s entire, extensive library of high quality, pre-recorded webinars on the current technology issues facing every primary and secondary school teacher in the country.

The bi-monthly webinars will be delivered live (with a replay and PDF summary sheet available) and will cover the big issues as identified by Australian teachers concerning the impacts of technology.

WHAT YOU GET

// 2 hours of live training with leading digital health and wellbeing expert Dr Kristy Goodwin
// Access to the replay to watch as many times as you like
// A PDF Summary Sheet
// A chance to ask Dr Kristy your questions
// A certificate of attendance for your learning records*

* For NSW teachers Dr Kristy Goodwin is an accredited NESA provider.

HOW IT WORKS

// Register and pay by clicking the button below
// You’ll be sent an email with all the info and a link to join the webinar
(via Zoom software)
// You can pre-submit your questions using a form or ask on the live webinar via the chat function
// At the end of the webinar, you’ll complete a quick online quiz to download your certificate of attendance

WHAT TO BRING

// Something soft to sit on like your couch or favourite cushion
// Something to sip on like a nice glass of Chardy (does anyone even drink that anymore?) or a cup of Chai
// Something comfy to wear - we can recommend an old pair of track pants but a pencil skirt would be fine too - if that’s how you roll

Proposed Topics

How screens are sabotaging students’ sleep
The impact of social media on today’s students
Porn in their pockets- what educators need to know about kids’ and teens’ exposure to pornography
Looking after YOUR digital wellbeing as a teacher
Protecting and promoting healthy digital habits with students
Pictures, Posts and Professionalism- Know Your Professional Obligations as a Teacher in the Digital Age
Tackling cyber-bullying

Who is Dr Kristy Goodwin?

Dr Kristy is a former teacher, lecturer at Macquarie University and Notre Dame University, author, media commentator and one of Australia’s most sought-after digital health, learning and wellbeing experts. She translates the latest neuroscience and technological research into practical advice and simple strategies for parents and educators. Kristy has spoken to thousands of teachers across the country, from early childhood to tertiary level, about the impact of technology on students’ health, wellbeing and learning. She is a keynote speaker at educational conferences and has delivered hundreds of professional development seminars to educators across Australia. Dr Kristy is also regularly called upon by the media for her expert opinion.

Kristy has worked with:

FAQs

I’ve never done a webinar before. Do I need special software?

They are super simple. We’ll deliver the webinar via Zoom.

You will need to download the free zoom app either on your computer or mobile device prior to the webinar. It takes about 5 mins to set up a zoom account and install it to your device.

Before the Webinar starts, you will be sent an email with a link to access our meeting via the app. Zoom has a great help centre if you require further information: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/categories/200101697

What is a webinar?

How do I sign up for a webinar?

Just click the registration link on the webinar registration page and pay for the webinar. As soon as your registration is received, you will receive a confirmation email with the link to access the webinar and a link to pre-submit any questions on the topic of the webinar (we ask that you refrain from asking generic questions and keep questions to the specific topic of the webinar). You will receive a reminder email a couple of days before the live webinar and again just before the webinar is due to start. On the day of the webinar, click the link (about 5 minutes before the scheduled start time is recommended) and you will see the welcome screen for the webinar.

I don’t have reliable Internet coverage. Will I still be able to join in?

Can I be seen on the webinar?

Can I get a copy of the slides used in the webinar?

How can I get information on future webinars?

Can I get a certificate of attendance for attending or watching the webinar?

I have a suggestion for a webinar.

It’s time to face the issues head-on.

Keeping your head above the rising tide of online risks facing today’s primary and secondary students is one of the biggest challenges (and most time-consuming tasks) you face as a teacher.

As teachers, we’re seeing first-hand the consequences of our students’ digitalised childhoods and adolescence