Even though many of my counseling and
technology skills have come in handy over the years, parenting is still a tough
challenge. Hands down, no doubt, technology has been one of the greatest
challenges over the years as my wife and I have been raising our two boys,
Matteo and Giuseppe, now 18 and 24 years old. When they were younger, it seems
as if we were approached with questions and requests on a daily basis. From
video games to social networks, from mobile devices to new gadgets, making
informed decisions was tough. This is especially true because the technological
landscape was changing and developing at a dizzying pace. As someone who
straddles being a “Boomer” and “GenXer,” and as someone who is focused on
helping counselors with their technological literacy, I’ve been keeping up with
this crazy technology ride ever since it got good really good in the
1980’s.
One
day a few years ago, my wife, Betty, quipped about how grateful she was that I
was able to successfully
negotiate technology
with the kids based on what I knew according to the research (in technology,
human development, and change) and best practice. I was already doing a
significant amount of work helping kids to make responsible decisions for
themselves regarding technology use. What Betty made me realize that day was
that I also needed to help the people outfitting their kids with all this power
— the parents/guardians. These days, when a school district or other
organization calls about cyber training, I let them know that a comprehensive
approach is best: getting kids, parents, and educators on the same page. I also
let them know that, indeed, the key is education, especially with the end user,
and that training should ongoing, not just an event.
Bring
Knowledge to your School
If
you are a school counselor, leader, or parent and are interested in cyber safety
training, here is what you need to know:
The
training includes three segments which, together, addresses staff, students, and
parents. The goal of this workshop is to help students, parents/caretakers, and
educators, better understand the nature of the risks that technology may pose
among children as well as the tools and activities they can use to keep kids
more safe.
A
typical day includes conducting student assemblies in the morning, meeting with
staff after school, and then working with parents in the evening.
For
Staff
I
take a comprehensive and multi-level approach to bullying/cyberbullying
emphasizing a multi-tiered model that includes prevention, intervention, and
postvention (see below). The workshop is designed as a “launching off point” or
beginning for a year long process to help educate students about confronting
cyberbullying, using technology responsibly, and being mindful of their digital
reputation.
All
school staff will receive a DVD-ROM including over 2.8 Gb of actual presentation
files which includes everything they need to work with students – the
PowerPoint, handouts, videos, and links – for months ahead.
For
Students
In
this one hour (or 75 minute) assembly, students will become more aware of
cyberbullying, their digital reputations (public posting of personal/private
information), and the “Rules of the Road.” This assembly is customized for
either elementary students or middle/high school students. Remember, you can
download and preview the actual presentations and accompanying material for
review by visiting my
GuardingKids website.
For
Parents
Parents and caretakers need to understand how to make
informative decisions about how their children use technology, how they monitor,
supervise, and provide support.
This
meeting will help them to understand the potential risks of technology and
several ways to reduce that risk using both human and technological strategies.
Click
here to download
and preview the presentation materials.
Past
Workshops
I encourage you to check out my
comprehensive
vita for an overview of my work, particularly the expansive range of topics
I have delivered and the number of participants I’ve had the pleasure of working
across the United States, and around the world.
To
book one or more of these workshops, contact Dr. Sabella directly via
email or by completing an online
inquiry
form.
