This course is FREE with an Online Subscription

Course Description

Teenagers are scrolling, snapping, and sharing every day — often in ways that deeply shape their friendships, identity, and wellbeing. This course is designed for all secondary teachers and explores how group chats, memes, social media, and gaming culture influence students’ lives. Participants will learn how to respond when digital drama spills into the classroom, how to teach respectful and reflective online habits, and how to engage parents in calm, constructive conversations about digital life. The course includes year-level classroom strategies, practical teacher language, and ready-to-use resources for building a culture of digital respect across Years 7–12.



Audience

Secondary Teachers


Teaching Standards

4.5.2 Proficient Level - Create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments - Use ICT safely, responsibly and ethically:  Incorporate strategies to promote the safe, responsible and ethical use of ICT in learning and teaching




FREE with  Online Subscription

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Introduction

    • Welcome

    • Acknowledgement of Country

    • Learning Objectives

    • Teaching Standards

  • 2

    Module 1 – Understanding the Digital Lives of Today’s Teens

    • Introduction

    • What's Happening in Their Feeds?

    • Why It Matters: Identity, Emotion and Connection

    • Always On: The Emotional Load of Digital Life

    • Emotional Drivers of “Always On” Behaviour

    • Changing Landscape: Social Media Restrictions for Under-16s (December 2025)

    • Resource - Activity: What Would You See If You Scrolled Like a Student?

    • Classroom Practice Ideas

    • Reflection Question
  • 3

    Module 2 – When Digital Drama Comes to School

    • Introduction

    • Digital Drama in Secondary School: More Than Just “Kids Being Kids”

    • How Digital Drama Shows Up in Secondary Schools

    • Sexting & Image-Based Abuse

    • Developmental Considerations: The Adolescent Brain Online

    • Banter or Bullying? The Grey Areas of Digital Humour

    • Anonymity & Trolling

    • Resource - Banter vs Bullying Scenario Cards

    • Why Students Don’t Report Digital Harm

    • Being a Safe Adult to Disclose To

    • When Online Conflict Comes into the Classroom

    • Scenario Activity

    • Resource – Student Activity Sheet: Meme Respect Code
  • 4

    Module 3 – Building a Culture of Respect and Regulation

    • Introduction

    • From Control to Culture: A Values-Based Approach

    • Modelling Matters: The Power of Teacher Language

    • Reframing Legacy Practices

    • Teaching Pause, Reflection and Regulation

    • Digital Identity, Reputation and Online Footprint

    • Co-Creating Norms That Stick

    • Resources – Years 7-10

    • Senior Students: Leadership, Legacy and Influence

    • Senior Students as Digital Role Models: Shaping Peer Culture

    • Resources - Senior Students

    • Reflection Question
  • 5

    Module 4 – Working with Parents on Digital Life

    • Introduction

    • Why Parents Struggle With Digital Life

    • Working With Parents on the Social Media Ban

    • Why “Just Delete the App” Doesn’t Work

    • Online Sexualisation & Grooming Risks

    • Reframing Digital Life for Parents

    • Practical Advice to Share With Parents

    • Parent Guide: Supporting Your Teen’s Digital Wellbeing

    • Scenario Activity

    • Responding to Parent Concerns – Example Phrases

    • Classroom Practice Ideas – Linking School and Home

    • Reflection Question

    • Wrap Up

    • Reference List
  • 6

    Course Feedback

    • Course Feedback

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