Course outline

This session will look at online gaming for the under 13s. It will highlight the benefits that are to be gained from online gaming and also look at the challenges and risks in a balanced way. The latest research will be shared along with some strategies to educate and empower children and young people to manage their gaming effectively.

Training topics will include:

• An overview of the latest games and associated social media platforms that are being used
• Useful sites and resources to inform and educate about gaming and the associated risks
• Strategies for meaningful engagement with young people on this topic
• Links to the Education for a Connected World.

Learning outcomes:

• To have a greater understanding of the risks and benefits associated with online gaming for this age group
• To recognise some of the signs that online gaming is becoming problematic for a pupil
• To be aware of a range of resources to educate pupils about things to look out for when gaming.

Audience:

• All practitioners working with children, young people or vulnerable individuals, DSL/DSO, DDSL, Safeguarding Manager/Lead, Governors, Trustees.

Cost:

• Member rate: £60
• Member rate (additional attendee): £15
• Non-member rate: £120*

*If you would like to become a member and access discounted rates for Sacpa CPD and events, please click here.

Speaker: Karl Hopwood, independent e-safety expert and Executive Committee member, Sacpa

Karl is an independent esafety expert. He is a member of UKCCIS (UK Council for Child Internet Safety) and sits on the UKCCIS evidence group and education working group as well as on the advisory board for the UK Safer Internet Centre and the education advisory board for CEOP. He also sits on Twitter’s trust and safety council where he represents the Insafe network. Karl has worked for a number of key players in the UK and abroad including CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre), BECTA (British Educational and Communications Technology Agency), the European Commission, the UN and several Local Authorities within the UK and in Europe.

As an ex-primary headteacher, he continues to work closely in schools across Europe with children, young people, parents and teachers to develop safer online behaviours and the promotion of digital literacy. Karl has been employed for the last 13 years as an in-house consultant for INSAFE which is the coordinating node of the EU Better Internet for Kids programme where he is responsible for the coordination of safer internet helplines across Europe. He also works with the Boarding Schools’ Association, IAPS and the National Union of Teachers.

Karl is the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Marie Collins Foundation, a charity which supports young people who have been sexually abused and exploited online and is also a trustee of Childnet International.