ACEC 2014: Now it’s Personal - Day 1

The day started off bright and early in Hall B for the opening welcome. Two grade 4 students played the ukulele and sang for us before then being welcomed by Dr. Jason Zagami,@jzagami and the conference being opened by Julie King.

“Digital technology curriculum assists students to become confident creators of digital solutions.” – Julie King 2014

After that we had our first keynote presenter, Dr. Alec Couros, @courosa. The main idea I took away from listening to Alec was the importance of digital identity, even as an accident. These days’ people are making amazing contributions though the internet, creating, collaborating, remixing and posting media for all to see, no matter if it’s intentional or not all these creations help develop a digital identity.

One of the most important things, just like in real life, is to teach students what and when is private as well as what and when is public. There is a time to share things and a time to keep things private and distinguishing the difference between the two can be quite difficult; in classrooms when talking about cyber safety generally we don’t distingyish the difference, we will go through not sharing personal details such as address, full name, etc, but the difference between private and public content isn’t discussed and we don’t talk about how to decide if it should private or public.

It’s become a custom in today’s society to share every intimate detail online, from wedding videos and images to pregnancy announcements and much more. However when do we over step the line and is there one? Does sharing these intimate moments publicly make them less intimate? Should we be sharing these memories this way? Can these memories be tainted with comments from the public eye due to social media? In the end there is no right or wrong answer, it all comes down to personal preference. For an example Tabs24x7Official recently got married and as she has became a fairly well known youtuber everyone was so excited to see footage and videos of the wedding. However while she has shared things like the decor of the wedding and getting ready for it she has actually said she didn’t video the actual ceremony. Having an extremely small wedding and wanting to keep it as it is in her memory she decided not to film it even for herself just to keep it that pure, happy, magical memory. She also mentioned that she didn’t want to have the ceremony online as to not let it get tainted by comments of the public eye. Personally I admire her so much for this and think it’s a really smart idea. However as I previously started it is a personal choice.

Alec also spoke about how ideas can grow from being naive, using digital technology to document growth, how mediums change the environments, becoming internet famous and mind your own business learning.

After Alec had finished his keynote we had a bit of a break before going to the conversations with the keynote speaker. Here people from the crown sat with Alec and asked him questions and overall had a discussion about his presentation. For that session I was there just to listen and see how the questions are being put forward as the next session was for the Digital Leaders to have a conversation with Alec. Walking away from the conversations it was a lot to digest and process. We spoke about learning not just in the classrooms but also in everyday life, guidance being the role of the teachers, building networks and much more. Some of the things that stood out to me the most in that conversation were:

·       Developing the abilities to use mediums to express and share knowledge

·       Vibrant student centred environments make different types of learning happen

·       It’s important to make people self aware of where their attention is going

·       Instilling confidence and vulnerability into the average writer

·       Using vlogs as a step to building confidence talking in front of an audience

In the afternoon I got to listen to a group of students from Tea Tree Gully primary school between grades 4 to 8 present about digital leaders in their school. They presented very well talking about what digital leaders are in their school and what they do. The skills they use to create games, test out new apps, program and solve digital problems as well as being self taught and being the go to people to get help from for digital problems in their school.

Just before afternoon tea I had my twitter presentation that went fairly well.

After that I went to the ‘Technology: What’s around the corner?’ workshop before the end of the day. The workshop spoke of technologies ranging from what is already out, in the processes and predictions and plans. A key focus was ‘the internet of things’ explaining what that was and what the future appears to have in store of that. One thing about this specific workshop that I really enjoyed was that the future technologies didn’t seem to just be phones, laptops, etc. There also seemed to be things for a more efficient world and to improve things such as saving money, fitness, posture and even helping people to eat at a better speed. I walked away from this workshop mind blown and with a list of things I want.

Overall the day was amazing, exhausting but at the same time amazing. I look forward to the rest of the week and bombarding my head with information.

Also there was a constant stream of tweets throughout the day as well as a few blog posts which can be checked out bellow. 

Conference twitter: @ACEC2014

Student twitter: @ACECDLs
Hashtag: #ACEC2014

Student blog: Digital Leaders Australia

My other posts on the conference:
1     Shining Remix         2         3

Teen Guide

For my health assignment on a guide for surviving life as a teen I’ve chosen to cover three main topics, sexual activity, sexual assault and relationships. I feel these are most relevant to teens as it’s the adolescent years when sexual activity begins also relationships are a vital part of growing up. I also chose sexual assault as it’s a massive issue amongst youth but isn’t spoken about a lot.

Sexual Activity:

‘Almost one quarter (22.7%) of Year 10 students and half (50.4%) of Year 12 students have experienced sexual intercourse.

Over one third (39%) of the students surveyed had experienced oral sex.’  (Better Health Channel, 2014)

While the legal age for sexual activity is 17 majority of teens don’t wait that long. Due to this modern society try to give teenagers a thorough education on safe sex so that our teens can make educated decisions on sexual activities. The key topics they educate teens on are:

·         Contraception

·         STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections)

·         Teen pregnancy

·         Where to go and who to talk to

Contraception –

Contraception is the deliberate use of artificial methods to prevent pregnancy. There are many different options for contraception such as: barrier methods (the condom and the contraceptive pill), the coil and male and female sterilization. For teens sterilization isn’t a reality as this is a permanent choice and usually doctors will only do this for adults with many children or adults over a certain age. That being said there are still a multitude of options for teens that are both easy to use and get a hold of.

The most common contraceptive method amongst teens is the condom as it’s easy to get, (does not require a prescription, parent or doctor) is affordable and is easy to use. However results from a 2008 SHine survey showed that 30% of year 12 males and 46.2% of year 12 females have had sexual intercourse without using a condom.

Having sex without a condom can be a game of Russian roulette as the condom is the ONLY contraceptive method which also prevents STIs as it is a barrier between the penis and vagina. Like all contraceptive methods there is a possible failure rate for the condom the failure rate is around 18%.

Another one of the more popular contraceptive methods among teens is the contraceptive pill. The pill is a tablet taken orally at the same time each day which contains either estrogen and progesterone or just progesterone. These hormones work to prevent pregnancy by keeping the egg in the ovaries and then thickening the mucus around the cervix to stop the sperm from reaching the egg.  The pill does NOT prevent STIs! The pill needs to be prescribed by a doctor. It’s failure rate is 6% (if taken correctly).

No contraceptive method is 100% effective, if you’re looking for something completely effective the only option is abstinence.

One key message that all people no matter what age need to know and understand is that BOTH partners when partaking in sexual activities need to be consenting. If at any time your partner says no or to stop you have to stop or else it becomes molestation or rape! It doesn’t matter if they said yes earlier, the second someone says no or stop that’s the end of it.

Teen Pregnancy –

Pregnancy has become more and more of an issue among teens. Due to teens having sex younger and younger as well as teen’s not using protection this has been the result.

South Australia (and Australia) has one of the highest teenage pregnancy and abortion rates in developed countries. (SHine SA, 2014)

Luckily for our youth there are a few different options in the case of becoming pregnant. Termination of the pregnancy, Adoption, raising the baby yourself or raising the baby with your partner. Being a teen mother can be difficult, it can make education and work harder than necessary, bring stress and overall make growing up an even more frustrating task. Being pregnant as a teen can also cause health issues. It’s vital that if you’re not ready for raising a child and putting another life before your own that you use contraception and in the case that pregnancy does occur you think it through thoroughly.

Sexting –

Sexting is the act of sending sexually explicit or suggestive messages and/ or photos/videos. As the age of technology has come upon us sexting has become easier to do as it’s now easier to just snap a photo/ video and send it instantly to someone, thus resulting in sexting becoming more prevalent.

It has especially become popular amongst teens, this is an issue. While a minor sending a sexually explicit or suggesting message is not illegal, the photos/videos are. Sending or possessing a nude/partially nude image or video of a minor (even if it’s yourself) is against the law, it’s considered to be child pornography.

The current consequential laws for sexting were put in place to protect youth from pedophiles, however with the current uprising of cases with youth unknowingly being guilty of this themselves authorities are looking at modifying the laws. At the moment if you were to be found guilty of child pornography you are supposed to be put on the sex offenders list, however this is harsh for minors who didn’t mean any harm. In August this year new laws were passed in Victorian Parliament to exempt minors in cases of sexting. Read more about this at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-21/australian-first-sexting-laws-to-be-introduced-in-victoria/5686166

Asides from the law sexting is still something best stayed away from as there are too many things that can go wrong, everything from you sending it to the wrong person to that person showing other people and the sexts going around to people you don’t want it to.

Where to Go For Help –

Parents and your doctor are great resources. However if you feel uncomfortable or too embarrassed to talk to them there are a multitude of different places to go for confidential help. Some are:

·         SHine SA –  

Tel: 1300 883 793                Web: http://www.shinesa.org.au/

·         Headspace –

Tel: 8582 4422                      Web: http://www.headspace.org.au/

·         Sexual Health Australia - 

Tel: 0404 267 559                Web: http://www.sexualhealthaustralia.com.au/

·         Sexual Health & Family Planning Australia –

Tel: 0473 396 6614             Web: http://www.shfpa.org.au/

·         Sexual Health Services –

Tel: 1800 198 205                Web: http://www.fpwa.org.au/

Sexual Assault:

Sexual assault is when a person is forced into sexual activities against their will and without their consent.  However sexual assault can also occur when someone gives consent due to threats or general intimidation also it’s considered sexual assault if the person is deemed incapable of giving consent due to youth of incapability. According to the Australian Institute of Criminology one in three girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused in some way before the age of 18.

About half of the victims of child sexual abuse never report the abuse to another person and many do not disclose until they reach adulthood. (Queensland Crime Commission & Queensland Police Service, 2000)

Majority of cases of sexual assault aren’t reported and a lot of the time the victim won’t confide in anyone about the assault, generally females are more likely to talk about it and get help than males. Sexual assault can lead to mental health problems, self harm, diminished self worth, substance abuse as well as many other future problems.

If you have been sexually assaulted it is absolutely imperative that you talk to a trusted adult about it, however in the case that you feel too uncomfortable to talk to someone you know about it you can contact Yarrow Place Rape & Sexual Assault Service.

Yarrow Place Rape & Sexual Assault Service

Freecall 1800 817 421
Ph: (08) 8226 8777
After hours and emergency: Ph: (08) 8226 8787
www.yarrowplace.sa.gov.au

Relationships:

Relationships are an important aspect when growing up. Relationships with family, friends and even romantic relationships are all important as these relationships teach you a lot about not just life but also yourself, what you will and won’t stand for. However it’s important to understand the difference between a safe and healthy relationship and an unsafe and unhealthy relationship.

Family-

There’s a common misconception that family relationships can’t be unhealthy as your family is related to you by blood, however sometimes these relationships are the worst and unhealthiest and often youth will feel like they can’t do anything about the situation.

If you are ever feeling uncomfortable about your home life it’s important to talk to a trusted adult such as a friend’s parent, teacher or counsellor. They will be able to help you figure out if this situation requires further action. You should never feel helpless in a situation you feel uncomfortable in and you should never feel ashamed of getting help.

During 2011-12, there were 252,962 notifications of suspected child abuse and neglect made to the state. (www3.aifs.gov.au, 2014)

Friends –

Friendships are different from family relationships as you choose who your friends are whereas family you’re kind of stuck with. However there are still issues that can occur in these relationships and just like anything else it’s important to seek help when they do. As friendships can cause a lot of stress and ultimately affect other aspects of your life.

Romantic Relationships –

Experiencing romantic relationships is another aspect of growing up, these relationships help you to understand what you want in a relationship and what you will and won’t put up with. However like all relationships these also come with complications that you may need to get help with. Trusted adults are always a good place to go to. Speaking to someone who is outside the situation is always good as it’s another perspective.

Abuse in Relationships –

Abuse: treat (a person or an animal) with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly. (google definitions)

Abuse can occur in any relationship, this is one of the things you should seek help for. Being abused is not something to stand for it doesn’t matter is it’s mental abuse, physical abuse, threats, or any other form of abuse it’s not okay and you need to seek help.

33.3% of women had experienced physical violence since the age of 15. (Domesticviolence.com.au, 2014)

There is no step by step guide for how to get your adolescent years perfect or how to get them right; most of it is about learning who you are and about life itself.

Bibliography:

Better Health Channel, (2014). Sex - are you ready - Better Health Channel. [online] Available at:

http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Sex_are_you_ready?open [Accessed 12 Sep. 2014].

SHine, (2014). Sexual Health Statistics. [online] Available at:

http://file:///C:/Users/Amber%20Wurst/Downloads/Sexual%20health%20statistics%202014.pdf [Accessed 12 Sep. 2014].

RACGP, (2014). Contraception. [online] Available at:

http://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2012/october/contraception/ [Accessed 12 Sep. 2014].

ABC News, (2014). New sexting laws introduced in Victoria. [online] Available at:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-21/australian-first-sexting-laws-to-be-introduced-in-victoria/5686166 [Accessed 16 Sep. 2014].

Creative, B. (2014). Home - FPWA Sexual Health Services - Providing leadership in sexual and

reproductive health throughout WA. [online] Fpwa.org.au. Available at: http://www.fpwa.org.au/ [Accessed 16 Sep. 2014].

Cybersmart.gov.au, (2014). Sexting: Cybersmart. [online] Available at:

http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/Parents/Cyber%20issues/Sexting.aspx [Accessed 16 Sep. 2014].

Cybersmart.gov.au, (2014). Sexting: Cybersmart. [online] Available at:

http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/Parents/Resources/Educate%20yourself/Sexting%20English.aspx [Accessed 16 Sep. 2014].

Findlaw.com.au, (2014). 'Sexting' and the Law in Australia. [online] Available at:

http://www.findlaw.com.au/articles/4240/sexting-and-the-law-in-australia.aspx [Accessed 16 Sep. 2014].

Pregnancybirthbaby.org.au, (2014). Pregnancy Birth and Baby. [online] Available at:

http://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/teenage-pregnancy [Accessed 16 Sep. 2014].

Sexualhealthaustralia.com.au, (2014). Female Sexual Health | Sexual Health Australia.      online]

Available at: http://www.sexualhealthaustralia.com.au/page/female_sexual_health.html [Accessed 16 Sep. 2014].

Shfpa.org.au, (2014). Sexual Health and Family Planning Australia. [online] Available at:

http://www.shfpa.org.au/ [Accessed 16 Sep. 2014].

Thinkuknow.org.au, (2014). Sexting - ThinkUKnow. [online] Available at:

http://www.thinkuknow.org.au/site/sexting.asp [Accessed 16 Sep. 2014].

Www3.aifs.gov.au, (2014). Child abuse and neglect statistics. [online] Available at:

https://www3.aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/child-abuse-and-neglect-statistics [Accessed 19 Sep. 2014].

 Domesticviolence.com.au, (2014). DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STATISTICS. [online] Available at:

http://www.domesticviolence.com.au/pages/domestic-violence-statistics.php [Accessed 19 Sep. 2014].

Aic.gov.au, (2014). Australian Institute of Criminology - Trend in sexual assault. [online] Available at:

http://www.aic.gov.au/statistics/violent%20crime/sexual%20assault.html [Accessed 21 Sep. 2014].

Anon, (2014). [online] Available at:

http://www.bravehearts.org.au/files/Facts%20and%20Stats_updated141212.pdf [Accessed 21 Sep. 2014].

ReachOut.com, (2014). What is sexual assault?. [online] Available at: http://au.reachout.com/what-is

sexual-assault [Accessed 21 Sep. 2014].

Teen Years Series: TV Shows!

These are some MUST WATCH TV series for your teen years. (Mostly for females- but hey, guys might like these shows too.)

1.     Dawson’s Creek

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know what you’re thinking it’s an older series, but so worth watching! Yes it has the inevitable love triangle and a whole lot of messy strings and relationship problems. However it is all about the experiences of growing up everything from first love, one so pure and magical it can’t be forgotten to a messy love triangle to finding ‘the one’ to losing friends and grieving. It deals with being different, first sexual encounters, moral decisions, homosexuality and diversity. This is honestly one of my all time favourite series! I must warn you though if you watch this be prepared to laugh, to cry and to get super frustrated at certain points.

2.     Beverly Hills 90210

Okay, another older series, however I love my ‘retro’ as some people would call it series.  Again this series is about growing up. High school, college and I think the series even continues after that. Puberty, relationships, losing friends, learning, making mistakes and everything else that is part of being a teen. I haven’t watched the entire series however I do still love it.

3.     90210 (the newer version)

I thought I’d chuck this one in here too as it follows the same things but in a more modern situation. I actually never got into this series or at least this version of it, however I thought it deserved a mention.

4.     Gossip Girl

Yes another one following teens through high school and college. However this time it’s a slightly different situation as they are ‘rich’ and have other influences and issues in their day to day lives. Also because they have the antagonist of ‘gossip girl’ in their day to day lives so no secret is safe. I love gossip girl however I haven’t yet actually finished it as I have the last season to catch up on.

5.     Sex and the City

Okay, so aimed at a slightly older audience, however it is one of those shows that’s great for when you just need to stay in bed with ice cream and have a girlie day. Plus it’s just too amazing to leave out of this list.

6.     Girls

Probably one of the best shows for girls! Funny and sad and all emotions in between! This quirky show takes a different approach with girls who are still in-between children and adults and the things they face each day. Honestly this series was nothing like what I expected I guess I expected something more like Dawson’s or Gossip Girl but this took it to a whole other level!

7.     Seventh Heaven

Amazing! Pure and light-hearted show. Follows a family growing up and changing and the events that occur in their lives. Really easy to watch.

Honourable Mentions: (series my friends rave about but I haven’t got to watch yet.)

·       The OC

·       One Tree Hill

·       Gilmore Girls

·       Melrose Place

·       Party of Five

·       Felicity

·       The Carrie Diaries

New Series! Introduction to Puberty / Teen Years Series.

When I was younger and even now my mum never actually had ‘the talk’ with me or sat me down to talk about puberty and the changes I was about to adapt to. However in saying that I was always able to go to her and ask her things and talk when I needed to and on my terms, so it’s not like she left me to work through it on my own, I think she was just trying to make it so I was comfortable. Anyway so, a lot of my learning about puberty and changes that occur during it happened by reading magazines, watching TV and movies,  sex ed classes at school and the internet (reading articles, watching youtubers talking about experiences and certain topics, etc). Even now as I am still working through that confusing time I still read up on this stuff and watch youtubers talking about certain topics and etc. I like to be well educated on things I’m unsure about and going through or thinking about, it makes me less nervous and able to relax more. Due to most of my lessons on all things teen years related came from external sources I figured why stop the teaching cycle, so this is my guide to the exciting and nerve racking teenage years. (This will probably be mainly aimed at girls because it is a female point of view.)