New on-line course available for teachers in public schools

Teaching Sexuality Education Online Professional Learning Course

The Departments of Health and Education have produced a new and innovative online professional development course for teachers to assist them deliver comprehensive sexual health education.

This interactive course is available for all public school teaching staff through the Department’s portal.

“We want all teachers to feel comfortable teaching relationship education.  These materials provide them with the strategies to deal with the curly questions because kids, by their very nature, tend to ask the most difficult questions” (Graeme Webb A/Manager, K-12 Coordination).

Meanwhile the option of free face-to-face training continues to be available for all teachers and further information about dates and courses can be obtained at info@wahealtheducation.com.au.

How can public school teaching staff access the course?

• Log in to the Department of Education portal
  http://Portal.det.wa.edu.au
• Click on the Professional Learning tab at the top of the portal page.
• Select the Teaching Sexuality Education Online Professional Learning course from the Course Catalogue which is on the right hand side of the Professional Learning Page.

About the course
The course guides educators through a series of activities, strategies and resources designed to develop confidence and comfort for teaching sexuality education.  Teaching staff have the opportunity to engage in critical reflection about teaching and learning and their professional health educator role.

Course structure
There are 8 x 20 minute modules

1. Setting the scene - what is comprehensive sexuality education?
2. Why YOU need to teach sexuality education
3. Preparing yourself, students, leadership teams and parents
4. What to teach
5. Teaching and learning strategies
6. Responding to students’ questions
7. Helping to keep young people safer
8. Additional resources.

Pilot teacher feedback
The online course was piloted in 28 WA schools in 2011

• Deputy Principal Primary School
  "Application of best practice well presented".
• Secondary Teacher
  "The underlying message seems to be that there is a wealth of evidence and information out there – and that if teachers were feeling reluctant to teach the subject, or that they didn’t think it was worthwhile they would definitely be swayed by all the supporting documentation and links".
• Year 6 Teacher
  "I would like to say how professional the modules look.  They are easy to use, informative and not lengthy in time".
• Secondary Teacher
  "The photos from “young” classes really emphasised that it is perfectly acceptable and appropriate to start teaching ‘sex ed’ from an early age.  Many teachers think Year 7 is the time to do ‘it’".