The Y is a community not-for-profit providing a wide range of programs and services including sports and recreation, out of hours school care and community programs. The Y supports nearly 30 million children, young people, and adults of all abilities each year in over 500 communities. 

As part of their ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety of children and young people, the Y partnered with Androgogic to bring the Stay Safe Online, Tell Someone program to life. The Y required an eLearning solution that would empower people to tell a trusted adult when they see, hear, or feel something that makes them uncomfortable online. 

THE SOLUTION

To meet the Y’s needs, Androgogic deployed the Learn component of the Totara Talent Experience Platform (TXP) which is used by millions of learners worldwide. Androgogic configured and deployed the LMS to the Y’s specifications and provides continuing support to administrators. 

In addition to deploying and supporting the TXP, Androgogic’s Learning Design and Development team worked with the National Safeguarding Unit (NSU) in the Y Services team to design and develop a set of interactive learning resources to help people of all ages stay safe online. 

Figure 1: Each resource contains tailored content which was codesigned with input from representatives from the target groups.

As part of the design and development process, the team developed age appropriate stories and activities to bring the learning experience to life. The resources are scenario based and tailored to each group of learners with a set of authentic and engaging stories to follow. Through these stories, learners understand how to stay safe online and what they can do if they see, hear or feel something online that causes concern. 

Each module was developed by the Androgogic Learning Design and Development team in Articulate Rise with graphics developed for each age group. This was delivered on the Y’s Totara LMS via a SCORM package or on a website using HTML5.

Each module was tailored for a specific age group: 8-13 year olds, 14-17 year olds, and adults. The resources were codesigned with input from the representatives of these target groups. Each resource is designed for that particular demographic, using interactive stories and presentation styles relevant to those learners to engage them.

   Figure 2: The resource for children uses illustrated characters to tell the stories of three children who come across something online that concerns them and find out what they can do about it.

   Figure 3: The resource for young people contains age appropriate interactive stories of young people facing real life challenges online and the steps they can take

THE RESULTS

The Y’s Stay Safe Online, Tell Someone program went live for administrators and learners on the 29th March 2021. 95% of children and young people who have completed the training report that they feel safer online than before.

The eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant said, ‘’We know that one in five Australian children experience cyber bullying and the average age is fourteen.” She added that, “Education is a key component of the work we do and a powerful tool for behaviour change.”

The Stay Safe Online, Tell Someone program is the educational tool which meets this need. The graphics, storytelling, and interactive components combine to empower children, young people and adults alike with the knowledge they need to keep themselves and others safe online.