Using online social media to engage & promote participation with young people

There are positive and negative aspects to social media - but whatever our views - young people are in those social media spaces and we as youth practitioners need to understand this online environment.

Social media are part of young people's everyday lives (Facebook, messenger, bebo etc). As practitioners, and managers of practitioners working with young people how should we respond to this? Should we ignore the technology and play safe by keeping to old means of communication? Should we embrace the technology and become virtual youth practitioners? What are the ethics and the practicalities involved with online youth work? Which methods should we use? What are the risks and benefits?

All these questions and more are the reason that we have commissioned this new innovative training to explore this pressing topic.

Course content:

Learn how young people use social media; explore how new social media approaches to engage with young people could be used within your practice/organisation; develop practical skills in the use of social media tools (the afternoon session will be dedicated to getting ‘hands -on experience'; identify practical ways to support young people to be safe online; and find ways of applying your professionals skills and values to new digital environments.

Learning outcomes:

• Aware of how young people are engaging with social media;
• Aware of a range of different methods for using social media in work with young people
•  Aware of the key issues to consider when involved in digital work with young people  
• Confident to explore and pick up new practical skills for digital work with young people, using our computer suite
• Strategies for taking forwards the use of social media in your organisation

Trainer:

Katie Bacon qualified Youth & Community Worker, currently employed by Devon County Council as a Youth participation practitioner working with vulnerable groups.  For the last 2 years I have been researching and developing methodologies and polices in the practical application of online social media platforms.  I have successfully engaged and enabled young people to express their views online and participate with local decision makers in regards to Hear By Right strategy, Devon's Children's & Young People's plan and local Children's Trust groups. 

Cost:  £90 per person  - Payment: Payment is required in full at least 14 days prior to course commencement.

Event details

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