Children, Young People & Online Media Summit: Promoting Digital Competence, Digital Citizenship & Wellbeing

This Summit will bring together key stakeholders and experts in online community, education, psychology, mental health and industry to share evidence, ideas and good practice to promote Children and Young People’s Digital Competence, Digital Citizenship and Wellbeing. The broad themes addressed aim to provide a more rounded view of the many aspects of children and young people growing up in a digital age and the tensions and opportunities these present, as well as practical steps we can take to promote their digital competence, digital citizenship and wellbeing. This is especially pertinent for educators in Wales in the light of the Donaldson curriculum review with its focus on Digital Competence.

Specifically, the Summit will explore:

  • How schools can develop and embed digital competence for pupils and staff. ESTYN, WISE KIDS and leading educators in Wales will share evidence, good practice and ideas to help schools develop staff and pupil digital confidence and competence, in cross-curricular and pedagogically sound ways, for more inspired teaching and learning.
  • How young people’s interests and skills can be used to develop a culture of creativity and digital citizenship in schools and other youth provision, and prepare them for employment and participation in a networked society.
  • Children and young people’s digital practices and online experiences and the links to skill development, wellbeing, vulnerability, resilience and mental health. Also ways in which educators, youth workers and other stakeholders can promote children and young people’s digital competence, agency and wellbeing.
  • Children and young people’s rights and how educators and youth workers can use a rights framework to promote digital competence, digital citizenship and wellbeing.
  • Parenting and family life in a digital age, and effective strategies for parents to support and help their children thrive in a digital age.
  • The role and experience of industry in promoting safety, education and digital skills for young people.
  • How stakeholders like children’s services, CAMHS and other professionals can develop their provision in ways which support children to develop their digital competence, wellbeing and resilience.

The Summit will also feature children and young people’s voices centrally through presentations, drama and panel sessions. It will have a mixed format of plenary and panel discussions. There will also be exhibition stands from key stakeholders in the sector.

Target Audience and Speakers

This exciting, cross-sector Summit will be of interest to educators, researchers, policy makers, youth workers, industry, children’s services, parents, carers, CAMHS staff, community groups and other public and private sector organisations with an interest in these issues. Expert speakers and panellists include the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Nathan Wyburn, Professor Sonia Livingstone, Professor Katherine Weare, Dr Andrew Przybylski, Dr Ann John, Ms Josie Fraser, Dr Huw Davies, ESTYN, UK Safer Internet Centre, CEOP, NSPCC, S4C, BBC Wales, Superawesome.TV and WISE KIDS.

We wish to acknowledge and thank our sponsors and supporters for this Summit: the University of Wales Trinity St David, S4C, ProMo-Cymru, Digital Communities Wales, NSPCC, Children in Wales, All Wales School Liaison Core Programme, Internet Matters and the NCMH.