LIVE ZOOM WORKSHOPS

These are our current live zoom workshops available to the education sector

Click on the plus button to see more information on the workshops

Workshops for schools and teachers

Trauma and basic counselling

DEALING WITH TRAUMA IN MY CLASSROOM AS A RESULT OF A NATIONAL CRISES.

A WORKSHOP ON BASIC COUNSELLING AND FACILITATING A TRAUMA DE-BRIEFING FOR EDUCATORS AND SCHOOL MANAGEMENT.

Presented by John Buswell, founder of Rape Wise SA

INTRODUCTION

As our COVID-19 positive cases and resulting deaths are reaching critical levels, Educators and School Management Teams are bearing the brunt of the related trauma in the classroom and the school environment.

Educators are expected to deal with many of these issues with very little formal counselling or trauma training. A caring Educator can transform the school experience, especially for learners who face enormous home difficulties. The basic ability to counsel, present a mini trauma de- briefing, listen, guide and refer when necessary, can transform a learners life forever.

This accredited, 2 hour, live workshop with John Buswell will empower Educators to understand how trauma effects learners, identify the presenting symptoms and be able to provide a basic counselling and de-briefing model to both learners and colleagues. An educator with counselling and communication skills enhances the schools professionalism, affirms a learner’s dignity and helps develop trusting relationships in times of crises. 

Workshop Content: 

An introduction to trauma

  • Definition of trauma
  • Types of trauma
  • Phases of trauma
  • Identifying symptoms presented in the classroom from Gr R – Gr 12
  • Long term effects of a traumatic experience on childhood development

An introduction to basic counselling

  •  Defining counselling
  • The goals and aims of counselling
  • The do’s and don’ts
  • Counselling ethics and values
  • Sympathy, identification and empathy

Basic counselling

  • Counselling frameworks
  • Stages of counselling
  • Body language
  • Process of the counselling model
  • Using questions effectively
  • Problems in questioning
  • Dealing with the child’s parent or care giver

Trauma De-Briefing

  • Understanding the model
  • When and how?
  • Aims and activities
  • Practise De-Briefing

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Prevention of teacher burnout

The Prevention and Management of Educator Burnout – Coping in a Pandemic

A live Zoom Staff Development Workshop

Presented by John Buswell

INTRODUCTION

As the World tries to come to terms with the COVID-19 Pandemic, schools in South Africa are starting to re-open under very difficult circumstances. Educators are under pressure to finish the academic syllabus, prepare learners for exams and often teach from home. Educator Burnout is real and schools are ill equipped to deal with this real threat to our future education environment.

South Africa has over 375,000 educators teaching in our Primary and High Schools. In a recent survey 12.1% of Teachers indicated that they suffered from Teacher Burnout (45,375), more troublesome is the fact that 8% of teachers indicated that they took over 20 days of sick leave per year, due to burnout. That equates to over 3.6 Million teaching hours lost to South African learners each year.

Burnout is defined as a multi-dimensional syndrome that consists of three cognitive/effective components: emotional exhaustion; depersonalisation or becoming callous towards and withdrawing from learners or colleagues. Teacher burnout could be the biggest threat to education in South Africa with many teachers leaving the profession due to emotional and physical exhaustion.  How do School your Management Teams deal with real threat? WE HAVE THE SOLUTION.

Why we need this online workshop.

Do you remember the days when your teachers bounced into the staff room happy and bubbly and full of life?  Ever wonder where those fresh faced, creative, enthusiastic educators with a hunger for making the world a better place, for caring about their learners and for going the extra mile have gone?

It isn’t easy, trying to be creative and change lives. Having that on your shoulders alone is a big burden, but then facing what our teachers have to face on a daily basis with difficult learners, parents and various departments making unreasonable demands, makes it impossible to stay fresh, motivated and positive.

One of the biggest challenges facing education in South Africa is EDUCATOR BURNOUT!  Exhaustion and burnout set in and those lively people just disappear.  It may just creep up on you or perhaps they have been deteriorating for a while, but how do you help them?

Here’s how we can help you! The Proactive Education Group, headed up by our CEO John Buswell, are deeply committed to schools and understand these challenges you face.  As a recognised leading service provider to the South African education sector with years of experience in all aspects of school management we would like to introduce you to the latest product in our SMARTER LIFE AND LIFESTYLE RANGE FOR EDUCATORS.  Our Online Teacher Burnout Workshop will get the blood pumping through those veins and the enthusiasm sprouting out those pores again.

Workshop Content:

Module 1 Burnout – the toxic mix of circumstances

  • The challenges facing education in South Africa
  • Excluding and understanding trauma – from a teachers perspective
  • Understanding the impact that burnout has on the “whole” school

Module 2: Understanding the concept of teacher burnout

  • An introduction to burnout
  • Stress vs burnout – a teachers perspective
  • The sources of burnout in the school environment
  • Work situations that cause burnout
  • The stages of burnout
  • Identifying the symptoms of burnout
  • Teaching and burnout – developing a staff diagnostic program
  • The influence of personalities in the staff room
  • Understanding the three dimensions of burnout

Module 3: Developing and introducing a program to deal with and prevent future burnout in the school environment

  • Management skills that deal with burnout
  • Problem solving and planning
  • Developing new coping styles
  • Changing the “victim” mind set
  • Introducing Smart lifestyle choices in the work environment
  • The importance of Team Building

Conclusion: Online training evaluation, quiz and staff development ongoing participation forum.

Book our Live Zoom Educator Burnout workshop for your teachers and BRING BACK THEIR PASSION!

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Prevention of discrimination

AN ONLINE WORKSHOP ON THE PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT OF RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION IN

SOUTH AFRICAN SCHOOLS – HEALING THE PAST

BUILDING AN INTEGRATED SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT TO ENSURE THAT NO PERSON IS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST ON THE BASIS OF RACE, RELIGION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR GENDER

COST: R100-00 PER DELEGATE 

SACE CPTD allocation /Type 3 / 10 points / Leadership and management

There are few things that divide a school, its educators, learners and parents more than an accusation of racism levied against a member of staff, past or present. The consequences are devastating on the school community and the after effects linger for many years, with some schools’ reputations damaged or destroyed after just one incident.

The National media often point fingers at the institution and often query what training and policies were put in place to prevent incidents of racism before this specific event took place.

Schools are a microcosm of society and we have noticed an increase in the number of serious incidents of discrimination, particularly racism.

Section 29(3) of the constitution explicitly prohibits discrimination on the basis of race. Further, as all schools are entrusted with the care and guidance of minors, they have a constitutional responsibility to ensure a child’s right to basic education and that this access is not infringed upon.

Educators do have a level of power over learners and negative and discriminative words and actions can harm a child irreparably.

 Online Workshop
Content

  1.  Introduction

Understanding the
background of integration since 1994 and the causes of racial discrimination
facing education in South Africa – dealing with the past.

  1.  Defining racism and
    discrimination
  • What
    is race?
  • Defining
    shades of racism
  • Understanding
    systematic racism
  • Defining
    hate speech
  • The
    paradigms of the “old” South African
  • Understanding
    the term “The race card”
  • Racism
    amongst learners – The 10-point test
  1. The policies guiding integration in SA schools
  • The vision
  • Establishing the values
  • An inclusive approach
  • Employment of educators
  • The importance of inclusive curriculum 
  1. Portrait of an integrated school “from the outside looking in”
  • Leadership and management
  • Support material
  • Food and entertainment
  • Sport arts and culture
  • Religious observance
  • “Us and them” syndrome 
  1.  Taking the journey
  • Acknowledging the need for action
  • Assessing the problem
  • Involving the role players
  • Setting up a strategy
  1.  Strategies for transformation. Drafting a policy on racism
  • The scope of the policy
  • Interpretations and definitions
  • The role of management and its responsibilities
  • The role of educators’, learners and parents
  • Required conduct from all concerned
  • Procedure, both informal and formal
  • Application of the policy
  1.  Towards a common future
  • Infusing the classroom with a culture of human rights
  • Nurturing a culture of communication and participation
  • Making multilingualism happen
  • Affirming our common citizenship
  1.  In actual practice
  • Disciplinary investigation and
    procedure when a member of staff is accused of racism
  • Dealing with the racist parent
  • Peer exclusion and racism
  • Responding to accusations of racism and dealing with the media
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Positive Discipline workshop

Positive discipline in the classroom – Assertiveness –how to stand up and not lose face in front of a belligerent child.

Introduction

One of the key elements that affect the health of the school’s environment is the issue of managing learner behaviour through the disciplinary processes of a school. Management, educators and other staff are dealing with problematic behaviour from the learners on a daily basis.

We live in a time where there appears to be a real decline in the area of discipline in general. The result of this decline is seen and felt by educators and school management who deal with the learner. Learners are lacking some basic character elements, such as a good work ethic, taking responsibility for their actions, self-control, open disrespect, defiance to name a few.

There are many factors that contribute to this, such as family life, rights based thinking without responsibility, exposure to violence, learners influence on one another, poverty and/or wealth, conduct of our countries leaders and learners’ developmental difficulties.

WORKSHOP CONTENT

  • Discipline vs punitive implementation
  • Understanding the purpose of discipline in the school environment
  • The various paradigms that influence our approach to discipline
  • Staff and personal discipline

Classroom management

  • An educator’s ethical responsibilities in respect of discipline
  • Diligence and co-operation
  • Classroom management
  • Creating a classroom code of conduct
  • Dealing with large classes and discipline
  • Promoting active learning
  • Dealing with stress as an educator
  • Implementing the schools code of conduct and managing effective punitive action
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Sexual Offences workshop

The Presenter – Dr John Buswell

John Buswell is one of South Africa’s top Serious Sexual Offences experts.

As the former head of Rape Wise South Africa for over 20 years, John has trained thousands of medical doctors, forensic nurses, police officers, prosecutors, social workers, psychologists’ and educators. John regularly consults to the directorate of Public prosecutions and specialist units of the SAPS and deals with approximately 800 cases of sexual assault annually. This workshop is based on many of the real cases handled.

Background

South African girls continue to be raped, sexually abused, and sexually harassed at school by classmates and educators. Human Rights Watch found that sexual abuse and harassment of girls by both educators and other learners is wide spread in South Africa.

Rape Wise has emphasised that the challenge of Sexual Abuse is not only faced by girls but more and more cases are reported where boys are the victim!

Learners (both boys and girls) who encountered sexual violence at schools were raped in school toilets, in empty classrooms, hallways, hostels and dormitories. Children are also fondled, subjected to aggressive sexual advances and verbally degraded at school. Human Rights Watch also found that children from all levels of society and among all ethnic groups are affected by sexual violence at school.

The Online Workshop

This practical online workshop will ensure that School Management, members of the School Based Support Team and support professionals are equipped to deal with cases of abuse, sexual assault and discrimination.

Schools have many legal obligations to address, the problems of sexual violence and harassment by educators, ground staff and learners, particularly in the area of screening educators, reporting abuse and conducting disciplinary procedures. However national guidelines distributed to schools are unclear and incomplete regarding these obligations. Educators are unsure of the definition of abuse, sexual assault and discrimination and are not trained to identify the symptoms and act in the best interest of the child.

The workshop with cover the following:

Understanding the legal framework with regards to child protection. An introduction to the relevant legislation and understanding your obligations as an educator or principal.

  • The Bill of Rights
  • The Children’s Act
  • The Domestic Violence Act
  • The Criminal Procedure Act
  • The Sexual Offences ACT
  • The SA Schools Act
  • The Employment of Educators ACT
  • Basic Conditions of Employment Act

Understanding the definition of child abuse and sexual assault

  • Child Abuse
  • Physical Abuse
  • Emotional abuse
  • Neglect
  • Child labour

Definition of sexual assault in terms of the criminal law (Sexual offences and related matters) Amendment Act, Act 32 of 2007 – definitions/case law/practical examples 

  • Ages of consent
  • Rape
  • Compelled rape
  • Sexual assault and compelled sexual assault
  • Compelled self – sexual assault
  • Incest
  • Bestiality
  • Acts of consensual sexual penetration with certain children (Section15 and 16)
  • Sexual grooming of a child
  • Exposure or display of or causing exposure or display of child pornography or pornography to children
  • Using children for or benefiting from child pornography
  • Compelling or causing children to witness sexual offences
  • Exposure or display of genital organs to children (Flashing)

Indication of abuse / sexual assault

  • Behaviour
  • Physical
  • Psychological

Profiling of the different types of sexual offenders within the school environment 

  • Child rapist
  • Power assertive juvenile offender
  • Paedophiles
  • Profile of an abuser

Protocol and Procedure to follow with regards to an abused child (Case based)

  • Approach and disclosure
  • Reporting
  • Child Protection agencies

When the abuser is a member of staff (Case based)

  • Reporting protocols
  • Action protocols
  • Disciplinary procedure

Protocol and Procedure to follow – Sexual Offences

  • The duty of educators and other school employees to report
  • Reporting protocols
  • Action protocols
  • Understanding the investigation by the SAPS and Medico Lego examiner

Investigating and Disciplining Educators accused of sexual misconduct (Case based)

  • Approach and disclose
  • Reporting
  • Child protection agencies
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Drugs and Alcohol Teachers

ATTENTION: The Life orientation department, educators,  school counsellors and management

Having spent the past three months researching and writing our new drug workshop, it is apparent that very few people have an intimate knowledge about the subject.

If you are not able to identify, understand the symptoms and educate learners about the following drugs – you need this workshop!!!!

Sugars, Nyape, Planzana, Kwape, Jellies, Matakwane, Double dipped, Penguins, Nose Candy, Tjoeff, Khat, Kuber, Mitsubishis and Slag

Introduction

Substance abuse has no distinction in social status, race, religion or gender. The fact is the abuse of drugs and alcohol amongst our youth is out of control.

Here are some alarming facts:

  • South African school children spend up to 7 billion Rand on drugs and alcohol each year
  • The drug problem has increased by 500% over the past 6 years
  • At any stage, there are over 600 children between the ages of 6 and 9 years old in rehabilitation
  • It is estimated that there are over 235 000 teenage addicts in South Africa
  • 20% of teenage girls have an alcohol addiction problem
  • The average addict starts using drugs at the age of 8 and by the age of 11 are full on addicts

Workshop content

Section 1

Drug classification, substance identification, physical and psychological symptoms and the long term effects of substance abuse

The following drug categories will be included in the workshop:

  1. Tranquilisers
  2. Cannabis
  3. Hallucinogens
  4. Stimulants
  5. Designer drugs
  6. Anabolic steroids
  7. Sedative hypnotics (Including Alcohol)
  8. Narcotic analgesics (opiates)

Section 2

Addiction

  • The stages of addiction
  • Understanding addiction as a developmental disease
  •  An introduction to rehabilitation techniques used in South Africa
  • Working with a recovering addict
  • Assisting the addicts family

Section 3

The right to search, seize and test for an illegal substances

  1. An overview of:
  • The criminal procedure act 51 of 1997
  • The drug and drug trafficking act 140 of 1992
  • The South African schools act 84 of 1996
  1. General guidelines
  2. How to conduct a search
  3. Seizing and disposing of an illegal substance
  4. Drug testing at an educational facility
  5. Procedures and test kits to be used
  6. Testing for anabolic steroids – The legalities

Section 4

Substance abuse prevention programme

  • Introducing the Lets Stop Drug (LSD) campaign at your school
  • Teaching learners about the dangers of drugs and alcohol in the classroom
  • Parent education programme
  • The identification of dealer networks in your community
  • Providing information to the SAPS utilising crime line
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Burnt-out to Lit-up!

THE WORKSHOP : “FROM BURNT OUT TO LIT UP!”

An essential 2Hr workshop for all staff in the education sector. Presented by John Buswell

Following one of the most difficult years ever experienced, let me workshop your academic and support team to ensure that they are motivated to face any of the challenges that they may encounter during 2021 with confidence, commitment and dedication.

Facilitation by John Buswell, work book, full memorandum and a SACE accredited certificate (CPTD allocation/Type 3/10 Points/ Leadership and Management.

WORKSHOP CONTENT:

  • Identifying the symptoms of Burnout before it takes control of my life
  • Understanding how our different personality types make us vulnerable
  • Burning toxic bridges that ruin our lives
  • Converting  stressors to motivators on a daily basis
  • Mental health – coping and surviving in one of the toughest work environments in the world
  • Setting positive goals and utilising time management skills that alleviate work pressure
  • Positive discipline – creating expectations – the whole school approach
  • Dealing with those difficult colleagues – a strategy
  • Converting that difficult angry parent into your biggest ally
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Hidden Rage Workshop

Stress Generates Rage and Rage Generates Violence.

HIDDEN RAGE – A Staff Development workshop on The Prevention and Management of School Violence and includes teaching Anger Management Skills to Learners in both Primary and High Schools

Workshop includes:

  • Virtual facilitation by John Buswell
  • Workbook
  • Memorandum: The Guide to dealing with violence  in the School Environment
  • SACE accredited certificate (CPTD allocation/Type 3/10 Points/ Leadership and Management.)

BACK GROUND

Hidden in every classroom, amongst familiar faces and personalities, sits a child engulfed in rage.

These children could be pushed over the edge of sanity by a variety of circumstances, perhaps the breakdown of family relationships, poverty, stress or unfair treatment at school, bullying or often just a pile up of several different problems.

Stress generates rage and rage generates violence. Pushed beyond breaking point, the learner sometimes lashes out randomly at who ever happens to be at hand, perhaps an educator or a group of learners – this could result in death.

Crime statistics show that in the last year in South African Schools:

  • 345 assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm(assault GBH) and 546 common assault cases
  • 9 Murders and 19 attempted murders

The Workshop

Section 1 – Disruptive, Impulse Control and Conduct Disorders

(Dealing with Oppositional Defiance Disorder, Intermittent Explosive Disorder and Conduct Disorder)

  • Identifying the symptoms
  • Medical and psychological referral
  • Treatment
  • Help in the classroom
  • Understanding the factors that most influence impulsive and aggressive behaviour
  • Identifying the symptoms of Hidden Rage: Physical, Psychological and Cognitive

Section 2 – The “Whole School” solution

  • Developing a strategic intervention model when dealing with an angry child
  • Learning to re-direct behaviour that can threaten the safety of others
  • Teaching children and teens the long term skills of impulse control
  • Prevention and intervention techniques that are effective in different settings
  • Disciplining the violent child, suspension and the disciplinary hearing
  • Developing a peer confrontation strategy
  • Teaching anger management techniques, Pre-school, Primary and High School
  • Educators rights when they become a victim of school violence
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Child Protection Workshop

A workshop on child protection, reporting obligation and policy development

One of the biggest challenges facing education in South Africa today is the lack of training provided to teachers when it comes to issues of child protection, abuse reporting protocols and the responsibilities that teachers have in their loco parentis relationship with learners. The sad truth is that teachers are not normally trained to deal with the real issues that they face in the classroom, recent negative media has proven that schools are ill equipped to deal with the real issues at hand, physical abuse, sexual abuse, drug abuse and reporting obligations.

A number of teachers have recently faced the might of the criminal justice system due to the fact that they failed to report cases of sexual or physical abuse to the correct authorities after a direct disclosure from a child

  • Discussion on the Sexual Offences Amendment Act as well as the Children Act including the definition of Sexual Assault, Abuse and the new ages of consent
  •  The Educators obligation to report cases of Abuse and Sexual Assault as well as the procedures to follow
  • Profiling of a Paedophile or Sexual Predator within the school environment
  • Personal safety strategy for Educators
  • Dealing with a violent child in the classroom or on the playground
  • Dealing with angry parents – a strategy
  • A school wide strategy to deal with bullying
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Developing code of conduct

Developing your schools code of conduct, new legislated policy requirements and preparing for a disciplinary hearing in 2021.

For both state and independent schools.

Section 8 of the South African Schools Act 84 of 1996 (hereafter the Schools Act) determines that the management of a school must adopt a code of conduct for the learners of the school. The code of conduct contains the disciplinary rules for learners and is therefore crucial to school discipline. Equally important is the fact that these rules must be properly implemented and enforced to ensure a disciplined education and school environment. This implies sound school governance and a staff and management body that is well-informed about the legal nature and consequences of a code of conduct. In short, it requires school governance that is based on a solid legal footing. Be that as it may, the stark realities of everyday school life unfortunately paint a different picture, one that is marred by countless incidents at disorganised and undisciplined schools where learners openly and unashamedly disrupt the education process while confused and ignorant governing bodies and educators seem unable to tackle learner misconduct and restore discipline at school.

This practical workshop will empower delegates to understand the legal nature of the school’s code of conduct, with emphasis on the implementation and enforcement of disciplinary rules in the case of learner misconduct.

Schools code of conduct – a legal perspective

  • The constitutional background to the school’s code of conduct
  • The administration of the school’s code of conduct and the responsibility of the school’s disciplinary committee
  • The role of the disciplinary committee
  • Handling the threat of parental legal litigation

Dealing with serious misconduct

Disciplinary Hearings

  • Legal background to discipline
  • Misconduct investigations and the legal shortfalls
  • Notice of the hearing
  • Composition of a tribunal
  • Logistical arrangements
  • Procedures during disciplinary hearings
  • The role of the chairperson
  • Informing the accused learner of his/her rights
  • The right to an interpreter
  • The right to representation
  • Witnesses
  • Nature of questioning
  • Findings and recommendations
  • Disciplinary action
  • Penalties
  • The right of appeal

Processing of recommendations for suspension and Expulsion

  • Implications for learners in hostels
  • Alternative placement of an expelled learner

Appeals against suspension or expulsion

  • Mitigating circumstances
  • Processing an appeal
  • The appeals committee
  • Handling of media enquires
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Dealing with death workshop

Dealing with the death of a learner or member of staff in the school environment workshop

For many years, I have received requests from schools to assist them professionally in times of tragedy, often as a result of the death of a learner or member of staff. These cases included drownings, murder, suicide, school violence and serious motor vehicle accidents. I have been able to assist with organisational planning, de-briefings, psychological support to both learners, staff and management.

The common theme amongst most schools that I have assisted over the last 20 years is the lack of a fixed written protocol and procedure plan, organisational action list to follow when tragedy strikes and school-based grief programme.

The hundreds of school-based staff, teachers, learners and parents that have passed away as a result of COVID-19, the resurgence in infections and a new variant, will have a devastating effect on colleagues, learners and the school based community as a whole.

I have written this essential workshop to assist members of the SMT and SBST at schools that have experienced a loss and to prepare others who face the inevitable.

A WORKSHOP ON DEALING WITH THE DEATH OF A LEARNER OR MEMBER OF STAFF WITHIN THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

DEVELOPING A PROTOCOL, POLICY AND SCHOOL-BASED GRIEF PROGRAMME

Workshop details:

Date: Tuesday 02 February 2021/Time: 15:00 – 17:00/Cost: R100-00 Per Delegate and includes:

  • Virtual facilitation by Dr John Buswell
  • Workbook
  • A copy of the Schools grief protocol and procedure manual
  • Memorandum and The Guide to Dealing with Trauma in the School Environment
  • SACE accredited certificate (CPTD allocation/Type 3/10 Points/ Leadership and Management.)

WORKSHOP CONTENTS:

  1. Understanding and overcoming the barriers to bereavement support within schools.
  • Management as the key role player
  • Education and planning
  • Setting up an emergency response team
  • Assessing the range of input
  • Pastoral care team
  • Information sharing

          2. The role of the School management Team(SMT) and the School Based Support                      Team(SBST) when responding to a death within the school environment.

  • Establishing a crisis counselling protocol
  • Emergency management plan
  • Crisis and grief counselling services
  • Pastoral care team
  • Death notification protocols and procedures
  • Verification of information
  • Notification of a death – Staff
  • Learner notification plan
  • Setting out a statement for parents
  • Media – legislative authority for releasing information

        3. Funerals, memorial services and spontaneous memorials

  • COVID – 19 Special regulations
  • Participation of learners
  • Dealing with spontaneous memorials
  • Timing of memorial activities
  • Equitable policies
  • Constructive expression of grief
  • Handling of traumatic reminders for learners and staff
  • Personal effects of the deceased
  • Impact on learning
  • Dealing with special circumstances(Suicide of a learner or staff member)

        4. General

  • Designated areas for special support
  • Monitoring and referring
  • Persons needing special support
  • Ongoing support
  • Special consideration for sensitive deaths
  • Appropriate statements and potentially unhelpful approaches
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Workshops for learners

Study Skills workshop

Live Zoom Learner Workshop: Study Skills, Time Management, Academic Planning and The Prevention of Learner Burnout

Introduction

Learners in the South African Education system, as with the rest of the world, find themselves in one of the most challenging times of their lives due to the COVID – 19 epidemic and subsequent lock down restrictions. As schools slowly re open and our lives start to return to normal, time management and academic planning will become one of the greatest skills that learners, educators and parents will have to master. One of the biggest challenges that learners face from Gr 5 – Gr 12 is that they do not have adequate planning skills. This practical workshop teaches learners to work independently, develop study skills techniques and create a weekly planner, monthly study time table that correlates to their exam time table and a task priority system for projects and homework. Learners are unable to manage stress and the real potential of burnout from fatigue.

The system enables parents and educators to monitor progress and ensure that the full subject content has been thoroughly worked through and that sufficient revision has taken place.

The Presenter:

John Buswell has presented the Basic Study Skills and Planning Workshop to well over 30 000 learners at schools throughout South Africa over the last 5 years, including both the IEB as well as the NSC Syllabus. Each workshop is designed to incorporate age appropriate content suitable for each grade.

We invite parents to join their children at the workshop at no additional cost.

This is a practical and interactive workshop. Parents are encouraged to attend with their children so that there can be a common understanding of what needs to be done. So often, studying is something that causes a great deal of conflict in the home. By working together, parents and students can negotiate the best way forward. Students will leave the workshop with a personalized plan that can be implemented immediately.

 

 

 

 

WORKSHOP CONTENT

An introduction to the world of effective learning

  • The iceberg of life – putting in the effort and reaping the rewards
  • Understanding my academic personality
  • How MY brain works
  • Identifying and using your personal learning style

 

Effective planning strategies to ensure success

  • How and where to study – my personal pad
  • Time management skills – procrastination vs. over planning
  • Effective planning for the rest of this year
  • Creating a study plan and timetable
  • Goal setting
  • Monitoring your own learning advancement
  • Habits of success

 

Study techniques

  • Is there a perfect way to learn? Exploring different study techniques
  • Active listening and note taking
  • Summarizing your notes
  • Memory and mind maps
  • Strategies for effective reading
  • The importance of associations and thinking while studying
  • Basic learning styles (Visual and Auditory)

 

How to write a good test or exam paper

  • Exam tips
  • Understanding the questions
  • Answering effectively
  • Pacing yourself
  • Finding those few additional marks

 

 

Planning for balance – self preservation

  • Managing stress
  • The symptoms of burnout and how to make the critical change
  • The importance of good nutrition
  • Your sleep habits
  • Managing an online world
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Drugs and Alcohol Learners

In Progress

Book Now
Cyber Safety for Learners

Learner Cyber Safety Talks for Primary and High School Learners: presented by John Buswell

(These productions can be used by teachers, in the classroom, online, at any time, for years to come.)

Introduction

South African learners have increased their online time spend by over 400% in the last two years following the outbreak of COVID-19, subsequent lock downs and online classes. This increase in “screen time” has exposed both primary and high school learners to different risks, including cyberbullying, sexual grooming, the sharing of sexual content and gaming addiction.

In a recent study by the World Economic Forum, it was found that 62% of South African Children have been exposed to at least one cyber risk. 55% of children polled were victims of cyber bullying, 11% had chatted to a stranger online and 18 % had engaged in online sexual behaviour. These statistics place South Africa in the top 10 of the countries that are at risk out of the 29 countries polled.

The New Cybercrimes Act

Leaners who cyber bully, threaten or send pornographic pictures can be sentenced to 15 years imprisonment or a substantial fine or both.

 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the Cybercrimes Bill into law, bringing South Africa’s cybersecurity laws in line with the rest of the world. The bill, which is now an act of parliament, creates offences for and criminalises, amongst others, the disclosure of data massages which are harmful. Examples of such data messages include:

  • Those which incite violence or damage to property
  • Those which threaten persons with violence or damage to property
  • Those which contain an intimate image sent without the subject’s consent

A person who is convicted of an offence under the cybercrimes act is liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a period of up to 15 years or both.

Cyber Safety Production Grade 4’s – Gr 7’s

  • Understanding the good, the bad and the ugly when using: Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube, including examples.
  • Profiling of an online predator, how they find you, meet you and how to avoid becoming a victim
  • Cyber bullying, the definition, reporting and helping a friend
  • Playing the selfie game, keeping a clean cyber image
  • The Cybercrimes Act  – even children can be sent to jail
  • The dangers of Pornography and selfies
  • The golden rules to keeping safe in cyber space

Cyber Safety Production for High School Learners

  • Understanding the good, the bad and the ugly when using: Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube, including examples.
  • Profiling of an online predator, how they find you, meet you and how to avoid becoming a victim
  • Cyber bullying, the definition, reporting and helping a friend
  • Playing the selfie game, keeping a clean cyber image
  • The Cybercrimes Act  – even children can be sent to jail
  • The dangers of Pornography and selfies
  • The golden rules to keeping safe in cyber space
  • The damage that your profile can do to your university application
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Challenges facing teens

in progress

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Bullying for Learners

in progress

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Teen Sexuality

in progress

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Workshops for Parents

Challenges facing parents H/S

in progress

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Drugs and Alcohol Parents

In Progress

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Cyber Safety for Parents

Learner Cyber Safety Talks for Primary and High School Learners: presented by John Buswell

(These productions can be used by teachers, in the classroom, online, at any time, for years to come.)

Introduction

South African learners have increased their online time spend by over 400% in the last two years following the outbreak of COVID-19, subsequent lock downs and online classes. This increase in “screen time” has exposed both primary and high school learners to different risks, including cyberbullying, sexual grooming, the sharing of sexual content and gaming addiction.

In a recent study by the World Economic Forum, it was found that 62% of South African Children have been exposed to at least one cyber risk. 55% of children polled were victims of cyber bullying, 11% had chatted to a stranger online and 18 % had engaged in online sexual behaviour. These statistics place South Africa in the top 10 of the countries that are at risk out of the 29 countries polled.

The New Cybercrimes Act

Leaners who cyber bully, threaten or send pornographic pictures can be sentenced to 15 years imprisonment or a substantial fine or both.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the Cybercrimes Bill into law, bringing South Africa’s cybersecurity laws in line with the rest of the world. The bill, which is now an act of parliament, creates offences for and criminalises, amongst others, the disclosure of data massages which are harmful. Examples of such data messages include:

  • Those which incite violence or damage to property
  • Those which threaten persons with violence or damage to property
  • Those which contain an intimate image sent without the subject’s consent

A person who is convicted of an offence under the cybercrimes act is liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a period of up to 15 years or both.

Virtual Parent Talks

Book your virtual parent talk. Duration: 1 Hour Cost R2,000-00 Or (share with surrounding schools)

Some of the topics to be covered:

  • Understanding the good, the bad and the ugly when children make use of: Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Tiktok and YouTube.
  • Profiling of an online predator and the danger signs to look out for as parents.
  • Legal obligations for parents when it comes to the manufacture of child pornography using devices that they have provided as well as the new Criminal Cyber Communications Act
  • Defining Cyber Bullying and helping your child when they are a victim
  • Setting parental cyber guidelines for primary school learners
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