Virtual trainings provide upstream violence prevention in schools

An estimated 962,300 violent incidents occurred in U.S. public schools during the 2017-2018 school year (71% of schools reported at least one violent incident), and 1 in 5 students report being bullied on school property.

Safe and supportive schools are crucial to the healthy development and well-being of children and youth. Districts and schools are directing efforts to help prevent violence, but many of these efforts focus on crisis intervention: responding to a threat of gun violence, for example. Or they train teachers in responding to violence while neglecting to address the root cause of violence in the first place. While we know teachers play an important role and crisis intervention is essential, more is needed to truly address the root problem. Those that take a community-based, upstream approach broaden the net and align the entire school community in improving school climate.

Keep reading to learn why violence prevention isn’t just a teacher’s role, and explore our suite of online simulations that bring the entire school community in alignment to help combat school violence.

Violence prevention isn’t just a teacher’s role

Violence prevention in schools is a big topic; too big to assign to teachers alone, or even the students themselves. There are layers of causes and risk factors that contribute to school violence including bullying, school, and family environments.

Students spend a large portion of their time in schools. Sometimes, they spend more time in school than with their own family members. Clearly, educators play a critical role in their development. They can recognize warning signs, have meaningful conversations, and intervene or make referrals when needed. Students can support themselves and one another by learning coping skills and conversation strategies. Parents should be able to have open, honest conversations with their children in order to support them through difficult situations.

Our Violence Prevention Suite takes a community approach

Kognito’s Violence Prevention Suite takes a unique and comprehensive approach to addressing school violence. The suite is a result of a collaboration between experienced teachers, child psychologists, and childcare experts, and uses evidence-based models and techniques, game mechanics, and key learning and assessment principles to ensure learners stay engaged. Aligned to the CASEL Core Competencies, this collection of five interactive, online simulations supports three audiences: faculty and staff, students, as well as parents/caregivers and the community.

Professional development for faculty & staff

Safe & Caring Schools for Educator & Staff (30 mins)

Educators play a critical role in identifying behaviors of concern among their students. Safe & Caring Schools for Educators & Staff provides the opportunity to role-play a scenario in which a student approaches her teacher with concern about a classmate. Educators and staff will learn how to help this student share what she heard through conversation and help her understand the importance of talking with a trusted adult.

Learning objectives:

• Understand the positive role educators play in the lives of their students
• Analyze ways to talk to an adolescent that helps them to open up
• Recommend appropriate actions when you hear something of concern
• Identify behaviors of concern including bullying, harassment, self-harm, and threats

Learn more about Safe & Caring Schools for Educators & Staff >>

Bullying Prevention for Educators & Staff (30-40 mins)

In this interactive simulation, educators practice reflecting on their role in fostering a safe and caring school, recognize that a student may be in distress, understand potential resources for support, and engage in a caring conversation in a safe practice environment.

Learning objectives:

• Understand the positive role educators play in the lives of children
• Recognize the role of educators in fostering a safe and caring school climate
• Analyze ways to talk to an adolescent that helps them to open up
• Recommend appropriate actions where you hear something of concern
• Identify behaviors of concern including bullying, harassment, self-harm and threats

Learn more about Bullying Prevention for Educators & Staff >>

Student curriculum

Friend2Friend: Safe & Caring Schools (15 mins)

This simulation helps students in grades 6-12 identify their emotions as well as the emotions of others as they relate to bullying, harassment, self-harm, and threats. In this interactive role-play simulation, students practice a scenario-based conversation with another student in distress. The goal is to teach students how to refer their peers to the appropriate support resources.

Learning objectives:

• Identify own and others’ emotions as they relate to bullying, harassment, self-harm, and threats
• Recognize when a peer’s actions or statements need to be shared with adults
• Feel comfortable and empowered to share concerns with an adult
• Investigate ways to encourage a peer in distress to open up to a trusted adult

Learn more about Friend2Friend: Safe & Caring Schools >>

Friend2Friend: Bullying Prevention (25 mins) – Coming Soon

Bullying prevention is a core topic for schools and districts as they build safe and inclusive school environments that foster an individual student sense of belonging and connectedness to improve physical and emotional safety. This simulation—which will be available in December 2022—strives to impart the knowledge, skills, strategies, and mental health support to students in grades 6-12 around bullying they might encounter personally or within their school.

Learning objectives:

• Identify bullying and cyberbullying, their effects and what contributes to it
• Choose appropriate strategies for responding to bullying while staying safe
• Explain how to use upstander strategies
• Explain how to use additional strategies to disrupt factors that contribute to bullying
• Apply knowledge to create plans for disrupting factors that contribute to bullying
• Build relationships with diverse individuals/groups

Parent/caregivers & community

Safe & Caring Schools for Parents & Caregivers (7-10 mins)

Parents and caregivers are an essential part of the school ecosystem. Safe and Caring Schools for Parents & Caregivers is designed to foster a supportive school community through open communication between students and adults. This learning experience focuses on identifying bullying and cyberbullying and provides valuable tips and strategies for parents and caregivers on response strategies.

Learning objectives:

• Understand the positive role they play in the lives of their children
• Analyze ways to talk to an adolescent that help them to open up
• Recommend appropriate actions when you hear something of concern
• Identify behaviors of concern including bullying, harassment, self-harm, & threats

Learn more about Safe & Caring Schools for Parents & Caregivers >>

Experience the power of virtual simulation

We believe in the power of practice-based learning. The more students, teachers, parents and caregivers can practice these skills, the more successful they will be in cultivating safer schools. Kognito has been instrumental in providing training to over 1.5 million educators, administrators, students, and their communities. We invite you to join us.

Learn more about our Violence Prevention suite for educators, students, and caregivers at Kognito.com. Or better yet, experience the power of simulation by requesting a demo.