Cyberbullying on campus: policy and practice in a 'lawless' world.
Welcome to the latest Discovering Futures conference: Cyberbullying on campus: policy and practice in a 'lawless' world.
This is the first conference to discuss the phenomenon of cyberbullying in the post-18 education arena. Experts in the field of cyberbullying will contextualise cyberbullying with specific reference to the post-18 campus context, with the aim of helping you to understand and advance your knowledge of this new crime (whether it is referred to as cyberbullying, cyberstalking or cybercrime) and the growing threat this phenomenon poses to students and staff alike.
Cyberbullying is the term given to bullying carried out through electronic means such as mobile phones texts, social networking sites, email and chatrooms. Where it differs from the more traditional form of bullying is that for the person on the receiving end there is no escape. Often the perpetrators are anonymous and occasionally comments are posted about the bullied of which they have no knowledge.
A recent UK study found that 25 per cent of children and young people had been 'cyberbullied', feeling that there is no way out and nobody to help, some even contemplate suicide as the only way to escape. If this is the scenario for under-18s, what is happening in the post-18 arena? And this is not forgetting that teaching staff are also the subject of the bullies. Research studies carried out by our speakers show that bullying in the workplace is common.
Whatever your role within your institution, it is important that you have an understanding of this damaging phenomenon. This conference will discuss the causes and affects of cyberbullying along with some of the approaches available when identifying, managing and responding to the cyberbullies.
You will gain invaluable new insights into this under-explored, but rising scourge in our sector, and on the lives and experiences of those working or studying on campus; you will also discover some possible approaches and/or solutions when considering your response, be it through policy or practice, or both.
Why cyberbullying?
We have all heard about the rise of cyberbullying in schools where the bullies employ all the facilities which new technology has to offer. We therefore have a duty to understand how technology is being misused - we must not leave this complex and esoteric world to the younger generation.
New strategies are being implemented at local level via the Department for Children, Schools and Families, and LEAs; but what about those who are 18+ and still in education, as well as those who are employed on campus? The strategies strangely appear to be non-existent for adults and for those studying or working in our further and higher education institutions.
As more and more of us sign up to social networking, use email, or spend increasing amounts of time texting, we are making ourselves increasingly and unknowingly susceptible to having facts about us known more widely.
"Every technological innovation creates deviant as well as respectable behavior". (Edgley and Kiser 1981 p5)
Those in authority, or those who work with the victims, need to possess an understanding of the technology and the current regulation of cyberbullying so they can formulate appropriate policies and strategies to effectively guard against, and deal with, the fall-out from the actions of the cyberbullies.
Join us
Join the country's foremost experts on cyberbullying to gain invaluable new insights into this growing and harmful activity.
Our keynote speaker will be professor Michael Sheehan, Professor of Management and a Co-Director of Centre for Research on Workplace Behaviours, University of Glamorgan, who will speak on workplace bullying in higher education.
Key issues
Our speakers will spark debates on the most important challenges facing staff and students on campus.
Sessions cover:
- the sexy side of the internet
- bullying within Second Life
- legal aspects of cyberbullying
- regulation of cyberstalking
- use and abuse of phone technology
- managing your professional reputation
- the crime of cyberstalking, and
- a series of afternoon workshops where specific issues can be further developed and discussed.
