LAST BYTE UP FOR THE CHALLENGE

UP FOR THE CHALLENGE

Dr Phillip Moulds

Headmaster

We are challenged by the emotions technology stirs within our children and ourselves

We created CQ Digital Parenting last year at RGS as a tool for families to use to help navigate our increasingly dependent and complex digital lifestyles. In addition, we introduced RGS Positive Education, a whole-of-school programme that will grow over the next few years that will reinforce our founding principles which blend academic learning and wellbeing, enabling our students to be resilient and have a growth mindset.

As parents we need both resilience and a growth mindset. Technology changes, it seems, hourly, and we are challenged to keep up with its pace, think critically about it and manage the far-reaching and far-ranging influences it has on ourselves, our families and our communities.

We are equally challenged by the emotions technology stirs within our children and ourselves. The ‘on-hour’ rules that go out the window; tearful social media interactions; the throes of Fortnite; the inevitable conflicts that arise when technology fails to inform or entertain us in ways that are aligned with our expectations.

It feels once technology makes its way into our schools, work place or home – our habits -- it becomes unstoppable.

That may be, but it’s not unmanageable. We can moderate our use of and responses to technology by staying informed, educating ourselves and being open to change. Hype and frenzy, often by-products of technology, make it more difficult to have the rational discussions we need to have (with each other and our children) to ensure the overall role of, and our experience with, technology is positive.

In this publication and throughout RGS we are trying to bring together and highlight the best safety messages, tools and methods for you and your families to consider. Let us know how we’re doing by contacting us at digitalparenting@ rgs.qld.edu.au

PUBLICATION INFORMATION

The Rockhampton Grammar School takes seriously the challenge of preparing students for today’s world. We treat each student as a whole person through a balance of academic, sporting, co-curricular and social activities. Our School motto is Macte Virtute et Litteris or Grow in Character and Scholarship.

Capricornus Quarterly Digital Parenting is published by: The Rockhampton Grammar School Archer Street, Rockhampton QLD 4700, Australia www.rgs.qld.edu.au (+61) 07 4936 0600 ISSN 1839-4663 ©2019 The Rockhampton Grammar School

The views and opinions stated in this document are the authors’ own and not necessarily those of The Rockhampton Grammar School. The advice and information contained in this document is general in nature and does not take into account personal circumstances. The Rockhampton Grammar School accepts no responsibility for the results of any actions taken on the basis of information in this document.

Although every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of the information contained in this document, The Rockhampton Grammar School disclaims all liability for any error, inaccuracy, or omission from the information contained within.

Dr Phillip Moulds, Headmaster 07 4936 0615 headmaster@rgs.qld.edu.au

Enrolment enquiries 1300 GRAMMAR

The Registrar, Mrs Marissa Holloway 1300 GRAMMAR or 07 4936 0700 Fax 07 4936 0701 registrar@rgs.qld.edu.au Editorial & Advertising Mr Mike Donahue, Director Communications and Development 07 4936 0654 mdonahue@rgs.qld.edu.au

Mrs Rachael McDonald 07 4936 0776 rmcdonald@rgs.qld.edu.au

Mrs Ashleigh Harvey 07 4936 0667 aharvey@rgs.qld.edu.au

Contributor: Simon Harding

Printed by City Printing Works

About the contributor

Simon Harding writes for some of Australia’s largest companies on communications projects, marketing campaigns, technical documents and more. He has published two novels and is a frequent contributor to CQ Digital Parenting.