Connecting Online Safely (Online Only)

March 27, 2023
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
at UBC Robson Square (map)

RSVP

About the Event

When youths want to turn socializing into screen time, parents often become concerned about online hazards — and all of this is understandable. We’re addressing these issues in our Online Safety and Digital Wellness series. Part one, “Preventing online harm,” looks at how to curb social media abuse and misuse. In this second part, three experts will help us explore this subject further. From the internet’s impact on development to fear of missing out (FOMO), join us in person or online to learn how youths can cope with and develop healthier approaches to social media, cyberbullying, and more.

This event will be online only. Register at the link above and you’ll be sent the link in advance of the event. Open to everyone. Registration is required.

Presented in partnership with UBC Faculty of Arts and UBC Faculty of Education.

Host

Jan Hare, PhD’01 — Dean pro tem, Faculty of Education
Jan Hare is an Anishinaabe scholar and educator from the M’Chigeeng First Nation, located in northern Ontario. As an Indigenous scholar and educator, she has sought to transform education in ways that are more inclusive of Indigenous ways of knowing and languages. She is researching the improvement of educational outcomes for Aboriginal/Indigenous learners by centering Indigenous knowledge systems within educational reform from early childhood education to post-secondary. This work recognizes the holistic and multidisciplinary nature of Indigenous education.

Moderator

Ahmed Masood (he/him/his) — UBC Bachelor of Kinesiology student in Neuromechanics and Physiological Sciences, minor in Commerce
In his fourth year, Ahmed Masood is majoring in Neuromechanical and Physiological Sciences in the School of Kinesiology at UBC, with a minor in Commerce. He is hoping to later enter the Faculty of Medicine. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he did community work at Surrey Memorial Hospital. He is currently pursuing research in spinal cord injury at the iCORD Lab, and volunteers in exercise rehabilitation with seniors. He serves as President of the Order of Omega, and has previously held positions of student governance, campus ambassadorship, and safety management at various organizations at UBC.

Speakers

Dr. Jenna Shapka (she/her/hers) — Head, Department of Educational Counselling and Psychology (ECPS), Faculty of Education
Dr. Jenna Shapka is a professor in Human Development, Learning, and Culture at UBC. As a developmental psychologist, Dr. Shapka is interested in identifying how contextual factors are contributing to developmental wellbeing for children and adolescents. She was one of the first researchers in Canada to examine the impact of the digital age upon kids. She is particularly interested in sociol-emotional and cognitive outcomes, and has published and presented on topics such as parenting and technology, cyberbullying, adolescents’ understanding of online privacy, and self-regulation of technology. She is a Killam award winner, and she earned her PhD at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto.

Dr. Johanna Sam, MSc’14, PhD’21 (she/her/hers) — sessional lecturer, NITEP, Indigenous Teacher Education Program, Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS)
Dr. Johanna Sam is a proud citizen of Tŝilhqot’in Nation. She currently lives and works on the traditional lands of the Musqueam People. She is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Education at UBC. Realizing the importance of a strength-based approach, she is involved in creating youth-friendly educational and mental health resources. Her research explores the relationships among cyber-aggression, resiliency, academic achievement, and wellness. Her research and teaching not only utilizes digital technology, but also approaches those digital tools from Indigenous perspectives.

Natasha Parent (she/her/hers) — doctoral candidate, ECPS, Faculty of Education
Dr. Johanna Sam is a proud citizen of Tŝilhqot’in Nation. She currently lives and works on the traditional lands of the Musqueam People. She is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Education at UBC. Realizing the importance of a strength-based approach, she is involved in creating youth-friendly educational and mental health resources. Her research explores the relationships among cyber-aggression, resiliency, academic achievement, and wellness. Her research and teaching not only utilizes digital technology, but also approaches those digital tools from Indigenous perspectives.

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