How does Body Confidence Affect Online Learning in Today’s Pandemic?
Our webinar on Wednesday, hosted by Martin Staniforth, offered us an introduction to the Dove Self Esteem project. He offered us an invaluable insight into how the ‘Confident Me’ workshops work and how they help young people around the ages of 10 to 14 years. You can watch the webinar above. Check out the Dove Self Esteem website now for their brilliant resources.
You may wonder how self-esteem, body image and body confidence links to access to Education for All. We have talked in great detail in other posts about the digital divide and how many children cannot access distance learning because of it.
But what about the young people who do have access to online learning. How is their access to education affected by this pandemic? We may have a tendency to assume that as long as young people have access to technology and data then they will be fine. But things are never that simple. There can be many obstacles to children accessing education, and we need to listen to them to find out what these are.
Many young people in the UK are learning from home via a laptop, and engaging in ‘Live Lessons’. My son is one of them. I have often watched the teacher tirelessly trying to generate enthusiasm for a topic – to a wall of icons. I mentioned that it must be hard for a teacher to teach to a wall of icons, and asked my son why he didn’t switch on the camera. He confidently told me that for privacy and protection measures it was not allowed. 2 weeks later an email from the school requested that children switch on their cameras to better engage with the teacher. I asked my son about this again, and he told me that no way would he have a camera on for the other kids to laugh at how he looks.
Now many of us adults have been working via video conference for at least several months now, and if were to be honest with ourselves we would have to say that it is a distraction having an image of ourselves on screen all day. “Gosh I look terrible today”, “My goodness I have an annoying twitch”, “look at you yawning again”. We are now confronted with a steam of awareness about how we look and what we are doing, which we didn’t have to think about before. It can be hard for us to adjust and learn to filter it out.
It can be harder for children to do this. Their generation is more aware than ever of how a screen image can be used. They are super aware of how they appear on screen and what others can and probably will do with some one’s screen image. As we saw in the Webinar children are bombarded with images about how people should look. They are subjected to more idealised images per day than any other generation before them.
And now, they have to look at themselves on screen all day?
Is it likely that they will have a stream of negative inner dialogue about how they look? Are they likely to be able to concentrate on lessons, with their self-esteem crashing to the ground around them?
We may not be able to do much at this stage about the over saturation of Images of Perfection that they are subjected to on social media. But we can at least educate them to learn to read these images with more self- awareness. To ask the right questions that will help them to navigate the world they find themselves in.
And this is exactly what Martin does and shows us, in the ‘Confident Me’ workshop. It is the perfect antidote to the trials of how to learn online and navigate the complex world of seeing yourself on the screen as you work, and yet concentrate on a lesson. Or it will help the teachers to understand the reluctance to students switching on their cameras.
The more time young people have to spend online, the more we have to teach them how to navigate the pitfalls, as well, of course as celebrating the benefits.
There are many new areas for teachers to learn about, navigate and find solutions for, now more than ever. A fortiori, being asked to watch themselves in a screen mirror all day, surely Body Confidence is an absolute must to tackle right now.
Here is a link to the Dove Self Esteem website where teachers can find resources to run these workshops and start having an essential conversation with their students.
We hope you enjoyed this webinar, please have a look at the other webinars we are doing, and share them with your network so that your friends can benefit too.
Steve Sinnott Foundation Life Long Learning Webinars (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-steve-sinnott-foundation-31041261381)
Thank you for reading, please tell us in the comments bellow – how do you feel about video conferencing? What’s great about it, and what’s your challenge with it?
The Steve Sinnott Foundation • January 19, 2021
A moment to be proud of and a reminder of why young people’s voices matter. Today, artwork created by students from UNESCO ASPnet UK schools on the theme of peace was presented to Pope Leo XIV at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, alongside artwork from young people in other countries. What an amazing opportunity for our students to have their creativity, ideas and hopes represented on an international stage. For me, this is what UNESCO ASPnet is about: creating opportunities for young people to connect across cultures, express themselves creatively, learn from one another and imagine a better future together. The power of young people’s creativity: their voices being part of an international conversation about education, peace, culture and our shared future. UNESCO’s programme for Pope Leo XIV’s visit specifically focused on education, artistic creation, AI, information integrity and peace. The work was part of a mural that brings together 80 original creations marking UNESCO’s 80th anniversary, produced as part of the "International Youth for Peace" competition organized by France TV and UNESCO.
Most of us want to leave the world a little better than we found it. Whether that's through the people we love, the values we pass on, or the causes we care about, we all hope our legacy will make a difference. One of the simplest ways to do that is by writing a will. This autumn, we are proud to be taking part in the Change Starts with a Will campaign, allowing our supporters to write or update their will free of charge through our trusted partner, Octopus Legacy. Why writing a will matters Writing a will isn't just about deciding who inherits your possessions. It's about making sure your wishes are respected and providing peace of mind for the people you care about. Having a will means you can: Protect the people you love. Make important decisions about your estate. Reduce uncertainty for your family. Leave a lasting gift to a cause that reflects your values. Many people put off writing a will, believing it's something to think about later in life. In reality, it's one of the most important documents you'll ever create. A legacy that supports education Steve Sinnott dedicated his life to championing education as a fundamental human right. His belief was simple but powerful: every child deserves the opportunity to learn, and every teacher deserves the support they need to inspire future generations. Today, we continue that mission by working with partners across the world to improve access to quality education, strengthen teaching and support communities where education can change lives. When you choose to leave a gift in your will to The Steve Sinnott Foundation, you're helping ensure that this work can continue for years to come. After taking care of family and friends, even a small gift could help provide learning opportunities, strengthen education systems and create brighter futures for generations to come. A gift that lasts beyond a lifetime Legacy gifts play an important role in helping charities plan for the future. Your support could help us continue investing in sustainable education projects, supporting teachers and ensuring more children have access to the education they deserve. It's a powerful way to ensure your values live on long into the future. Write your will for free As part of our Autumn 2026 campaign, we're offering supporters the opportunity to write or update their will free of charge through Octopus Legacy. There is no obligation to leave a gift to The Steve Sinnott Foundation, but we hope you'll consider remembering us after you've taken care of those closest to you. Together, we can continue Steve Sinnott's vision of a world where education changes lives. Find out more If you've been thinking about writing your will, there's never been a better time. Our free will service is available until 31 October 2026 , making it easy to protect the people you love while considering the lasting impact your legacy could have on education worldwide. https://octopuslegacy.com/online-will?channel=partner Change starts with a will. And together, we can help create a future where education is accessible to everyone.
Seeds of Hope are everywhere! “I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I arrived at Stage at the Lake…” But it was special to meet all of the Calderdale team in person, who had brought this four-day event together so successfully. Sometimes an event stays with you long after the final performance has finished. My visit to Stage at the Lake at the beautiful Shibden Hall in Calderdale was one of those occasions. As UNESCO ASPnet UK Coordinator, I was delighted to be invited as a guest, but what I experienced was much more than simply attending an event. Here, in the grounds of a house steeped in history, the past, present and future seemed to meet. The English Chamber Orchestra filled the setting with music, Northern Ballet brought movement and storytelling to life, and throughout there was a wonderful sense of creativity, community and possibility. And then there were the parklets; a unique gardening festival at Shibden Park celebrating community, creativity and the power of nature to bring people together. At its heart was a specially commissioned trail of ten micro show gardens, designed and built by community groups from across Calderdale. It was wonderful to see spaces where ideas, conversations and creativity were flourishing and connecting through Seeds of Hope. I cannot wait to see them transported to their ‘forever homes’. Standing there, I found myself thinking about what we mean when we talk about education, culture and hope.
