Kerry J's List: RASA Mug 2012 Rationale

Technical standards for content

Designed to provide states, districts, online programs and other organisations with a set of quality standards for online teaching. I think there is a lot in this that applies to the VET sector.

The National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) are the standards for learning, teaching, and leading in the digital age and are widely recognized and adopted worldwide. The family of NETS—NETS for Students (NETS•S), NETS for Teachers (NETS•T), NETS for Administrators (NETS•A), NETS for Coaches (NETS•C), and NETS for Computer Science Teachers (NETS•CSE)–work together to transform education.

More an more counselling and connecting is being done online. Forums, chat rooms, SMS tips - it's about going where people are. This site aims to reach the HUGE percentage of young people with mental health issues that don't seek help through 'traditional' channels.

This UK site has forums, blogs and online information for couples and families.

The Online Therapy Institute provides a range of services including counselling in virtual worlds and online, web site templates for private therapists to be able to conduct e-counselling and more. Technology is becoming part of the profession. Preparing our learners to use it is vital to their careers.

Within online relationships, words, images, symbols and metaphors can take on great significance in the search for richer understanding, awareness and personal growth.  Studies investigating the effectiveness of online therapy have shown that writing in itself can be a therapeutic process and ‘gives people time to pause and reflect’ (Dr David Kessler in ‘The Lancet’).




At OCTIA 2012 we will be exploring the power of words and imagery in both the promotion and practice of online therapy and hearing from online therapists, trainers, and other professionals who work in this creative and rewarding field.