Skill Building
Good programs teach skills, not just information. We can tell a child that someone might make an inappropriate request online, for example, but what the child really needs are the skills to respond appropriately. Research shows that skills need to be taught through a structured process and practiced repeatedly, ideally with feedback. Key prevention skills include problem-solving, disengagement, de-escalation, managing emotions, knowing where and how to disclose, and responding as a bystander.
Different Ways to Train
Good programs engage students on the topic in various ways. It is not enough just to have students watch a film or listen to a lecture. Multiple learning modalities increase opportunities for understanding and retention. These can include drawing a picture or diagram, designing a skit, learning a song or poem, answering a multiple-choice questionnaire, explaining a chart or graphic, or watching a video or listening to a presentation. This variety supports different learning preferences and reinforces key messages.
Repeated Exposure
Prevention programs are more successful when they have more lessons, more message exposures, and more reminders and follow-ups. Research doesn't say exactly how much repetition is optimal. However, a single exposure or method like an assembly hall presentation, a film, play, or puppet show all by itself is unlikely to be effective.
Practice Opportunities
Successful programs give students a chance to practice a skill with each other and adopt a personal way of implementing it. For example, scenarios or skits in which a student needs to respond to an online post, disengage from an online chat, de-escalate a conflict between friends, or review the options open to them are ways to perfect the skills outlined in a program.