UK Safer Internet Centre Partner SWGfL Pilot A New Digital Wellbeing Tool

As part of their work for the UK Safer Internet Centre, SWGfL have released a pilot version of their digital wellbeing resource.

Helping and supporting young people in understanding and managing their own well-being as well as the choices they make online is essential and the reason why this resource was created.

By using the analogy of a car, and asking a young person to imagine they are in the driving seat, the tool will support them learning about their behaviour, their choices and will help them self-reflect.

Based on the Choice Theory of Behaviour by William Glasser, the tool supports young people aged 11-14 in learning about what determines and drives their behaviour. In addition, the tool will also have an interactive module which will allow young people to do self-reflection, understand their behaviour and come up with strategies for managing it in a positive way.

The Choice Theory identifies five basic needs that determine our behaviour – survival, love and belonging, self-worth, freedom and fun. The car’s engine represents these needs. Our behaviour is made up of four parts – like the wheels of a car. The front two wheels – doing and thinking – will steer our car in a given direction  and the back wheels – feeling and body signals follow . Therefore, how we behave, in other words what we feel, think, do and the way our body reacts, is determined by us trying to fulfil one of these five needs. ” Therefore, how we behave, what we feel, think, do and the way our body reacts, is determined by us trying to fulfil one of these five needs.

The resource is currently in beta development and SWGfL are piloting the e-learning module while continuing to develop the interactive app module. Whilst the resource is primarily designed to be used by young people themselves, we have included guidance for parents and professionals to support young people in using the resource.