AMEP Beach Safety Modules

Beach safety has always been an important part of delivery in the Adult Migrant English Program, with its ultimate aim being drowning prevention through education. Migrants make up part of the at-risk group of drownings, and so including modules around beach safety as part of delivery is a logical choice.

AMES released an excellent resource in 1999, which linked to the then-current CSWE curriculum. This resource is free and includes important information on all aspects of beach safety. However, it has never been updated and since its release the curriculum has been reviewed and updated a number of times. In addition, the advent of educational technology in all classrooms highlights the need for engaging and innovative lesson content and delivery that incorporates technology in a meaningful way.

With this in mind, the four modules on beach safety were designed to provide essential information about beach safety, linking to the current curriculum, and allowing a delivery which integrates smartphone and online technologies.

Because the lessons are online, they can be updated as the curriculum changes, and they also allow teachers the space to be creative and make any changes to suit the needs of their own cohort.

There are four modules in this series. Each module, or lesson, starts with an interactive hyperdoc and comes with a variety of tasks and activities. For more information on hyperdocs and what they entail, click here.

All lessons have been designed using Google Slides and Google Docs, so teachers can easily make a copy of all lessons. There is the option of a wholly online delivery, or part online/part paper-based.

All of the lessons include virtual reality experiences, either using Google Expeditions or locally created content. If your classroom has VR boxes, students can download the app and have an immersive experience. Instructions on how to use Google Expeditions can be found in this site. If you don't have VR boxes, you can still view the expedition on a screen, but the experience will not be as immersive. Don't worry! We know the idea of teaching with VR is daunting! You can choose to omit this part, but have a look at the section on VR and practice - you'll be surprised how easy it is!

The Modules:

• Rip Currents: Students learn what a rip current is, how to identify them, and what to do if caught in a rip. There is a VR component in which students experience a rescue from a helicopter.

• Surf Lifesavers: Students learn about Tamarama Beach in Sydney, they learn about volunteer surf lifesavers and experience a day on patrol, either in 3D 360 immersive images with a VR box, or 2D 360 images on a screen.

• Marine Life: Students learn about 3 marine creatures in Australia: bluebottles, blue-ringed octopus and sharks. The lesson on sharks is in VR and students learn about common sharks in Australia's waters.

• Sun Safety and Signs: Students learn about hazard identification and the different kinds of signs at the beach. They also learn to be sunsmart and are encouraged to create posters using either Google Drawings or Adobe Spark. The VR component gives students an immersive experience of the skin system and what happens when skin is burnt.