Answer, a division of the University's Center for Applied Psychology, has been a leading national organization focused on comprehensive sexual education for more than 25 years. Striving to stay with the times, their Sexuality Education Training Initiative will now offer its first online development course for health educators, according to the Answer Web site.
"Sexuality ABCs (Abstinence, Birth Control, and Condoms)" is the initial course being offered focusing on trends in adolescent sexual behavior, contraceptive options and laws pertaining to teen access of them, in addition to sample lesson plans and ways of addressing frequently asked questions from students.
Using the latest Internet technology, educators will have access to interactive and self-directed tools such as podcasts, animation, videos, discussion forums and interactive games.
At the conclusion of the course, health professionals will receive a certificate of professional development and gain six hours worth of credit from the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing.
For the 2,500-plus educators who attend annual teacher-training workshops, they will have the flexibility to complete the course in their own time and in the comfort of their home or workplace, according to the press release.
In the controversial sphere of sexual education, Answer's vision is for sexuality is to be better understood, respected, valued and celebrated, according to their Web site.
The courses work to inform educators with or without a professional sexual health background.
The effort is to give educators an opportunity for more knowledge and greater resources thus giving their students better information to make responsible decisions pertaining to their sexuality.
"Online Professional Development is an exciting area of growth for organizations like ours…and we are thrilled to offer this course to teachers," said Nora Gelperin, the director of training and education at Answer, in a press release. "We've given them the best of our trainings in a dynamic and user-friendly online format."
By providing honest and balanced information, the Answer staff is hoping to create a positive forum for sexual discussion in a nation where sexuality is present in many aspects of daily life.
Health educators throughout New Jersey and the United States have implemented the information and techniques learned through Answer and have seen positive results in the classroom.
"In the past, I have attended some of the workshops and had great results," said Geri Semenza, a health and physical education teacher at Holmdel High School. "I would definitely be interested in the online course because I could do it when I have the time, and because kids are so in-tune with the Internet, I would love to give them tools to further their education."
In addition to the training program, Answer offers the Teen-to-Teen Sexuality Education Project, an effort to bring adolescence together via their magazine, Sex Etc., and Web site, sexetc.org.
The magazine was founded in 1994 and has continued to use teen writers assisted by Answer staff to create a publication current with sexual issues facing young adults.
The award-winning Web site is visited by 15,000 teens a day and offers an "Ask the Experts" section, as well as chats, discussion forums and sexual health advocacy information.
"It is really great that there is a group out there centering their mission around teens, rather than adults because when you're in high school, there are definitely a lot of questions that come up and adults simply cannot relate," said Paul Lonigro, a Rutgers College senior. "I would think the online program will really help educators stay current with what is going on and give them a way to connect with teens on their level."
