Main Article Content
Abstract
The SETTE training course for teachers and educators on sexuality education addresses a critical gap in the Italian education system, aiming to provide scientifically accurate and inclusive training. This article presents the course's design, content, and methodology, developed as part of the European UNI-T project using the Blended Learning (BL) model to enhance accessibility and engagement. Structured across seven modules, the course equips teachers and educators with essential tools for addressing complex topics such as sexual identity, relationships and consent, homolesbobitransphobia, and sexual rights. Each module combines evidence-based knowledge with reflective practices, fostering personal and professional growth and preparing teachers and educators to cultivate inclusive, respectful, healthy, safe, and informed school environments. The anticipated outcomes include enhanced competencies, awareness of the importance of a gender-based perspective, and greater sensitivity to disabilities, neurodivergences, and individual differences. Additionally, it aims to establish a foundation for a respectful, human rights-oriented approach to sexuality education that is crucial in today’s digital and social contexts. The conclusions highlight the SETTE course’s potential to promote student well-being, gender equality, and critical digital literacy, contributing to a more inclusive school culture and supporting teachers and educators in addressing evolving societal challenges.
Keywords
Article Details

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
The author declares that the submitted to Journal of e-Learning and Knowledge Society (Je-LKS) is original and that is has neither been published previously nor is currently being considered for publication elsewhere.
The author agrees that SIe-L (Italian Society of e-Learning) has the right to publish the material sent for inclusion in the journal Je-LKS.
The author agree that articles may be published in digital format (on the Internet or on any digital support and media) and in printed format, including future re-editions, in any language and in any license including proprietary licenses, creative commons license or open access license. SIe-L may also use parts of the work to advertise and promote the publication.
The author declares s/he has all the necessary rights to authorize the editor and SIe-L to publish the work.
The author assures that the publication of the work in no way infringes the rights of third parties, nor violates any penal norms and absolves SIe-L from all damages and costs which may result from publication.
The author declares further s/he has received written permission without limits of time, territory, or language from the rights holders for the free use of all images and parts of works still covered by copyright, without any cost or expenses to SIe-L.
For all the information please check the Ethical Code of Je-LKS, available at http://www.je-lks.org/index.php/ethical-code
References
- Ang C. T., Lee L. W. (2017), Psychometric characteristics of a sexuality education survey for teachers of secondary school students with learning disabilities in Malaysia, Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs, 17(3), 198-204. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-3802.12378
- Balter A. S., van Rhijn T., Davies A. W. J. (2018), Equipping early childhood educators to support the development of sexuality in childhood: identification of pre- and post-service training needs, Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 27(1), 33-42. https://doi.org/10.3138/cjhs.2017-0036
- Basch C. E. (2011), Healthier students are better learners: a missing link in school reforms to close the achievement gap, Journal of School Health, 81(10). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2011.00632.x
- Blazar D., Kraft M. A. (2017), Teacher and teaching effects on students’ attitudes and behaviors, Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 39(1), 146-170. https://doi.org/10.3102/0162373716670260
- Brouskeli V., Sapountzis A. (2017), Early childhood sexuality education: future educators’ attitudes and considerations, Research in Education, 99(1), 56-68. https://doi.org/10.1177/0034523717740149
- Bruno V. (2024), Educazione sessuale in Italia: mezzo secolo di preliminari, Rivista di Sessuologia, 48(2), 147-163.
- Bruno V., Baiocco R., Pistella J. (2024), Teachers’ attitudes and opinions toward sexuality education in school: a systematic review of secondary and high school teachers, American Journal of Sexuality Education, 1-39. https://doi.org/10.1080/15546128.2024.2353708
- Carmichael N., Amiri A. (2024), Sexuality education for school-aged children and adolescents: a concept analysis, Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing, 29, e12436. https://doi.org/10.1111/jspn.12436
- CDC (2010), Health-risk behaviors and academic achievement. URL: https://www.cde.state.co.us/sites/default/files/documents/healthandwellness/download/yrbs_overview.pdf
- Coyle K. K., Chambers B. D., Anderson P. M., Firpo-Triplett R., Waterman E. A. (2019), Blended learning for sexual health education: evidence base, promising practices, and potential challenges, Journal of School Health, 89(10), 847-859. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12821
- Decker M. J., Harrison S., Price M., Gutmann-Gonzalez A., Yarger J., Tenney R. (2022), Educators’ perspectives on integrating technology into sexual health education: implementation study, JMIR Human Factors, 9(1), e31381. https://doi.org/10.2196/31381
- Döring N. (2021), Sex education on social media, in A. D. Lykins (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Sexuality and Gender (pp. 1-12), Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59531-3_64-1
- du Mérac E. R., Borghese M. C., La Delfa, P. (2022), open badge educativi: linguaggi e pratiche dell’arte in ambito educativo e di formazione, in P. Lucisano, A. Marzano (Eds.), Convegno Internazionale SIRD: Quale scuola per i cittadini del mondo? A cento anni dalla fondazione della Ligue Internationale de l’Éducation Nouvelle (pp. 973-984), Pensa MultiMedia srl.
- du Mérac E. R., Gallotta M. C., Favella, A. (2024). Insights into teacher competency assessment: the open badge edu framework, 18th Annual Conference of the TEPE Network Innovation in teacher education: sustainable change & evaluating impact at macro, meso and micro level, Aix-en-Provence.
- Epps B., Markowski M., Cleaver K. (2023), A rapid review and narrative synthesis of the consequences of non-inclusive sex education in UK schools on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning young people, The Journal of School Nursing, 39(1), 87-97. https://doi.org/10.1177/10598405211043394
- Fernández E. G., Bedía R. C., Cerdá M. E. (2016), The media and the symbolic violence against women, Revista Latina de Comunicación Social, 71, 818-832. https://doi.org/10.4185/RLCS-2016-1122en
- Formby E., Donovan C. (2020), Sex and relationships education for LGBT+ young people: lessons from UK youth work, Sexualities, 23(7), 1155-1178. https://doi.org/10.1177/136346079888432
- FoSE (2020), National sex education standards: core content and skills, K-12, 2nd ed. URL: https://siecus.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/NSES-2020-2.pdf
- Gamba C. (2020), "Starting at home": teacher repositioning around ESI from a teacher training device, Revista de Education, 2(32), 71-81. https://doi.org/10.37177/UNICEN/EB32-332
- Garrison D. R., Kanuka, H. (2004), Blended learning: uncovering its transformative potential in higher education, Internet and Higher Education, 7(2), 95-105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iheduc.2004.02.001
- Goldfarb E. S., Lieberman L. D. (2021), Three decades of research: the case for comprehensive sex education, Journal of Adolescent Health, 68(1), 13-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.07.036
- Graham C. R., Allen S., Ure D. (2003), Blended learning environments: a review of the research literature, Brigham Young University.
- Hakoköngäs E. (2017), Visual collective memory: a social representations approach, [Doctoral Dissertation], University of Helsinki. URL: https://helda.helsinki.fi/server/api/core/bitstreams/45d9990c-e2a1-43c0-b237-bfddbb1ca776/content
- Halliwell E., Yager Z., Paraskeva N., Diedrichs P. C., Smith H., White P. (2016), Body image in primary schools: a pilot evaluation of a primary school intervention program designed by teachers to improve children's body satisfaction, Body Image, 19, 133-141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2016.09.002
- Hanass-Hancock J., Nene S., Johns R., Chappell P. (2018), The impact of contextual factors on comprehensive sexuality education for learners with intellectual disabilities in South Africa, Sexuality and Disability, 36, 123-140. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-018-9526-z
- Hawkins S. S. (2024), Expansion of comprehensive sexuality education, Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 53(1), 14-25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2023.11.011
- Healy-Cullen S., Morison T., Taylor J. E., Taylor K. (2024), What does it mean to be ‘porn literate’: perspectives of young people, parents and teachers in Aotearoa New Zealand, Culture, Health & Sexuality, 26(2), 174-190. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2023.2194355
- Heels S. W. (2019), The impact of abstinence-only sex education programs in the United States on adolescent sexual outcomes, Perspectives, 11(3), 1-14. URL: https://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1114&context=perspectives
- Hoefer S. E., Hoefer R. (2017), Worth the wait? The consequences of abstinence-only sex education for marginalized students, American Journal of Sexuality Education, 12(3), 257-276. https://doi.org/10.1080/15546128.2017.1359802
- IPPF (2010), IPPF framework for comprehensive sexuality education (cse). URL: https://www.ippf.org/sites/default/files/ippf_framework_for_comprehensive_sexuality_education.pdf
- IPPF (2016), Sexuality education and sustainable development: opportunities for EU development cooperation. URL: https://europe.ippf.org/resource/sexuality-education-and-sustainable-development-opportunities-eu-development-cooperation
- IPPF (2017), Deliver+enable toolkit: scaling-up comprehensive sexuality education (cse). URL: https://www.ippf.org/sites/default/files/2018-03/IPPF%20Deliver%20and%20Enable%20-%20CSE%20Toolkit.pdf
- IPPF (2018), Sexuality education in Europe and Central Asia: state of the art and recent developments. An overview of 25 countries. URL: https://healtheducationresources.unesco.org/library/documents/sexuality-education-europe-and-central-asia-state-art-and-recent-developments
- Jiménez-Ríos F. J., González-Gijón G., Martínez-Heredia N., Amaro Agudo A. (2023), Sex education and comprehensive health education in the future of educational professionals, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(4), 3296. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043296
- Klein S. (2021), Dialogues between physical education teaching training and comprehensive sexual education act: tensions, discussions, continuities, and discontinuities from the perspective of undergraduates from ISEF N°2 Federico W. Dickens, Buenos Aires, Educación Física y Ciencia, 23(1), e157. https://doi.org/10.24215/23142561e157
- Kumar P., Kumar A., Ramachandran M. (2021), Blended learning models for higher education in the post-COVID-19 era, Journal of Educational Technology, 20(1), 31-45.
- Lameiras-Fernández M., Martínez-Román R., Carrera-Fernández M. V., Rodríguez-Castro Y. (2021), Sex education in the spotlight: what is working? systematic review, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(5), 2555. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052555
- Lucisano P., Salerni A. (2002), Metodologia della ricerca in educazione e formazione, Carocci editore.
- Lyon P. (2020), Using drawing in visual research: materializing the invisible, in L. Pauwels, D. Mannay (Eds.), The Sage Handbook of Visual Research Methods (pp. 297-308), Sage.
- Martikainen J. (2020), Visual representations of teachership: a social representation approach, [Doctoral Dissertation], University of Eastern Finland. URL: file:///C:/Users/valer/Downloads/Visualrepresentationsofteachership-Asocialreprsentationsapproach.pdf
- Martikainen J., Hakoköngäs E. (2023), Drawing as a method of researching social representations, Qualitative Research, 23(4), 981-999. https://doi.org/10.1177/14687941211065165
- Miedema E., Le Mat M. L. J., Hague F. (2020), But is it comprehensive? Unpacking the ‘comprehensive’ in comprehensive sexuality education, Health Education Journal, 79(7), 747-762. https://doi.org/10.1177/0017896920915960
- Moscovici S. (2008), Psychoanalysis: its image and its public. Polity.
- Nikkelen S. W. C., Van Oosten J. M. F., Van Den Borne M. M. J. J. (2020), Sexuality education in the digital era: intrinsic and extrinsic predictors of online sexual information seeking among youth, The Journal of Sex Research, 57(2), 189-199. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2019.1612830
- O’Farrell M., Corcoran P., Davoren M. P. (2021), Examining LGBTI+ inclusive sexual health education from the perspective of both youth and facilitators: a systematic review, BMJ Open, 11, e047856. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047856
- Osborn C., Frank J., Kinsella A., Koopman Gonzalez S., Trapl E. S. (2019), Youth data brief: sexual risk behaviors and academic achievement in Cuyahoga County, Prevention Research Center for Healthy Neighborhoods at Case Western Reserve University. URL: https://prchn.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Academic-Achievement-and-Sexual-Risk-Behavior-HS-and-MS-Cuy-20192.pdf
- Petruccelli F. (2002), L’educazione sessuale, in C. Simonelli (Eds.), Psicologia dello sviluppo sessuale ed affettivo (pp. 221-233), Carocci editore.
- Pizzi E., Spinelli A., Andreozzi S., Battilomo S. (2019), Progetto “studio nazionale fertilità”: i risultati delle of cinque indagini, Istituto Superiore di Sanità.
- Plan International (2020a), Putting the c in cse: standards for content, delivery and environment of comprehensive sexuality education. URL: https://plan-international.org/publications/comprehensive-sexuality-education-programme-standards/
- Plan International (2020b), Plan international’s comprehensive sexuality education (cse) standards. URL: https://plan-international.org/publications/comprehensive-sexuality-education-programme-standards/
- Plan International (2020c), Comprehensive sexuality education topics: what to cover from early childhood-18+. URL: https://plan-international.org/publications/comprehensive-sexuality-education-programme-standards/
- Putri G. A. B. A. (2022), Sex education in elementary school to prevent sexual abuse of children, Progres Pendidikan, 3(1), 7-11. https://doi.org/10.29303/prospek.v3i1.220
- Rossi R., Eleuteri S., Simonelli C. (2019), APPENDICE – la formazione in sessuologia clinica, in C. Simonelli, A. Fabrizi, R. Rossi, F. Tripodi (Eds.), Sessuologia Clinica: Diagnosi, trattamento e linee guida internazionali (pp. 245-251), FrancoAngeli.
- Sammut G. (2015), Attitudes, social representations and points of view, in G. Gaskell, G. Sammut, J. Valsiner, E. Andreouli (Eds.), The Cambridge Handbook of Social Representations (pp. 96-112), Cambridge University Press.
- Schneider M., Hirsch J. S. (2020), Comprehensive sexuality education as a primary prevention strategy for sexual violence perpetration, Trauma Violence Abuse, 21(3), 439-455. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838018772855
- Scott R. H., Smith C., Formby E., Hadley A., Hallgarten L., Hoyle A., Marston C., McKee A., Tourountsis D. (2020), What and how: doing good research with young people, digital intimacies, and relationships and sex education, Sex Education, 20(6), 675-691. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681811.2020.1732337
- Silva A. C. de M., Sei M. B., Vieira R. B. de A. P. (2021), Família, religião e educação sexual em mulheres com vaginismo: um estudo qualitativo, Revista Psicologia: Teoria e Prática, 23(3), 1-26. https://doi.org/10.5935/1980-6906/ePTPCP13276
- Thomas G. (2021), How to do your case study. Sage.
- UN (2015), Sustainable development goals, United Nations. URL: https://sdgs.un.org/goals.
- UNESCO (2018), International technical guidance on sexuality education: an evidence-informed approach. URL: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000260770
- UNESCO (2021), The journey towards comprehensive sexuality education: global status report. URL: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000379607
- UNESCO (2023), Comprehensive sexuality education (cse) country profiles. URL: https://www.unesco.org/gem-report/en/cse-country-profiles
- WHO (2010), Standards for sexuality education in Europe: a framework for policy makers, educational and health authorities and specialists. URL: https://www.bzga-whocc.de/en/publications/standards-for-sexuality-education/
- Wiefferink C. H., Poelman J., Linthorst M., Vanwesenbeeck I., van Wijngaarden J. C. M., Paulussen T. G. W. (2005), Outcomes of a systematically designed strategy for the implementation of sex education in Dutch secondary schools, Health Education Research, 20(3), 323-333. https://doi.org/10.1093/her/cyg120