Digital Citizenship -- Digital Health and Wellness

This post builds on the ideas shared in the article "Nine Themes of Digital Citizenship".

Theme 8 of 9 is about digital health and wellness. Anyone who uses technology on a regular basis needs to be aware that there are both physical and psychological risks that come with technology use.

Physical risks can include things like eye strain, neck, back, and shoulder pain, and repetitive use injury. Click here to read an article that talks about some of the physical injuries kids experience as a result of tech use. And then here's another article that outlines some really odd injuries you could sustain while using technology! But, just like there are risks associated with anything we do but we do those activities anyway, we continue to use technology -- it would be unrealistic to just stop! What can we do to minimize physical risks for our students?

• Talk with kids about ergonomics -- explain to them and model for them how to sit in a chair while using a computer, how to position their hands, how to hold devices like an iPad or a mouse, and keep the screens far enough away from their faces.
• Limit screen time in class to only that which is required to complete school work.
• Give kids the opportunity to get up, walk around, look away from their screens, stretch their necks, backs, shoulders, or hands when having to work on an extended task on a computer.
• Listen carefully for noise emanating from kids' headphones while they are listening to something on their computer, and ask kids to turn volume down and remove headphones when someone is talking.
• Make sure kids have their devices closed when walking; looking at a screen while walking can lead to trips and falls or running into things like walls or other people -- not to mention potential damage to their Chromebooks!
• Encourage students to dim their screens enough to reduce glare or over-exposure but not too low that they can't see their screen easily.

In addition to physical risks, there are psychological risks as well. There are some people who find themselves "addicted" to technology, finding themselves compulsively checking their tech devices, even when they shouldn't be (in class when they are not supposed to be using their devices) or when it could be dangerous (walking in the hallway). And technology can also be used for nefarious purposes, like sexting, identity theft, and cyberbullying, making victims of these online issues feel alone, scared, isolated, angry, depressed -- almost any negative emotion you can think of. Check out this article that discusses some ways that social media use can have a negative impact on mental health. What can we do for our students to help them stay mentally well in the digital age?

• Be sure kids understand the emotional impact things like cyberbullying and online harassment can take on the victims. Helping kids develop empathy can go a long way!
• Use teachable moments as they arise, being mindful of the age of your students. When stories come up in the news or in discussion during class, use them as a springboard for discussion (What can you do if you know someone is being bullied online? What kinds of information should you not share online to keep your identity from being stolen? How would you feel if someone posted an embarrassing picture of you online?).
• Watch for the classic signs of trouble -- withdrawing socially, not wanting to be at school, being emotional or sensitive.

Having technology at kids' fingertips can make learning fun, engaging, and personally meaningful. But there is a possibility of too much of a good thing. Helping our students be aware of risks and helping them minimize risks when using technology is all just part of a day's work!