Digital Media Literacy · 1st Year

Active learning ideas

Digital Wellbeing and Screen Time

Digital wellbeing focuses on the relationship between technology use and personal health. For 1st Years, this means looking at how algorithms are designed to keep them scrolling and how this affects their sleep, mood, and concentration. The NCCA curriculum emphasizes self-reflection and the development of personal strategies for a balanced life. This topic is particularly relevant in Ireland, where concerns about the 'always-on' culture and its impact on youth mental health are frequently discussed in the media and school communities.

• NCCA Curriculum Specifications
• LO 1.5: Reflect on the impact of digital media on their wellbeing
• LO 1.6: Identify strategies to manage screen time effectively

• 15–40 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Think-Pair-Share
• 15 min · Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: The Notification Audit

Students check their phone's 'Screen Time' or 'Digital Wellbeing' settings to see which apps send the most notifications. They discuss with a partner which ones are helpful and which are just distractions.

How does screen time affect my mood and sleep?

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 02

• Collaborative Problem-Solving
• 30 min · Small Groups

Collaborative Problem-Solving: The Sleep Sanctuary

Groups are tasked with designing the 'ultimate tech-free bedroom.' They must come up with five practical rules or physical changes (like a charging station in the kitchen) to improve sleep quality.

What are healthy digital habits?

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Relationship Skills
• Decision-Making
• Self-Management

Activity 03

• Formal Debate
• 40 min · Whole Class

Formal Debate: Is Social Media Designed to be Addictive?

The class is split into two sides to debate whether tech companies have a responsibility to limit screen time or if it is entirely up to the user. They must use terms like 'dopamine' and 'infinite scroll' in their arguments.

How can I balance my online and offline life?

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Decision-Making

A few notes on teaching this unit

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• Screen time is only 'bad' if you are on social media.

  Students often think educational use or gaming doesn't 'count.' Through a collaborative sorting activity, teachers can help students see that the physical impact (posture, eye strain) and the displacement of sleep apply to all types of screen use.

• I can multi-task effectively with my phone next to me.

  Research shows the 'brain drain' effect of even a silent phone. Using a simple classroom experiment (solving a puzzle with and without a phone nearby) can demonstrate to students how much their focus is actually split.

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Methods used in this brief

• Think-Pair-Share
• Collaborative Problem-Solving
• Formal Debate