Active learning ideas
Digital Wellbeing and Screen Time addresses the physical, mental, and social impacts of our constant connection to technology. Students reflect on their own habits, examining the psychological hooks used by apps to keep users engaged. This topic aligns with the NCCA's focus on self-awareness and personal management, encouraging students to move from passive consumption to intentional use.
Activity 01
Students identify one app they use frequently and list the features that keep them coming back, such as streaks or notifications. They pair up to discuss if these features improve their wellbeing or just increase screen time.
How does excessive screen time affect our health?
Activity 02
Set up stations focused on different aspects of digital health: physical (posture/eyes), mental (focus/anxiety), and social (FOMO). At each station, groups trial a specific strategy, like a 20-20-20 eye rule or a notification audit.
What does it mean to have good digital wellbeing?
Activity 03
Groups research the impact of blue light and late-night scrolling on sleep cycles. They create a simple infographic or 'digital sunset' plan to share with the class, suggesting practical ways to disconnect before bed.
How can we create healthy digital habits?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Digital wellbeing just means spending less time on my phone.
It is about the quality of time spent and how it makes you feel, not just the quantity. Using a 'mood tracker' activity alongside screen time data helps students see that an hour of creative work feels different than an hour of mindless scrolling.
I can multitask effectively with my phone next to me while studying.
Research shows 'task-switching' significantly reduces focus and retention. A simple classroom experiment involving a short memory task with and without phone distractions can provide immediate, persuasive evidence to students.
Methods used in this brief
Digital Footprints and Identity
Students explore how their online actions create a permanent digital footprint. They examine the impact of this footprint on their personal and future professional identities.
8 methodologies
Online Communication and Netiquette
This topic investigates the various ways we communicate and collaborate using digital technologies. Students evaluate the appropriateness of different platforms and the rules of netiquette.
8 methodologies