Screen Use During Isolation

With students now at home rather than in classes a few days a week, parents have the added responsibility of monitoring screen usage. There's the obvious need to monitor and filter content, but let's embrace the opportunity to build character and life skills while we are at it!! 

Intentional Concentration
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Concentration, mental energy continuously directed towards something specific, is a crucial life skill which is rarely practiced nor intentionally developed. As students become accustomed to online conferencing lessons with teachers, distractions have drawn some of them away towards multi-tasking. Multi-tasking at the surface may seem to be a strength, and there are certain situations where it can be a strength, but research shows multi-tasking actually hinders learning. 

For this generation of digital natives, multi-tasking has become second-nature while concentration skills are lacking. 

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​Here's how you can encourage your students:​

• Set clear expectations. "The only window you may have open during class is your video conference window. No games, no email, no chatting, no texting. Let's strengthen your ability to focus."
• Students should always sit where the screen can easily be seen by other family members at a glance. 
• Install an internet filtering/monitoring system that allows you to check browser history to ensure they are focused on classes. Some filtering platforms allow you to check history from another room adding another level of accountability. ​​

Practice strengthening the concentration "muscles" with a few exercises. These could also be used to illustrate the need to strengthen those concentration skills! 

• Say your name silently (keeping eyes closed) over and over for 2 minutes straight. If you mess up or open your eyes, restart the timer. 
• Draw colored shapes on a paper for 15 minutes without stopping. If you stop, restart the timer. 
• Stare at a tree and name as many adjectives as you can for 2 minutes. Bonus points if you do not repeat any! 

Intentional Screen Time

We must help our students go beyond a black & white thinking about technology in order for them to be effective ambassadors in the digital culture they will find themselves navigating as adults. Simply setting a time limit will not teach students how to limit themselves. 

Essential questions about screens MUST become second nature:

• What is this specific use of screens moving me toward?
• Is it toward consumption and mindlessness or creating and learning?
• ​Is it pushing me away from relationships or helping me grow relationships?

Another way to evaluate screen time is to review the 5 lies of technology (Kathy Koch):

1. Does this teach me that I am the center of my own universe?
2. Does this teach me that I deserve to be happy all the time?
3. Does this teach me that I must have choices?
4. Does this teach me that I am my own authority?
5. Does this teach me that I do not need teachers because I have information?

Each challenge brings new opportunities for parents to redeem the struggle looking for ways to teach and model new skills and character traits. Comment below with any ideas that might help other parents with technology as we navigate this isolation adventure. 

Author: Julie Phipps, ACA Dean of Students