The school counsellor and I recently ran a workshop for parents entitled 'weapons of mass distraction'. The theme was of course how to help students to reduce distractions when working on digital devices.
While we didn't have a huge turnout, we had some really positive discussions and the parents shared stories about how they are helping their kids avoid digital distractions. We also got the parents to reflect on their own digital distractions and how their distractions might effect how their kids see responsible and appropriate use.
While we might feel this is true, especially after learning how smart phones are designed to get us addicted.
It is not all doom and gloom.
We spoke about a few specific strategies, but the point of the conversation was cooperating and mentoring our students. We spoke about working with the students rather than enforcing strict rules or guidelines.
If we enforce rules on our kids that they don't agree to or buy into they wont own them or use them and will find ways around them.
Our main piece of advice was to work with our kids, help them to understand that there is no such thing as multi tasking or that auto play and infinite scrolling are designed to keep us on screen and suck us into the wormhole that the internet can be.
If our kids understand this and understand that there are apps and techniques to help them stay focussed they will be more likely to own their distractions, make an effort to stay on task and they will be the ones who choose to use the apps, extensions and websites that help avoid distractions.
When we combine this with good old fashioned parenting, i.e. consequences that we follow through with when guidelines or rules are ignored, we can help our kids to keep on task and be less distracted.
I recommend sharing some of these apps and settings with your teenage kids and letting them choose (with your guidance and cajoling) which to use and when to use them.
Set up these tool WITH your kids NOT FOR your kids
1. Parent controls on a Mac
These can be pretty restrictive, but do allow parents to set time limits, bed times (when the computer wont work) track internet activity and block particular apps and websites. For many this is seen as the nuclear option or option of last resort
how to set up parent controls
parent controls for iPhone, iPad or iPod
2. Self Control
https://selfcontrolapp.com/
3. Stay Focussed
Stay Focussed
4. Strict Workflow
Strict Workflow
5. Take a five
Another Chrome extension that allows you to take a break without falling into the internet rabbit hole. You select a time and then where you want to take your break. At the end of the time, the tab will automatically close and you will be prompted to get back to work.
What I like about #4 and #5 is that is programs breaks into working time, this still gives students the opportunity to check Youtube, snapchat etc and then get back to work. It takes into account kids needs and wants to get distracted while offering incentives and reminders to get back to work.
Here are some other articles and advice on how to help students minimise their online distractions
Here is the slideshow from the presentation.
Once again I can iterate enough that we should be helping kids to self impose / use these tools, they need to be responsible for their own acceptable / productive / distraction free use of technology. We want to give them skills for avoiding distraction for life, not just when we are around to enforce our rules on them.
Good luck and keep on fighting the good fight.
Feel free to add any comments or extra ideas below
No comments:
Post a Comment