2019 CAIS National Leaders Conference

45 minute session

This generation is the first to grow up in the digital world – with smartphones, social media, and an unfettered access to information. As educators, we first embraced digital tools and platforms which enabled us to collaborate, communicate, create, but are we not also obliged to prepare our students to deal with the adverse aspects of growing up online? These may include prolonged screen time leading to addiction, understanding “filter bubbles” and other machinations of social media, understanding how their personal data is collected and taking steps to protect it.

Our roundtable discussion will begin with research by Dr. Jean Twenge, and others, about the generational changes since the release of the iPhone, and the impact on our teens’ brains. Important questions to ask: How do we educate our students to be aware of the ill effects of too much screen time and give them tools that lead to a healthy balanced life? And: With so much of our students’ data stored in the US, what steps should we take to protect it?

We will share with each other programs and/or initiatives implemented to deal with these issues and discuss ways to help our students design and take control of their own digital lives.