TL/DR –
The University of Michigan has launched a Peer-to-Peer Digital Wellness class, addressing issues such as addiction, cyberbullying, and mental health problems caused by increased screen time. Partnering with Ann Arbor Public Schools, the course aims to educate students about digital practices, particularly focusing on the impact of device usage on mental and physical health. The program encourages long-term changes in habits and a healthy engagement with digital devices, and hopes to be replicated in schools across Michigan and the United States.
Digital Wellness Fosters Healthy Tech Habits in Middle Schoolers
Sixth-grader Sera Bergman admits that she, like many middle school students, finds it difficult to stop watching short social media videos once she starts. The addictive nature of these apps is a known design strategy, which has contributed to a rise in mental health issues among kids due to increased screen time. This is the focus of a new, unique Digital Wellness class at the University of Michigan (U-M).
The interprofessional course launched this semester in partnership with sixth-graders at Ann Arbor Public Schools. The aim is to provide real-world engagement about the importance of digital wellness in classrooms.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has seen a shift in social engagement to digital platforms, intensifying mental health issues among children. According to Liz Kolb, clinical professor of education at the Marsal Family School of Education, there’s a critical need to educate students about how to use screens in a healthy, balanced way.
The initiative evolved from a digital citizenship curriculum designed by Kolb, which originally focused on bullying, privacy and online safety. The digital wellness program now aims to engage kids in a broader conversation around the impact of device use.
This course takes a unique approach by giving young people scientific information about the effects of screen use on their health. Rather than just lecturing about digital safety, this program encourages young people to understand and change their habits.
The class includes 52 sixth-graders and 11 U-M students. The latter, who are undergraduate and graduate students from the Marsal School, School of Information and School of Social Work, receive internship credit for their participation.
Wanting Qian, a master’s student in education studies, says the course is appealing for its interdisciplinary nature and its practical application of theory. Qian believes the experience will enhance her understanding of trauma-informed practice and the impact of technology on learning across cultures and contexts.
The program is unique as it prioritizes digital wellness among middle school students. Muneer Khalid, an instructional consultant at the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching, notes the importance of educating kids about the emotional impacts of device use.
Researchers have found common ground between sixth-graders and college students regarding device use and mental health. They hope this digital wellness program can be replicated throughout Michigan and the United States.
One sixth-grader, Oliver Thomas, has learned that balance is key when it comes to technology use. He now recognizes that while technology isn’t inherently bad, it’s important to monitor usage, especially on social media platforms, to prevent increased anxiety and depression rates.
—
Read More US News