Mental health with technology; where does it start? How is classroom technology impacting children’s addiction?
1)
When we say the internet, it is much bigger than just the web. There are millions of platforms we use with the internet. It is explained as “a new fertile ground where things can grow.” What stands out to me the most is that one author wrote that we search and search the web until we find answers we like to see, because the answers are endless. It was explained as a direct threat to ideology, the information we read about how toxic technology has become is scaring us, it makes us worried, but nobody is doing anything to change it. As an example, in workspaces, before we had the chance to access the internet, a large body was required to retrieve our information. Now we can just find information at the tip of our fingers. It allows us to be lazy, we don’t think differently necessarily, we think less.
https://www.edge.org/annual-question/how-is-the-internet-changing-the-way-you-think
Today, at least 2.87 billion people have smartphones, and this number is only increasing. The article talked about the technological campaign goals; awareness of addiction, tech awareness and encouraging further research. Technological awareness hoped to create public awareness and get attention to addiction to social media and technology. Another idea is to graduate new generations, to create a new curriculum. Education and schools are becoming revolved around technology. The tools we have are being used to our advantage, but are eliminating things that bring simple enjoyment for kids such as playing outside or riding bikes. Now further research is being encouraged to create a less technology revolved life that generations will grow up in.
The author referred to using the internet as “life in the wild”. It was explained that the internet lacks trust, accountability, and the four root causes are as followed; network effects, web inputs, the attention economy, and platform dynamics. Network effects create an issue because companies like google or apple get costumers and then continuously advance and improve their technology, making their buyers feel as if they have to keep buying the newest products. Next, web inputs is the idea of a personal, online “voodoo doll”. This doll remembers and stores all the videos, searches and information you have put into your phone or computer and it allows the database to create content that will draw in the users. The attention economy is also using data to keep the viewers and customers around long. The owners are always trying to find ways to keep the viewers engaged and attentive. Lastly, platform dynamics, this idea is fairly new to us viewers, but the creators have understood that new platforms have to be unique and very different to stand out.
https://singularityhub.com/2019/08/25/the-internet-is-a-force-of-nature-its-our-job-to-civilize-it/
The list of basic human needs is a display of the different ways technology can impact our lives; attention, mental health, relationships, democracy, children, do unto others. The internet has become so helpful, but also harmful. It can impact our lives in so many aspects such as the first example, depleting our attention span. I can admit for myself, my attention span is shortened because I constantly want to check my phone. This also impacts mental health, the reliance we have been taught to put on the internet has created so many mental health issues because we are addicted to acceptance on social media or the internet. These mental health issues can lead to ruining relationships. It can isolate us and create a wall where we are so absorbed with how we look online that we don’t focus on maintaining relationships around us. I believe that those are the ones with the largest impact on our current generation today.
https://ledger.humanetech.com/
2) Throughout reading these articles, I have consistently wondered one thing. If mental health and addiction is such a widespread concern relating to technology, why has it become more prominent in children’s lives? Even in places that we can control it, such as classrooms? It allows the children to become used to technology and reliant at such a young age.
4)
An article that I thought was very meaningful was the one discussing the ways to avoid addiction to technology. It discusses ideas like digital hygiene and digital etiquette. It puts an emphasis on the idea that parents teach their children etiquette such as always saying please and thank you, but what about online? In the direction our world is going, online etiquette is just as important as in person. This article also talked about establishing open communication for mental health. This topic was discussed at my table in class many times this week. We debated back and forth about if mental health was never talked about years ago, or if technology growth has gone hand in hand with mental health. The author also included a very important quote stating “Technology can certainly contribute to or exacerbate existing feelings, but it’s more important to teach healthy, balanced tech habits and maintain good communication with your children, instead of banning all technology use.” We are at a state where we aren’t sure who to point fingers at because technology can be both an advantage and disadvantage at times.
The question I had come up with in part 2, was very relative to this article. It discussed the opinions on technology in the classroom. This article was very interesting because it’s from the teachers perspective. 90% of teachers have access to the use of technology in the classroom, and of the 90%, a vast majority of them implement technology in their lessons every day. Teachers believe its useful because they allow more child engagement. It also allows for individualized work and the teacher can view their progress and share it with their parents. Although this 90% has the technology, and believes in the use of it, many of the teachers hope to improve and use devices more efficiently in the classroom.
5)
Before researching the idea of technology in the classroom, I believed that it had fed into children’s addiction to tablets and the internet, which is what many people are trying to avoid. What really changed my outlook on that idea, was the survey taken on over 800 teachers. I had a biased opinion coming into this, as my mom is a teacher and doesn’t believe in the religious use of technology in the classroom. But, the author explained why teachers supported it. The teachers can now individualize work, create progress reports immediately and it allows children to learn while they enjoy “playing” on the device. While I still think this creates an addiction, I also think it has strong improvements that can help children learn and develop while implementing the technology. I believe that this kind of technology can help rather than hurt because it’s used for learning rather than self-reassurance. This idea of technology at a young age can create the idea of it becoming reliant, which leads to mental health issues in later years.
6)
After reading these articles and exploring further into technology influencing mental health, I hope to improve the amount of technology I use on a daily basis. For me, I use technology in every class. On top of that, I use social media platforms and texts, alongside just searching the web. I can admit that addiction has been created through my daily routine with technology, and to improve this, I hope to limit myself and just use my technological resources for school while im going through my daily routine. When it did with my day, then allow myself to use social media. This will not only limit the amount of social media and the internet I use, but it will force me to not need that reassurance and acceptance I get from staying active on my social media, which is what I believe spurts mental health issues.
3) https://medium.com/thrive-global/will-technology-ruin-your-childrens-development-663351c76974
https://novakdjokovicfoundation.org/use-technology-early-childhood-classrooms/
https://www.childrens.com/health-wellness/is-technology-affecting-your-childs-mental-health
https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/using-technology-early-childhood-classroom/
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