As I move back into counseling, I am reading a great deal and gathering information from the research and the growing number of concerned voices. Parents, educators, and business leaders are a few of the groups voicing their concerns about technology use by our children and by adults. The following are a few articles, books, and sites that document this wave of concern. What jumps out at me is how schools are implementing plans to teach the habits of mind and character traits that can help students make healthy and productive choices around technology use.

On a related issue, there is also a wave building on the influence of technology companies in our society and our personal lives. A case in point is to stop and think about the encroachment of corporations into our homes to listen and record data 24/7. Think back a few years to ask if you would have allowed these devices into your home. It is a slow process as technology services and loss of privacy encroach into our lives.

On Point Radio> Show title: Can you balance screen time and family time? An author shares insights from her new book on parenting in the digital age.

The 1A Radio Show> Show title: #Distracted: Are Smartphones In Schools A Good Idea? A student, teacher, and head of school share insights about cell phone usage in schools.

Washington Post article> This simple solution to smartphone addiction is now used in over 600 U.S. schools.

Early Facebook and Google Employees Form Coalition To Fight What They Built> Good article with a link to the Center for Humane Technology created by the coalition.

Screen Schooled– Two Veteran Teachers Expose How Technology Overuse Is Making Our Kids Dumber> This book hammers the use of technology in schools. I read the book and will write a post on it, as the authors do an excellent job pointing to research and classroom experiences. What needs to be added to their reporting is how their school system provides personnel, training, and other resources to help guide their students to use technology and information resources in meaningful ways.

Wait Until 8th> Parents came together in a Texas town to pledge to give their children smartphones in 8th grade. The resources section lists helpful articles and books.

Common Sense Media> This well-known resource for parents and educators provides many strategies to help readers develop plans around using technology.

Parenting in the Digital Age> A slideshow listing guidelines that a counselor and I put together years ago for parenting workshops. The advice is still sound. The slides are all text going against good design, as we posted them to our website for parents to access. Many nice photos would not have informed parents as well as the text did. 🙂

 

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