Switch off to Switch On ?

For Secondary Schools

Advice for teachers:• This presentation will help you look at the issues of compulsive screen use with

students. It has been designed for 12 years age and upwards. • There are 2 parts to this presentation. The first part is to be used before you start

the week, the second after. • The presentation looks at the ScreenLess activities but also looks at the issue of

online empathy and whether being on our screens all the time somehow erodes our empathy for others. The presentation also looks at how excessive screen use can affect our health and wellbeing. However these slides are really only discussion starters.

• It is designed to be used in a classroom setting and to open up a discussion and generate positive feedback and reflection from young people.

• Of course for many of the students the idea of having a ScreenLess week will be an anathema, but remember this is not about having a no-screen week, it’s about helping all of us to think can we have a less screen week. Remember it doesn’t have to be a whole week – you can have a Screenless few days!

• Obviously you will know your pupils best and so we encourage you to use the slide in this presentation which you think can work best in opening up a discussion.

• There are notes for each slide on the bottom of each slide so review these before you use with students.

• Finally – let us know what worked or if we can provide further resources looking at this topic.

Switch off to Switch On ?

For Secondary Schools

YOUR MISSION Should you choose to accept it

Could you live without your screen (access to your mobile, games console, Ipad or the Internet)

for a whole week ?

“If you took away my mobile phone you would take away a part of me”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QsWQtDHhBg&sns=tw

“In a world where voices are only read and laughter is never heard, I’m so desperate to feel that I hope that the technology can reverse the universe so that the screen can touch me back and maybe it will when our technology is advanced enough to make us human again!”

CONSTANTLY CONNECTED How does it feel ?

What ONE screen activity would you miss the most if you couldn’t use any screens for a whole week?

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

BBM / WHAT’S UP

NEWS

RESEARCH SHOPPING

TEXTING

CAMERA

MUSIC

STAYING IN TOUCH E.g.

TOOLS & APPS E.g.

LOCATION

GAMES

ACCESS TO INFO E.g.

WEATHER

OTHERS? …………

IS THERE A DANGER WE BECOME ADDICTED* TO OUR SCREENS ? • When constant online time becomes a

problem or a ‘dominant’ part of your life. • When it starts interfering with school

attendance, outside activities, or even sleep. • When you become irritable, angry frustrated

when you are not online. • When you suffer withdrawal symptoms when

not online.

* The word ‘addicted’ is very strong, perhaps a better word is ‘Compulsion’

SCREEN-FREE WEEK ALSO GIVES US A CHANCE TO CHECK UP ON OUR HEALTH

Late night technology use can :• Affect sleep quality • Contribute to mental exhaustion • Increases drowsiness in school

the next day which has a direct link to learning

• Be a powerful distraction (completing homework!)

• Affect our offline relationships

BUT THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE!

Parents tell us that we are becoming addicted to our screens. We reply,

"So are you, it's just that you call it work!"

What practical thing do you think would help you to use screens less during the week?

What things do you think will come out of the ScreenLess week?

A diary will help you capture your experience.

• Does the internet contribute to an erosion of empathy ?

• What happens when we become “comfortably numb” ?

• How can we build empathy online ?

EMPATHY

What is empathy?

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”

Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

“Empathy is the ability to put ourselves in another’s place and to understand their experience.

We are deeply present to their thoughts and feelings with such compassionate accuracy that they can hear their own thoughts more clearly.

Empathy connect us with our common humanity. It protects us from prejudice, blame, and judgment – those things that divide us from each other. It moves us to seek justice for every person. Even those with whom we disagree.”

With empathy, we reflect on how our actions affect others.

Empathy inspires us to be giving and selfless. Empathy connects our hearts.

Source www.boundlessconnections.org/weeklyvirtuesblog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Empathy.jpg

“Empathy is the ability to put ourselves in another’s place and to understand their experience.

We are deeply present to their thoughts and feelings with such compassionate accuracy that they can hear their own thoughts more clearly.

Empathy connect us with our common humanity. It protects us from prejudice, blame, and judgment – those things that divide us from each other. It moves us to seek justice for every person. Even those with whom we disagree.”

With empathy, we reflect on how our actions affect others.

Empathy inspires us to be giving and selfless. Empathy connects our hearts.

Source www.boundlessconnections.org/weeklyvirtuesblog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Empathy.jpg

“You better brace yourself for a whole lot of ugly coming to you from a never ending parade of stupid”

Motormouth Maybelle from Hairspray

“Casual Cruelty ”Lady Gaga has established her Born This Way Foundation to empower young people to resist the urge to engage in casual cruelty in the digital world.

What is it about using a mobile phone which can disinhibit us ?

In small groups

What can happen when we become less inhibited and hide behind anonymity ?

GROUP EXERCISE

What do you think could be the best thing about not being on your screen for the next few days ?

Who’s on for switching off ?

Note for teachers:

• The next 5 slides you can use after you have undertaken the activity.

• Of course you can also adapt these slides and insert examples of children’s work, your diary entries, results of a survey etc., etc.

HOW DID YOU GET ON ?

Well done for trying !

HOW DID YOU GET ON ?

• What was the one personal thing which you learnt from unplugging?

• Did you feel agitated or tense, irritable or angry? If so why do you think that was ?

• What was the best thing you did in place of being on your screen ?

• How did you feel when you couldn’t use your screens?

HAS ANYTHING CHANGED?

As a result of doing the activity, are you going to do anything differently from now on?

What is the one tip you could share to others about keeping a screen-life balance ?

Complete the following sentence

“I thought the ScreenLess week was…”

Who’s on for switching off ?