Be online
Good digital citizens maintain awareness of how they use technology tools. While it's easy to be “always on” through connected devices like tablets, laptops, and mobile devices; it's not as easy to stay focused, take breaks, or disconnect when necessary. It's important for learners to be mindful of how their online activities can impact their personal health and wellness, as well as other people in their physical and digital spaces.
In a 2017 survey conducted by the American Psychological Association, 81% of respondents said they were constantly or often connected to a device (Connected and content: Managing healthy technology use - apa.org). In this same survey, 65% of Americans agree that periodically disconnecting from technology is a good thing, but only 28% follow through. This statistic tells educators that teaching learners how to disconnect and about the health benefits of managing technology time is important.
While there are no standard limits when it comes to screen time measurements, learners must be taught how to stay on task while online and focus on what they aim to accomplish. It's too easy to get caught up in distractions like other online resources, websites, and social media. Responsible online learners need to be accountable for their time spent online by setting goals and reviewing their desired outcomes. Microsoft Family Safety is a way for parents and family members to help one another practice healthy online habits, such as setting screen time limits, and knowing what sites users in the household are visiting. Reinforcing these habits at home helps prove digital citizenship has no bounds and is an important part of everyday life.
According to a study by the University of California Irvine, it takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to get back to the deep focus on a task once distracted. (The cost of interrupted work: More speed and stress and How long it takes to get back on track after a distraction)
Aside from staying focused on academic tasks, good digital citizens learn how to use digital tools to communicate their needs and respond appropriately to the needs of others. Being part of an online community means sharing responsibility for what information is being conveyed through posts, images, and more. This community building also includes knowing when not to respond to something that might be harmful to others. A key mindset when interacting online is “Am I using technology to make something better?” Understanding that we all have a voice and knowing how to use it for good is a powerful tool.
Good digital citizens are also aware of how their actions are viewed by others. Online communication is a separate skill from verbal communication. Learners must develop their sense of empathy to understand the implications posts may have from another's perspective. Examples include English educators modeling proper email etiquette, setting the stage for future success using email. And science educators using posts and chat inside Microsoft Teams to relay information to learners needed for daily lessons and providing a safe space for them to ask questions privately. As the workforce continues to become more dependent on virtual communication, setting the stage in schools provides opportunities for learners to practice these skills. Being online means paying close attention to the way one’s own actions impact others and taking the time to reflect on the content of a post before sending it
Tools to help learners and educators be mindful of online experiences
- Windows Alarm & Clock is a built-in resource in Windows. Use timers and alarms to limit screen time or take breaks from the computer.
- Stay Focused is a Microsoft Edge productivity extension. This tool helps users stay focused by blocking websites that may be a distraction during work sessions. The extension includes a blocked site list, helping to keep users focused on their productivity during a work session.
- The Reflect app inside of Microsoft Teams helps learners to recognize and communicate their emotions in a safe and non-threatening online atmosphere. Learners carefully select an emoji and phrase to represent how they are feeling so educators can make informed decisions in the classroom setting.
- Microsoft Forms surveys provide a way for learners to share personal learning goals to their educators. These check-ins improve communication in the learning environment and help educators ensure learners feel valued, heard, and connected.
- The Chat feature inside of Microsoft Teams keeps focus on productivity. Chat ensures that conversations between educators and learners take place in a safe and secure space. It's important to remember that focusing on the positive use of private chat and modeling its use benefits learners as they grow into mature digital citizens.
- Microsoft Family Safety is another tool to use to encourage healthier online habits for family members. This resource allows a single family organizer to set screen time limits, view family member locations, and read activity reports about websites, apps, and games that family members visit.
- The accessibility Ease of Access menu on Windows devices provides access to accessibility tools such as different keyboards, Sticky Keys, mouse pointer options, magnifier tools, closed captioning and narration.