Current students and young people are widely reported to be more distracted, anxious, and depressed than any generation to enter high school and college. How should we as educators, teachers, advisors, and parents respond? 

We invite you to a discussion about the impacts of digital technologies (smart phones, social media, and AI) on how we work, teach, and live. The organizers have curated a selection of readings as a starting point to discuss the intersections of digital life with mental health, learning, and parenting – and different approaches and practices that teachers, parents, and legislators have pursued in relation to these.

Conversation Starters:

• To what extent do the readings reflect your observations and experiences? Where do you feel the authors missed the mark?

• According to the readings, what are the benefits and drawbacks of different technologies? Do you agree?

• Was there anything in the readings that surprised or challenged your current views or approaches to different technologies? What are your plans for using technology in the classroom in the upcoming year?

• How do gender, identity, class, and other forms of difference factor into the use and effects of different technologies?

• What approaches do you have for different technologies? 

• Are there specific strategies you have used to protect yourself/colleagues/students/children from distraction? 

Note from organizers: In response to member feedback, this event has been updated from a previously planned event with a new set of expanded readings that address multiple angles of our digital world. We hope you can join us!

Please click here for the readings. Readings include:

• Reading 1 -  Surgeon General’s Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health 

• Reading 2 - Selections from James Lang’s Distracted: Why Students Can’t Focus and What you Can Do about It (2020): Chapter 1 “ A Brief History of Distraction” & Chapter 3 “The Tech Ban Debate”

• Reading 3 - CSPAN Interview with Sherry Turkle on her book Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age (2015)