Sixth graders from across the Ann Arbor Public Schools recently came together with University of Michigan Marsal Family School of Education students and 7th and 8th grade peers to discuss the challenges around excessive screen time and tools for healthier technology use at the district’s first Digital Wellness Expo.
The expo follows sixth graders working all year with advisory teachers and librarians on the issue, and working closely in small groups with U of M students the last three months. The small group work helped students understand digital wellness and determine how they can best share their expertise on the topic with their schools.
At the Wellness Expo University of Michigan Marsal Family School of Education Dean Elizabeth Moje highlighted that screens are not bad inherently, but too much use and inappropriate use can be dangerous. She shared the students at the Expo are now prepared to be positive influences on their classmates. “Now you’re going to be ambassadors for others and help them really learn how to limit their screen time as well,” Moje said. “How to be thoughtful, mindful about what you’re doing with those screens and I think that’s really exciting, I think that’s really impressive, you are leaders and best.”
Superintendent Jazz Parks said the sixth graders shared powerful lessons that will help adults as well. “Feel emboldened around the fact that your work is not going to just help you and your peers, it’s going to help us adults learn how we can be better ourselves with digital wellness and it’s also going to help us learn how we can better help you with digital wellness,” Parks said.
Students got the opportunity both to present their findings and tips around digital wellness and see what other students were sharing. The sixth graders also participated in a panel discussion led by the U of M students and their 7th and 8th grade peers.
The Digital Wellness Expo came in the third year of the growing partnership between U of M and AAPS focused on problematic digital practices and the increase in screen time.
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