Welcome, everyone! Let’s dive into an engaging discussion about an important topic: screen time. This term refers to the duration spent using digital devices such as computers, smartphones, tablets, and televisions.
I’m Martha Campos, the instructional technology coach at Berryessa Union School District. My mission is to help families effectively integrate instructional technology at home, complementing what children learn in school.
Many of you might have heard your children say, “I’m done with my homework, can I use my tablet?” or “Can I play a video game?” or “Can I watch TV?” As an educator, I’ve noticed how students react when we engage them in meaningful conversations about technology, particularly screen time. Often, parents aren’t fully aware of what their children are watching, which can lead to unexpected questions. Our goal is to create a safe space for parents to express their concerns openly.
One parent shared, “My kids are more skilled with these devices than I am, and I feel like I’m trying to catch up.” Since the start of the year, we’ve focused on connecting families, and we’ve received positive feedback on our efforts.
To foster participation, I use a technique called “popcorn,” where I invite the audience to share their thoughts spontaneously. At times, several people speak at once, which is great as it encourages more engagement.
To ensure everyone has a voice, I use a platform called Poll Everywhere, allowing parents to text questions anonymously. This approach often leads to meaningful discussions related to the presentation.
During the session, I distributed a tip sheet and an article to facilitate discussion. Having these resources on hand gave parents the confidence to talk to their children about screen time. One effective strategy is creating a family agreement, which empowers parents to manage screen time safely.
I encouraged parents to discuss the articles provided and consider how they might apply this information in conversations with their children. One participant noted, “It’s really helpful to attend these sessions and hear others’ opinions. You learn from each other and make friends.” Resources from Common Sense have been particularly beneficial for parents.
Are there any questions from the audience? One participant inquired about the age limit for social media use. According to federal law, individuals must be at least 13 years old to have a social media account.
Towards the end of the session, I encouraged parents to use Chromebooks to explore the resources I presented. They appreciated the opportunity to navigate the information themselves.
Thank you all for your time tonight. I understand it’s an evening commitment, and I appreciate your participation. Now, are we ready for the raffle? We used raffles as an incentive to encourage attendance and provided childcare during the session.
For parent coordinators aiming to promote similar initiatives, my advice is to be creative and persistent. Explore innovative approaches, and remember, you don’t need a PhD to understand the concerns shared by parents and teachers. Thank you!
Reflect on your own screen time habits by keeping a journal for a week. Document the duration and purpose of your screen use each day. At the end of the week, analyze your entries to identify patterns and areas for improvement. Consider how these insights might apply to managing screen time for children.
Create a mock family agreement on screen time with a group of peers. Discuss and negotiate terms that balance educational and recreational use of technology. Present your agreement to the class and explain the rationale behind your decisions. This exercise will help you understand the complexities of setting boundaries and the importance of open dialogue.
Engage in role-playing exercises where you act as both a parent and a child discussing screen time. Use scenarios such as negotiating screen time limits or discussing appropriate content. This activity will enhance your communication skills and empathy, preparing you to handle real-life conversations about technology use.
Participate in a debate on the pros and cons of technology use among children. Research evidence-based arguments and present your case to the class. This will encourage critical thinking and help you understand different perspectives on the impact of technology on child development.
Explore resources from Common Sense Media and other educational platforms. Select a resource that you find particularly useful for parents managing screen time. Prepare a short presentation to share your findings with the class, highlighting key takeaways and practical applications.
Thank you everyone for joining us tonight. Let’s have an open discussion following tonight’s presentation. I want to talk about screen time, which refers to the amount of time spent in front of digital devices like computers, cell phones, tablets, or televisions.
My name is Martha Campos, and I am the instructional technology coach for Berryessa Union School District. My role is to support families in understanding how to use instructional technology effectively at home, in conjunction with what their children are learning in the classroom.
How many of you have heard your children say things like, “I’m done with my homework, can I go on my tablet?” or “Can I play a video game?” or “Could I watch TV?” As an educator, I’ve observed how students respond when we engage in meaningful conversations about technology, especially screen time. Many parents may not be fully aware of what their children are watching, which can lead to some awkward questions. We want to create a safe environment for parents to discuss their concerns openly.
One participant mentioned, “My kids are more adept at using these devices than I am, and I feel like I’m trying to catch up.” Connecting families has been a focus for us since the beginning of the year, and we’ve seen positive responses to our efforts.
To encourage participation, I like to use a strategy called “popcorn,” where I ask the audience to share their thoughts spontaneously. At one point, we had several people speaking at once, which was fine as it encouraged more engagement.
I want everyone to have a voice, so I will have you text me questions using a platform called Poll Everywhere. This allows parents to submit questions anonymously, which can lead to meaningful discussions related to the presentation.
During the presentation, I provided a tip sheet and an article to facilitate discussion. Having these resources in front of them gave parents the confidence to talk to their children about screen time. One useful tip was to create a family agreement, which empowers parents to manage screen time in a safe way.
Now, I’d like you to discuss with each other, referring to the articles provided. After reviewing some research, I encouraged parents to think about how they would apply this information in conversations with their children.
One participant shared, “It’s really helpful to come to these classes and hear other people’s opinions. You learn from each other and make friends.” The resources available through Common Sense have been particularly beneficial for parents.
Are there any questions from the audience? One participant asked about the age limit for social media use. Federal law states that individuals must be at least 13 years old to have a social media account.
Towards the end of the session, I encouraged parents to use Chromebooks to explore the resources I was presenting. I think they appreciated the opportunity to navigate the information themselves.
Thank you all for your time tonight. I know it’s an evening commitment, and I appreciate your participation. Now, are we ready for the raffle? We used raffles as an incentive to encourage attendance, and we also provided childcare for children during the session.
For parent coordinators looking to promote similar initiatives, my advice is to be creative and persistent. Explore different innovative approaches, and remember that you don’t need a PhD to understand the concerns that parents and teachers share. Thank you!
Education – The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university. – The university is renowned for its commitment to providing high-quality education to its students.
Technology – The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry. – Advances in technology have significantly enhanced the learning experience in modern classrooms.
Screen Time – The amount of time spent using a device such as a computer, television, or gaming console. – Educators are increasingly concerned about the impact of excessive screen time on students’ attention spans.
Resources – Materials, money, staff, and other assets that can be drawn on by a person or organization in order to function effectively. – The online platform offers a wealth of resources to support students in their studies.
Strategies – A plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim. – Teachers are developing new strategies to integrate technology into their lesson plans effectively.
Engagement – The act of being involved or participating in something. – Student engagement has increased since the introduction of interactive digital tools in the classroom.
Dialogue – A conversation between two or more people as a feature of a book, play, or movie. – Open dialogue between teachers and students is crucial for a productive learning environment.
Parents – A father or mother; a person who has a child. – Schools are encouraging parents to participate in digital literacy workshops to better support their children’s education.
Digital – Involving or relating to the use of computer technology. – The digital curriculum has transformed the way students access and engage with educational content.
Devices – A thing made or adapted for a particular purpose, especially a piece of mechanical or electronic equipment. – Students are encouraged to use their devices responsibly to enhance their learning experience.
