Name: Emily Stone Occupation: High School Teacher Country: United States

Name: Emily Stone
Occupation: High School Teacher
Country: United States
City: New York

Problem:
I teach at a school in New York, and I've recently noticed a rise in attention deficit and overreliance on technology among students. They spend a lot of time in front of screens, which is causing them to lose interest in their studies and they're losing real-life social skills. How can I help them learn how to use technology appropriately and be more focused in the classroom?

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Askly Help's advice:

Ways to improve students' attention by reducing technology dependence

In the current era, technology has become an indispensable part of our lives, especially for the youth. Smartphones, tablets, laptops, and social media have taken over a large part of their daily routine. Although technology has brought many benefits, when it is overused, it has a negative impact on students' concentration, learning ability, and real-world social skills.

But the hope is that by following some strategies, we can overcome this problem and get students interested in learning again.

1. Creating the right balance, without completely stopping the use of technology

It's not possible to tell students to turn off technology completely, but they can be taught how to use it appropriately. Set aside a specific time in class when they can use digital devices, but encourage them to read books, take handwritten notes, and discuss the rest of the time.

2. Launch the "Digital Detox" Challenge

Introduce a challenge among students where they will turn off their phones and other technology for a specific period of time during the day. Provide rewards for those who succeed. This will help instill a positive habit in students.

3. Make learning more interactive

Many students easily lose focus when they are just given a lecture. So make teaching more interactive—engage students with group work, debates, real-world examples, and storytelling. This way, they will learn to enjoy hands-on experiences more than technology.

4. Introduce activities to develop social skills

Excessive screen time is reducing students' social skills. So, involve them in activities like debate competitions, public speaking activities, group discussions, and drama to enhance their real-life communication skills.

5. Discuss rules for using technology with students.

Want to know students' own perspectives? Ask them why they are so dependent on technology? After listening to their opinions, create a shared policy where they set some rules themselves. This will make them more willing to follow the rules.

6. Pay attention to physical and mental well-being

Physical fitness has a direct impact on mental focus. Provide students with daily stretching exercises, opportunities to practice meditation, and encourage them to develop good sleep habits.

7. Encourage students to use technology for learning

Since it is not possible to completely eliminate technology, it can be made a part of the learning process. Encourage the use of technology through e-books, educational apps, online courses, and research. This will make them aware of the positive aspects of technology and learn to use it properly without wasting time.

Last words

The only way to reduce technology addiction is to raise awareness and provide proper guidance. If we help students maintain the right balance, they will stay connected to real life and regain concentration.

Your efforts are important! You will definitely succeed in making your students healthy and focused. 🎓🌟