UEN Teacher Tips

Encouraging a classroom environment where students can reflect on their digital habits and self-regulation skills can help promote four out of the five 'Protective Factors' that reduce lifelong risk factors and enhance student well-being.

A positive classroom environment will build students' social connections and resilience, as well as support cognitive, social and emotional competence. Try having mindful discussions with your students about their digital use to give you insights into their well-being and help you identify struggling students who may require additional support.

Here are a few resources to help you get started:

• Do You Need a Digital Detox? - Discuss signs to reevaluate digital habits with students using this poster in your virtual or physical classroom. Revisit at the start of each quarter.

• Digital Detox Tips and Digital Mindfulness Reminder Posters -Consider using these as a guide to encourage your students to develop tips or reminders that are more relevant to what they are currently learning to balance.

• Virtual Calm Room - Allow students to learn to replace scrolling with 'Relax & Refocus' techniques by exploring a virtual calm room when they need 10 minutes to re-regulate. Download this completely customizable template and learn how to customize your Virtual Canva Classroom.

• Consider enrolling in UEN's Educational Technology Endorsement Program - Understand the underpinnings of teaching with tech and the best practices classroom of implementation.

• Sensory Tools - Don't forget that while technology is great, tactile sensory tools can be an excellent way for students to regulate their nervous system and engage in learning while multitasking. Take a look at this idea board of my favorite sensory tools that are least disruptive to the classroom environment.