My EdTech Inquiry Presentation Learning Showcase:)
So, I’m a liar.
I posted my farewell blog last night only to discover I have one more to do so … surprise! I guess? lucky you, you get one more unexpected but expected post from me – kind of like an encore. So here we go. My final performance.
In today’s world, where technology surrounds us all the time, we must understand its impact on our mental well-being. As educators, we must ensure we have the resources to use technology mindfully and promote mental health. So, our inquiry question is, “How can we use technology in the classroom to promote mental well-being?” We picked this topic because most of us have not seen mental well-being being promoted through technology. This new topic for us to explore is extremely relevant today.
We have found various resources that can be beneficial for teachers to incorporate into their classrooms. These resources include apps, websites, and more! Here are a few of our favourites:
So, how would we incorporate these resources into our classrooms? Here are a few ideas:
For BoosterBuddy, we would introduce this app to a class on the projector and set up a class account – the questionnaire is quite intrusive and personal to do as a class, so we would set up the account ourselves before starting to use it with the students. As a class, we would do the daily check-ins together and create our own ācoping statementsā (these act the same way affirmations do. Ie. I am safe, I can get through this etc.) We would use the journal portion as inspiration for kids to have a safe space to write about what they feel in their own individual digital journals/blog posts that would not be shared with the class – only the teacher for assessment purposes. As a class, we would slowly make our way through all the different coping skills for different mental health crises and discuss as a class the importance of being educated on these topics and how we can help ourselves or our friends and family by using these skills.
For GoNoodle, we could use it as a fun brain break during the day or a way to help students calm down and refocus.
For Headspace for Kids and Calm Classroom, we could use them as part of our mindfulness and relaxation activities.
MindUP can be implemented in the classroom in a variety of ways. They offer many teacher resources, including classroom activities, handouts, reflection prompts, and lessons. Here is an example of one that can be bought on Amazon. (link)
BUT before using these resources, we must know the risks involved. There are privacy and safety concerns when children have access to the internet. We must teach our students about online safety and sorting through information. We also need to be mindful of the age and demographic of our students and their access to technology. Schools may not be able to afford the necessary technology, and families may not be able to provide it. For many of the resources we looked into, teachers could personally use and log into and share through a projector for the students to address safety concerns surrounding student privacy.
Using technology to promote mental well-being can be very beneficial. We must be mindful of the resources we use and the safety concerns that come with them. We should consult certified and well-established mental health sites for reliable and accurate information. We should also consider incorporating other educational and technology competencies such as learning design, copyright, theories, collaboration, curation, and media development. By doing so, we can ensure that we provide our students with the best possible resources and promote their mental well-being!
