Learning in the Digital Age: Promise or Peril?
Posted on: Mar 22, 2019
Join the Interdisciplinary Research Cluster on Wellness for Learning in the Digital Age: Promise or Peril? on Monday, March 25 at noon.
Dr. Jason Daniels presents an overview of current research related to the impact of digital media on development and proposes a practical approach that both students and teachers can use when dealing with issues related to problematic digital media use.
Date: Monday, March 25, 2019
Time: 12:00-1:00 pm
Location: HA 343
Presenter: Dr. Jason S. Daniels
Children and youth are inundated with digital media; they use it in their homes, in their schools, and often, in their free time as well.
The 2014 Active Health Kids Canada Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth awarded Canadian children and youth a grade of “F” for excessive sedentary behaviours, in part due to extensive screen time. With so much daily use of digital media, many are becoming increasingly concerned about its long-term effects. For example, currently, we know that electronic media can negatively affect sleep, memory, and learning. Additionally, intensive technology use has also been associated with physical health complaints such as musculoskeletal pain (i.e., neck-shoulder and low back pain often contributed to by computer use) and poor health status.
With so many potential negative consequences to using technology, it might be tempting to suggest that students should not be using technology at all; however, this is not a practical solution; technology is not going away. In fact, when used appropriately, digital media can be an effective learning tool.
Bio: Jason S. Daniels (PhD) is a researcher with the Community-University Partnership for the Study of Children, Youth and Families, Faculty of Extension, University of Alberta. In addition, Dr. Daniels teaches business statistics and educational psychology at Concordia University of Edmonton. Jason has a background in cognitive development and has extensive experience conducting research and evaluations related to the effective use of technology in education, the impact of media use on child development, student engagement, and cognitive development.