Digital Detox

I'd like to introduce you to Lori Poleway, Thomas Worthington Library Media Specialist. Lori and I have the opportunity to work together as educators in Worthington Schools and I am honored to publish her story, "Digital Detox" on my Dream Big blog.

Thanks to Lori for all that she does to help the students at TWHS learn and grow.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Digital Detox                                                                                

Lori Poleway                                                                                                                        

Thomas Worthington Library Media Specialist

A Google search for the phrase “tech addiction” produced 123,000,000 results in .53 seconds on February 26th 2018.   Parents, teachers, and even students will admit that their phones are harder and harder to live without and the controversy over use/abuse in the educational setting has increased in recent years as classroom teachers compete with the entertaining features of smartphones.  We also see the benefits that technology can provide and many of us admit that multitasking is the new normal.

At Thomas Worthington, administrator Greg Garris has had discussions with students about phone use during the school day. Many students report that their phones are deeply ingrained in all areas of their lives. They also admit, somewhat begrudgingly, that their phones can be a significant distraction. Homework, studying, and reading all take longer than they should because of the frequent interruptions coming from their phone. They are not ready to hand over their phones just yet, but agree that there are measures that could be put in place to limit the distractions.

During a recent OCC high school library media conference, one media specialist shared her “Tech Free Friday” program.  I was very excited about providing an opportunity for students to shut down the tech and interact with one another. A number of elementary and middle schools have implemented Maker Spaces to support creative collaboration, but that would be a little tricky in a high school setting where most students elect to come to the library to study.  In an effort to maintain the integrity of the library setting as a work/study space, I proposed my own version of tech free Friday to the department chairs and the administrators to get their reactions.  

For one Friday a month (Final Friday), students can elect to come from academic prep to play card or board games, work on puzzles, color, craft, build with legos, or read.  If a student needed to study quietly, use a chromebook, or their phone they would stay in their prep room for the period.  Seniors hoping to study would need to report to the CARDs Center.   The staff and administrators responded with an enthusiastic and unanimous, “Yes!”

However, “No!” was the initial response from students. The week of  Friday October 27th I posted signs, emailed, tweeted, and audibly announced that Friday would be “Tech Free” in the library.  Games would be available and students who needed to study should stay in their prep rooms. The first group of student arrived at 7:45. They were asked to sign in on a legal pad using their favorite color pen. (I was committed to giving up my scanner, computer, and phone to protect the zone.)  Students were told to put away phones--even headphones.  No, computers--unless they were just printing.  One student questioned the use of lights since they used electric technology.  I quickly determined that if the technology existed in the 70’s it could be used.

“No! Wait, you were serious? But I need to…...”

“No way! I need my phone. I can’t even listen to music?”  

“I have a test and the review sheet is online.”

“This is so dumb.  The library is suppose to be for studying!”

And my favorite, “This is absolutely the very worst idea anyone in this school has ever had!”

Even as I implored them to indulge in some down time for just 50 minutes, several students elected to return to the refuge of their prep rooms and their phones.  Most students who came in were willing to give the idea a try and they timidly selected games to play.   Chess, Yahtzee, Mancala, Jenga, Risk, Battleship, and Apples to Apples were a few of the most popular.  Several decks of cards were available with printed directions for various games.  Uno was soon a favorite.  It was great to hear students negotiate, discuss, argue, hold one another accountable, and cry out in joy when they won!

And so I spent the day watching or teaching students how to play card and board games.  And then they taught me variations they have played at home.  I got to listen to them teach each other.  And they realized that 50 minutes might not be enough time to play a game of Uno with a group of 6 friends.  They wanted to stay longer.

One student who spends most days watching videos on her phone during her first period late arrival told me, very seriously, that she had been thinking about trying to read a book.  “Hmmmm,”  I said.  “Would you like me to show you some of the titles that other students have read and really liked?”   Her response?  “Yes!”  Truly a win-win!