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What does science have to say about screen time?
Okay, I guess it hasn't come up with an definitive answers as yet. My point, however, is that while there are a lot of great comments being made here, we're generally relying on anecdote and instinct.
There IS, however, a certain amount of science being developed on this topic, and I hope there will be more in the not too distant future. Like it or not, substantial amounts of screen time is and will be a reality for our children, and the sooner we have some clearer definition of what's okay and what's not, the better.
Personally, my "instinct" tells me that the answers are going to be far more nuanced than the black-and-white approach suggested by "yes/no" polls such as this. For example, as others have mentioned, the quality of the content may be just as important as the quantity, and the degree to which the effects are or are not benign may vary greatly depending on age, emotional development, education, and undoubtedly other factors yet to be identified.
I love the wording of this question - it implies that the reader is in the educational field by saying "students" instead of "children". To me as an educator, the real crux of this argument is whether I am bringing families in as partners in the process of education. This question would really be an essential part of a "parents' forum", because the reality is that we don't have control over any student once she or he has exited the school building. We need to be working with parents to make them shareholders in their children's learning, rather than critiquing whether or not a child watches too much TV. I'm sure that everyone has a slightly different perspective on how much is too much, but if we can educate the parents and make them an active part of the process, the question itself would become moot.
Screen time in the classroom should be controlled by the TEACHER, not a rule but just some common sense. What the students are doing with their screen time should be quality time that a good teacher has developed in a lesson. Adding restrictions/rules may help the poor teachers, but it hand-cuffs the good ones and kills creativity and innovation. Both creativity and innovation are seriously need from K-to-gray education!
I agree with most everyone's opinion. Screen time should be measured more on Quality and less on Quantity, however, I don't think spending 12 hours a day online or in combination with other technology is conducive to producing quality work or experience. As a software engineer, I spend an average of 10 hours on my computers everyday but honestly, I think I work best when I'm only working about 6 hours per day with the rest of my time using my brain and body in various other ways... exercising, cooking, shopping, socializing, reading, mowing the lawn, etc. For me, it's all about moderation... and yes, too much of a good thing IS a bad thing. Of course sometimes we'll spend more time on one activity than the others but again, those days are in moderation. Nobody should spend "most" of their time doing anything! Spread it out and broaden your horizons.
I think our world is best served by rules and guidelines with clear communication for those. Quality time is a key factor. Plus I believe in fun, and when anyone spends to much time on a PC it can become tideous, stiff necked therefore fun is gone. We all know that children and even adults learn when there is fun involved. Limited time, yes with clear communication without rigid, restrictive rules. Children can thrive in a fun, clearly communicated environment when using PC's however they must be given all the guidelines and then let them learn. It is remarkable what can take place when a child is given freedom with responsibility.
I have a grand daughter who has had a real tough time with spelling and reading. So we started a facebook account for her- she did all of the entries herself-set her persmissions herself-follows all of the guidelines set forth by her parents- and it is wonderful to see how her spelling and reading has improved. She proof reads everything she types - reads 75% more fluently, plus she feels connected. Information Technology is a wonderful resource for education!!!!!!
I did answer YES to the question in this poll but I also think it has a lot to do with the quality of the screen time and what the student is do and is the student learning. I know most of my time in any given day is spent on the computer but most of it is for my work, school time, or my family tree research time, and reading news updates. So how much is bad or poor quality screen time? I do sometimes play games on the PC, but never anything like killer games, I like puzzle games or word search games, or slot games.
I think using the PC for learning is the new way of tomorrow and unless we all get on board with teaching and learning by way of the PC we might just get left behind the reach of the world. I also agree with having some form of computer responsibility being taught within the school systems. Giving the students the knowledge of how to use the computer in what is the right and wrong way in school, the work place and while at home is a key element in making the computer a useful tool for all to benefit from. A class on computer ethics might just be the way to go.
The real issue is not time, but quality of experience. Playing an educational game is not the same as playing a violence and death game. Yes, too much time spent on anything is not good, but it's also time to move beyond oversimplifications and address more serious issues, like harnessing the power of technology for teaching and learning.
Yes, teaching students rather than restricting them is the best option. I really dislike the constant "block", "remove", "lock down" mindset that so prevails amongst adults who in doing such things are only challenging young people to try to find a way around the restrictions. Good teaching cannot be replaced by bad rules. That's not to say there should not be any rules, but rather only restrict where there is a real danger and teach kids how to make wise choices. Will they always do so? No, of course not. But that in itself can be a learning/teaching/parenting moment.
We don't live in the days of my youth in which there was no TV, certainly no computers, and we huddled around the radio at night for the next thrilling episode of 'The Shadow', or read a book under the covers by flashlight because it was past our bedtime.... It's a little harder now to hide the computer under the covers, isn't it, but the action is the same, is it not, when something has so captured a young mind that it just has to continue to the end?
There is a part of me that would love to say, "Yes! It is unhealthy for students to spend too much time on the computer or in front of the television. Students to need to be active; not mindless drones that cannot think unless they are in front of a screen. Plus, with all the different technologies out there and students being 'digital natives' students believe they can multi-task when in reality they lose focus and do not absorb all the information they need." Now while that is what I would like to say, I think we are doing a disservice to our students if we simply set limits on their screen time. What we really need to be doing is showing them how to make smart choices, showing them the impact of too much screen time, having them analyze the effects of too much screen time on those their age. Limiting screen time is a cope out. We need to be teaching our students the value of technology, the positive and the negative effects, and how to use it successfully as a resource and not as the be all and end all.