From the Head of Junior School

This week, we’d planned a parent evening called “Wait Mate”, which is an organisation that helps parents coordinate a plan to hold off on smartphones, and make decisions to protect their children on-line. Being November, it was difficult to get the numbers to make this worthwhile and the Junior School, in collaboration with the P&F, will revisit this very important topic next year with parents. In the meantime, we encourage parents to talk and research this essential topic. As teachers and leaders of children, we see the impacts of the digital world on young lives all too often.

One of the biggest concerns is how much time children spend in front of screens. According to the Australian Institute of Family Studies, up to 83 % of preschoolers and 85 % of primary school-aged children exceed recommended screen-time guidelines. High screen-time is associated with less physical activity, disrupted sleep patterns and potential issues with attention. We know that screen time at school adds to this – it’s something we talk about often – the challenge of using technology as an excellent tool, and preparing children for life in this century, while not adding to the problems that parents have at home.

Technology in the classroom and at home can pose risks of distraction, inappropriate use and online harm. Every year, we work with students who misuse technology at school, as well as at home. Not surprisingly, many of the problems happening between peers at home on tech, spill over into school. Sometimes students are deliberate and mean about this, sometimes they are unwise and don’t realise the effect they have. Either way, lots of children get hurt through the misuse of tech.

It’s one thing to use technology actively (for learning, creation, coding, collaborating) and another to sit passively in front of screens (games, videos, endless browsing). Research shows that children are often “consumers” of technology rather than being engaged in sustained, varied, creative uses. In STEAM, our students learn to use technology as a creative tool, part of the design process that can enhance problem solving. Much of the work of staff and parents is to help children develop digital literacy and critical thinking skills so that technology can be the effective tool it promises.

Technology has great potential for enhancing learning, connection and creativity—but it also brings challenges that we need to manage intentionally. For children in the primary years in NSW, it means striking a balance: embracing the possibilities of digital tools while protecting time, attention, wellbeing and development. In the absence of our “Wait Mate” initiative this week, I’d like to recommend a free, online webinar for parents through the great people at PROJECT ROCKIT. This webinar is designed for parents and educators and will teach you about ‘the algorithm’ and how this works to target what is put in front of children on technology. I hope it’s helpful. The webinar will be held on 18 November at 7:00pm - Register Here. Please keep the conversation going and get involved next year when “Wait Mate” comes up again.

Rachael J Newton

Assistant Principal – Head of Junior School