# data[].attributes.body
This article explores how iPads can enhance learning through interactive content, personalized learning experiences, and improved student engagement.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How a Single iPad Can Benefit a Whole Class

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Students working in pairs explain math problems to each other using an iPad—and then pass it to the next pair.

# data[].attributes.headline
Digital Learning: Transforming Education for the Next Generation

# data[].attributes.subject
Digital Learning: Transforming Education for the Next Generation

# data[].attributes.body
A comprehensive look at how digital devices like iPads are preparing students for the future while improving their learning outcomes.

# data[].attributes.custom_properties.XaxH72q0
International Society for Technology in Education

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Computer Science & Computational Thinking

Introduction to Computational Thinking for Every Educator

In the digital age, computational thinking (CT) is an essential skill for students and educators alike. This systematic approach to solving problems is at the foundation of not just computer science, but many other subject areas - and careers - as well.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is a nonprofit organization that helps educators use technology to revolutionize learning.

# data[].attributes.body
Research-based article discussing the positive impact of tablet devices on student learning, motivation, and academic achievement.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Scholastic Early Learners: Grade 1 Learning Pad | The Scholastic Parent Store

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This interactive carry handle learning pad focuses on critical skills for children in first grade. Featuring pictures, shapes, and patterns for children to trace, this workbook allows for practice in key topics that will build future school confidence and achievement. 60 tear-away pages of activities focused on important first grade skills, including: reading skills, handwriting, word study, spelling, addition, and subtraction.Easy-carry handle makes this perfect for learning on the go!More than 100 stickers!Aimed at children ages 5-7Bright, colorful pages blend photographs and illustrations to make this workbook one of the most eye-catching and engaging availableTeacher approved Scholastic Early Learners is a dedicated program that focuses on building learning and school skills from infancy through third grade. Created by experts and focused on reinforcing curriculum learning and current academic guidelines, this educational line is the best partner in your child’s school journey. Scholastic Early Learners: The Most Trusted Name in Learning!

# data[].attributes.headline
Screen Time Guidelines for Elementary Students

# data[].attributes.subject
Screen Time Guidelines for Elementary Students

# data[].attributes.body
Expert recommendations on appropriate screen time limits and potential risks of excessive device use in young children.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Question: What are some screen time guidelines for social media applications?

Answer: It can be tempting to want a set number of hours on screens that is "safe" or healthy to guide your family's technology use. Unfortunately, there isn't enough evidence demonstrating a benefit from specific screen time limitation guidelines. For this reason, the American Academy of Pediatrics updated their media use recommendations in 2016. These evidence-based guidelines do not give a set screen time limit that applies to all children and teens. Because children and adolescents can have many different kinds of interactions with technology, rather than setting a guideline for specific time limits on digital media use, we recommend considering the quality of interactions with digital media and not just the quantity, or amount of time.

It is important to consider the specific activities that children and teens engage in on social media, and to support them in using social media in ways that strengthen their social, emotional, cognitive and identity development. When it comes to household rules around technology use, there is evidence that rules focusing on content, co-viewing and communication are associated with better well-being outcomes than rules focused on screen time.

Resources for Parents:

Common Sense Media published the following article titled "How Much Screen Time is OK for My Kids?" which emphasizes how quality of media use is more important than setting a screen time limit.

Common Sense Media also provides guidance on assessing the quality of a child's digital media use in "Are Some Types of Screen Time Better Than Others?".

Healthychildren.org provides guidance on how caregivers can support healthy media habits in the article "Beyond Screen Time: Help Your Kids Build Healthy Media Use Habits".

Healthychildren.org recommends creating a Family Media Plan to facilitate discussion around safe and practical media use that works for a family's specific needs.

Common Sense Education provides tips, discussion prompts, and activities for families to learn about digital citizenship together.

The American Psychological Association recently released a health advisory on adolescent social media use. The advisory explains that social media use is not inherently harmful or beneficial, and offers a list of ten recommendations for adolescent engagement with social media.

Resources for Educators

Common Sense Education provides a comprehensive Digital Citizenship Curriculum for each grade level k-12 which is free for educators. The curriculum covers topics including media balance & well-being, relationships, communication and cyberbullying.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Review our recommendations on considering both the quality and quantity of interaction with social media applications.

# data[].attributes.body
Investigation into how tablets might affect student attention spans and strategies to minimize distractions.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A majority of teenagers in the United States reported becoming distracted when using digital devices in class, and it has some correlation with their academic performance, according to results from the 2022 Program for International Student Assessment.

The PISA questionnaire, which the Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation administers to 15-year-olds every three years, asked students how often they were distracted by using digital devices (such as smartphones, websites, or apps) during their math lessons and how often they were distracted by other students using those resources.

About two-thirds of U.S. students reported that they get distracted by using digital devices, and about 54 percent said they get distracted by other students who are using those resources, the PISA results found.

Those numbers are on par with the global average: 65 percent of students in countries that are part of the OECD said they get distracted by using digital devices, and 59 percent reported getting distracted by other students who are using digital devices.

These distractions show a strong correlation with lower academic performance, according to the report analysis. On average across OECD countries, students who said that they were distracted by other students using digital devices in class in at least some math lessons scored 15 points lower in mathematics than those who reported that this never or almost never happens.

The results "highlight the importance of finding effective ways to limit the distraction caused by using digital devices in class," according to the report.

Many schools and districts in the United States have restricted student cellphone use during the school day because the devices have become an enormous distraction in the classroom. A Common Sense Media report found that teenagers receive a median of 273 notifications a day, with nearly a quarter coming in during school hours. U.S. lawmakers have introduced legislation that would require a study on the effects of cellphone use in schools on students' mental health and academic performance.

In the Brush school district in Colorado, Superintendent Bill Wilson said part of the reasoning for restricting cellphone use during instructional hours in his district is to help students "focus on learning and take one element of distraction and disruption out of their life at least for the time that they were at school."

However, most U.S. schools now also have 1-to-1 computing environments in which every student has a school-issued learning device, and those digital devices can be a distraction, too. It's more challenging to completely restrict laptop use in class when much of student learning now happens online. Many educators are simply being more intentional about when and how they use digital devices in the classroom.

"We're really working hard to be very mindful of what we choose to put kids on computers for," said Kristy Zaleta, the principal of Rogers Park Middle School in Danbury, Conn. For instance, students can use their laptops to practice math lessons using personalized learning software, but that practice time is limited to 30-45 minutes per week in school. Other lessons revolve around physical manipulatives and hands-on activities, she said.

The following charts show how often students are distracted by their own use of digital devices as well as other factors related to students' use of technology, according to the 2022 PISA data.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Digital Distractions in Class Linked to Lower Academic Performance

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The 2022 Program for International Student Assessment found that two-thirds of U.S. students get distracted by digital devices in class.

# data[].attributes.headline
The Impact of Screen Time on Children's Health

# data[].attributes.subject
The Impact of Screen Time on Children's Health

# data[].attributes.body
Overview of physical and mental health considerations related to student screen time, including eye strain and posture.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The way we talk to our kids about using technology can have a huge impact on their ability to become smart and well-rounded adults. After years of researching how to moderate kids' screen time, I discovered how the most successful Read more >>

# data[].attributes.headline
Finding Balance: Technology in the Elementary Classroom

# data[].attributes.subject
Finding Balance: Technology in the Elementary Classroom

# data[].attributes.body
Practical strategies for implementing a balanced approach to technology use in elementary education.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Serving K-12 schools nationally, Learning Sciences combines experts and thought leaders with technology and data. Together, these deliver an experience and results like no other. Our people provide unmatched real-world experience and are certified in our carefully crafted solutions. Our technology is simple to use and leverages 34,000,000 datapoints gathered over the years from teachers and schools like yours. Our methods and content are based on research in the field. We know how to get results. If you seek extraordinary PD improvement, discover the difference with Learning Sciences.

# data[].attributes.body
Research-based recommendations for effectively incorporating iPads into elementary curriculum while maintaining traditional learning methods.

# data[].attributes.headline
Creating Healthy Digital Habits in School

# data[].attributes.subject
Creating Healthy Digital Habits in School

# data[].attributes.body
Guidelines for developing responsible technology use habits and maintaining a healthy balance between digital and traditional learning.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
What if we slowed down to consider our tech habits, including what we do that serves us well and what we might want to change? In this lesson, students reflect on the role that media and tech plays in their lives and think carefully about their own tech habits. This ultimately helps students create a plan to support their digital well-being.

This is one of four lessons in our digital well-being collection for middle school. If time permits, we recommend teaching all four lessons, in the suggested order, to maximize impact.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Positive Tech Habits | Common Sense Education

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
How can I build positive habits around media and tech to support my well-being? Check out Positive Tech Habits, a free digital citizenship lesson plan from Common Sense Education, to get your grade 6,7,8 students thinking critically and using technology responsibly to learn, create, and participate.

# data[].attributes.headline
Smart Screen Time: A Guide for Teachers and Parents

# data[].attributes.subject
Smart Screen Time: A Guide for Teachers and Parents

# data[].attributes.body
Comprehensive guide offering practical advice on managing screen time effectively in both school and home environments.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Educational Media: Screen Time and Literacy

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
With televisions, computers, video games, and cell phones, modern culture makes it difficult to escape time in front of a screen, especially for our newest generation of kids. Deb Linebarger, Lisa Guernsey, and Marnie Lewis discuss what the growing exposure to media means for children’s literacy development.