Jennifer Bedford, a photo and video professor at Durham College (DC), has noticed a shift in students since she started teaching more than a decade ago.
“We’re seeing students struggle. And this overstimulation and digital fatigue, directly affects the student’s academic performance,” she said.
A study of Ontario high school students in 2019 by the National Institutes of Health showed 18 per cent of participants’ stress was caused by technology use.
Female students were more likely to have physical symptoms, such as poor sleep and mental health challenges, from overuse of smartphones at 22 per cent with males at 14 per cent.
At the post-secondary level, technology is also causing challenges but Bedford said integrating technology is better than taking it away from students.
“If I’m talking about a topic or a term or even a word,” said Bedford, “I encourage students to pull out their mobile devices or use their computers, to use the device for research purposes.”
If used properly, students can help themselves by using calendars, timers and setting reminders.
“Helping students build self-regulation skills is key. Not just removing technology, but teaching them how to use it wisely,“ said Bedford.
Technology is a powerful tool a lot of people carry in their pockets and can be used to enhance their learning experience, said Tanya Wakelin, the director of teaching at learning at DC.
She said professors are able to use a variety of digital tools to enhance students’ learning.
“When we used a tool like Kahoot, where we are priming out brains to think about the topic we are working on in the classroom, or we’re using it as an opportunity to recall information that you previously know about a topic,” said Wakelin, “so that when you learn something new your brain has a place to connect that.”
Using the technology we have to our advantage instead of as a distraction can improve mental health, sleep, and academic performance, according to the Ontario high school study.
With access to so much information in a small device, it is vital for students to regulate their screen time, according to the Canadian Pediatric Society. It suggests humans have no screen time before bed as it can disrupt sleep patterns.
According to the Ontario Psychological Association, teenagers spend an average of eight hours per day on their mobile devices.