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Banning Smartphones? Screen Time Research to Inform School Policy and Student Mental Health Needs
Wednesday, November 13, 2024 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm EST
Presented by Carrie Rogers-Whitehead, Founder, Digital Respons-Ability; and Christopher J. Ferguson, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist and Professor of Psychology, Stetson University
Moderated by Joyce Whitby, CEO and Co-Founder, Innovations4Education
Sponsored by Digital Respons-Ability
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Multiple states are considering partial or full restrictions on smartphones in schools. As of 2024, there have been eight states that have passed laws or adopted rules, and more are working on the topic. Teachers cite phone distractions, bullying, and learning impairment as reasons for these rules and they, like lawmakers, hope the rules will make an impact. But will taking away smartphones really make learning better? This edWebinar will examine recent large-scale research that questions assumptions and beliefs on this topic and provide a different and broader perspective on the perceived smartphone problems like distractions and teen mental health.
Dr. Chris Ferguson, a professor and researcher with Stetson University and co-author of Moral Combat: Why the War on Violent Video Games is Wrong, and Carrie Rogers-Whitehead, founder of Digital Respons-Ability, have once again teamed up for an edWebinar to help debunk technology myths. You’ll learn what current research says on this controversial topic and how the research can help inform school and classroom policy. Educators will also learn strategies to adjust learning around smartphones and a different perspective on the topic of screen time and mental health.
This edWebinar will be of interest to upper elementary, middle, and high school teachers, librarians, school leaders, district leaders, and education technology leaders. There will be time for questions at the end of the presentation.
About the Presenters
Carrie Rogers-Whitehead is the Founder of Digital Respons-Ability, a mission-based company that teaches tens of thousands of students, parents, and educators about digital citizenship. She’s also a former librarian, a current adjunct instructor, and regularly presents on technology, digital citizenship, education, and parenting. Carrie is the award-winning author of seven books with an eighth, Technology for Littles: Helping Young Children Navigate the Internet Responsibly, out in spring 2025. Carrie lives at home in Utah with her family.
Christopher J. Ferguson, Ph.D. is a Professor of Psychology at Stetson University and licensed psychologist in Florida. He has been researching screen time, youth violence, and video gaming for almost two decades and has published hundreds of research studies. He has testified on video game effects multiple times in Washington, DC. Dr. Ferguson has written several books, both academic and fiction, including the title Moral Combat: Why the War on Violent Video Games is Wrong. He lives in Orlando with his wife and son.
About the Moderator
Joyce Whitby is a professional EdTechKnowledgist and lifelong educational technology leader. She has extensive experience in marketing, market development, business development, sales management, and sales leadership including management of direct field sales force, inside sales, and distribution channels. Her strengths include new business development in urban markets, strategic planning and budgeting, recruiting, training, project management, and motivating high-performance sales teams. She is linked with a vast educational professional learning network, including extensive personal connections to key decision makers in U.S. school systems as well as leading executives in the educational technology industry.
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Join the School Health & Safety community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.
Digital Respons-Ability is a research-based provider of digital citizenship education. We have taught tens of thousands of students and parents in deep-dive, holistic digital citizenship classes. Digital Respons-Ability contracts with local, state and federal organizations to provide digital citizenship curriculum and training to parents, students and educators.