It's no secret that technology can be a major help or hindrance to the relationships and wellbeing of young people. A growing body of literature points to the strong correlation between device usage (particularly for social media) and declining mental health in young people. Yet amidst all the messages boys receive about the problems of inappropriate or overuse of digital technology, they can often feel ‘talked at’ rather than listened to. The COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated the need to think in a nuanced way about how our boys’ lives are being shaped by their digital world.
Partnering with fellow research-invested schools in the International Boys' Schools Coalition (IBSC) Year 5 Scots boys have been planning a research project to understand how technology shapes social and emotional wellbeing of their peers. This project is an off-shoot of a larger study the IBSC Research Committee is designing with University College London’s Knowledge Lab and the Relationships Foundation.
The five Year 5 boys have been working closely with Mrs Penny Ryder and me to help shape up this collaborative global study. They recently enjoyed their first Zoom meeting with boys and teachers at the partner schools: St Christopher's School in Virginia, US, Fairfield Country Day School in Connecticut, US, and Crescent School in Toronto, Canada. Over the next week, they will be surveying their peers to find out how they use technology to connect with one another, and consider the advantages and disadvantages that digital relationships bring. Along the way, they're learning the skills of research and inquiry, and looking forward to presenting their work to the other schools and their peers later this term.
Partnering with fellow research-invested schools in the International Boys' Schools Coalition (IBSC) Year 5 Scots boys have been planning a research project to understand how technology shapes social and emotional wellbeing of their peers. This project is an off-shoot of a larger study the IBSC Research Committee is designing with University College London’s Knowledge Lab and the Relationships Foundation.
The five Year 5 boys have been working closely with Mrs Penny Ryder and me to help shape up this collaborative global study. They recently enjoyed their first Zoom meeting with boys and teachers at the partner schools: St Christopher's School in Virginia, US, Fairfield Country Day School in Connecticut, US, and Crescent School in Toronto, Canada. Over the next week, they will be surveying their peers to find out how they use technology to connect with one another, and consider the advantages and disadvantages that digital relationships bring. Along the way, they're learning the skills of research and inquiry, and looking forward to presenting their work to the other schools and their peers later this term.
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