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.