27. Online Gaming Adolescents are the most at risk for this type of addiction. Boys and girls who have ADHD. Boys and girls who exhibit hostile behavior. Girls with social phobias. or who are depressed. Middle-aged adults who have recently become empty nesters.
Good evening everyone, we are the Cuatro Group. Since today is April 1 st we couldn’t resist beginning our workshop with a little joke on John, as you could tell by our introduction.
Our workshop is going to be on Digital Health and Wellness We want to begin our workshop with the definition that was found in our text book Digital Citizenship in Schools by Mike Ribble and Gerald Bailey. READ THE DEFINITION We have learned that there are serious heath issues that people can experience by not knowing about digital health and wellness. This is a subject that we have come to believe that schools need to look at seriously when they are setting up work areas for teachers and students. Our schools also need to look seriously about how we need to educate adults and students about computer addiction.
We have broken our workshop into 2 parts – First Patricia and I will share with you the physical dangers that one can experience in using digital technology. And provide you with some prevention techniques that should help you as you use the computer. Then Rhonda and John are going to share with you the physiological dangers that one can experience in using digital technology, and they too will provide you with some prevention techniques that should help you as you use the computer. So lets get started
We have broken our workshop into 2 parts – First Patricia and I will share with you the physical dangers that one can experience in using digital technology. And provide you with some prevention techniques that should help you as you use the computer. Then Rhonda and John are going to share with you the physiological dangers that one can experience in using digital technology, and they too will provide you with some prevention techniques that should help you as you use the computer. So lets get started
And as educators we begin with research on Computer Health and Wellness. It amazed me to discover that over half of the people that use computers suffer from neck, back, and shoulder symptoms – and one-third of those develop an impairment – I looked up how many people use computers in the US – internetworldstats.com reported over 340 million people use computers – Half of that would be 170 million –
I discovered that approximately 40% of people develop hand or arm problems each year as a result of using a computer (that would be 136 million if you use the statistics from internetworld stats) and 21% or 71 million people actually develop some type of physical disorder.
Eyestrain problems also reached the 50% mark - remember that 340 million people that are using computers With HEALTH CARE being such an issue in our society. School systems need to not just purchase computer supplies, but they need to make educated, informed purchases when setting up workstations for teachers and students so that problems like these statistics I have shared with you are held to a minimum.
Patricia and I created a survey to see what responders from our schools might have to say about computer related injuries and how much education they might have had about the topic. Our conclusion is that of the 36 that responded to the survey, only one has had a computer related injury. We also discovered that 80% had not been taught how to sit at a computer. 77% had never purchased an ergonomically correct piece of equipment. And that 85.7% would change computer habits after being educated about computer related injury. Conclusion: There is a need for school systems to education their staff and students about Computer Health and Wellness.
I came across the term “Repetitive Strain Injuries” These injuries are just as the term state – repeated physical movements that occurs as a result of computer use targeting tendons – nerves – muscles – and soft body tissues Everyone here tonight is probably exposing their bodies to repetitive strain injuries – but do you know what signs to look for in the injuries?
Is anyone here experiencing any of the following symptoms – If you are place a check on your screen as I qucikly go through them GIVE RESULTS of CHECKS Clear your checks
What about any of the eye strain symptoms – place a check on your screen if you have experienced any of these symptoms READ POLLING RESULTS Now that we know what Causes these problems lets see if we can help you out with some solutions. Patricia share with us what you have discovered through your research.
Thanks Joy. As Joy stated computer related injuries are serious, and at times career threatening even to us as educators. Early attention means making critical changes. To conquer it, you will have to be prepared to make lifestyle change. There are many preventions, but there is not a 1 miraculous piece of equipment or exercise to prevent injuries. It is truly a LIFESTYLE change! So lets enlighten you about some ways to prevent these injuries.
Keep arms at an even height or slightly above the keyboard and parallel to the floor Use various stretching techniques when you take breaks in order to alleviate some soreness. The best chairs have a backrest with firm support for the inward curve of the lower spine. The seat of the chair should be large enough to accommodate frequent changes in position and firm enough to allow your weight to be supported thru the thighs. It needs to have height adjustments as well. A massage element would be nice! Make sure your adjustable desk allows you to adjust the height of the monitor
Your feet should rest flat on a surface. It does not have to be the floor but a flat surface. Documents need to be directly in front to reduce repetitive neck movements. Purchasing a foot rest and document holder will help with prevention of this digital related injury.
Prevent repetitive injuries by keeping your wrists above your fingers at all times. This is called floating! When you are not typing, place your arms at your waist or hang them by your side. A wrist rest can be purchased for proper positioning.
You should look away from the computer every 20 minutes for 20 seconds or more, and focus on an object at least 20 feet away. The issue with lighting is to reduce glare and bright reflections from your screen, nearby glass, or shiny surfaces. Since light conditions change during the day this may require several adjustments while working. In your work environment, if your computer is near a window for instance you may need to adjust as the light outside changes. Keep your screen wiped off from dust as well. Use re-wetting drops to help alleviate dry eyes. Keep accurate prescriptions in glasses and for contacts by visiting the eye dr. Its suggested that contrast and brightness should be adjusted to create the brightest screen without blurring.
We have discussed some ways to prevent repetitive stress injuries. Now let’s focus on the equipment and how we can ensure that it is accurately used and functions to use it less.
When we look at keyboard techniques, do not bang on the keyboard. Type softly and try not to reach too far for keys that are far away. Move your entire hand to put the finger on the key. Hot keys are helpful on the computer for shortcuts. Purchasing dictation software or using MS word speech can help with typing less…I use this and now type less frequently. Use a keyboard that can adjust to fit your hands and use the tilt feature. Keep the monitor at eye level and tilt the keyboard at 45 degrees.
Proper mouse techniques can also help prevent injuries. Do not grip the mouse too tight. Keep your mouse as close to the computer’s side as possible. Use the entire arm for mouse movement not just your wrist and hand. Purchase ergonomic mouse that fits your hand and try them out at a local store first like Best Buy.
Place a check mark if your eyes are looking up at the screen. I see…. Clear your checks. Okay. How many of you are sitting in an adjustable chair? Place a check mark if you are. Are you feet flat on a surface? Or do I have some people who probably have their foot tucked underneath them? Let’s see… Clear your checks. Thanks everyone! As you can tell we tend to do what is comfortable but not what should be modeled. Now let’s see how we should
So as you can see these are proper positions for the keyboard and sitting at a computer. Notice: Notice: Eyes look downward, lumbar support is present, The wrist not resting and the keyboard is tilting from the palm side. Your monitor should be at arms length from your eyes Elbows should be parallel to the floor Document is near the monitor Feet are flat on a surface ***Two areas that are for RSI prevention: posture and relaxation. Remember it is a LIFESTYLE change! It is a behavior that as teachers and educators we need to model to our students! Are you prepared to change? There are other health and wellness issues that are critical to staying healthy. Rhonda and John are now going to educate us on identification and prevention of computer addiction…
Internet addiction has also been called Internet dependency and Internet compulsivity. By any name, it is a compulsive behavior that completely dominates the addict's life. Internet addicts make the Internet a priority more important than family, friends, and work. The Internet becomes the organizing principle of addicts' lives. They are willing to sacrifice what they cherish most in order to preserve and continue their unhealthy behavior.
Does your Internet use interfere with your life in any way shape or form? Does it impact your… relationships? family life? work? schoolwork? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you may have a problem.
It is important to note that it is not the actual time spent online that determines if you have a problem, but rather how that time you spend impacts your life.
Divorces over this .
“ Internet behavior is characterized by rapid response, immediate reward and multiple windows with different activities, which may reduce feelings of boredom or delayed aversion in adolescents with ADHD.”
The thrill of winning…they often overpay for the item. Online gambling has same risks as gambling in a casino. And disturbing addiction of pornography– believed to be the most prevalent
Many mental health professionals are not certain if it ever should be considered a real disorder. Nevertheless, compulsive Internet use is a serious problem for some people, and there are methods that can be helpful in alleviating this problem. These methods are similar to the methods used for alcoholics and drug addicts. In these situations, sometime abstinence is the best policy, but with Internet addicts, this type of treatment may doesn't necessarily make sense. The Internet has become an essential part of modern business. To ask people to not use the Internet at all could be a significant burden for them. Instead of abstinence, then, a reasonable goal for Internet addiction therapy is a reduction in total use of the net. Another treatment technique is motivational interviewing. This method helps the addict develop empathy for the people who are hurt by their addiction (e.g., family and friends, employers, etc.). By helping addicts to see how their actions affect others they care about or are dependent on economically, therapists can help increase addicts motivation to change. Therapists will also generally help addicts to identify 'triggers' that lead to episodes of uncontrolled Internet use. Once these triggers are identified, then the addict can take steps to avoid these “triggers” and hopefully overcome the addiction.
Since Internet addiction is difficult for therapists to classify as a disorder, several self-treatment options are available. With any addiction, the first step is to accept the fact that you have a problem. Once you admit this problem, then maybe some of the following self-treatment options will help. Hiring a virtual assistant, which is similar to a secretary, can help reduce the amount of time a web worker has to spend on the Internet. Someone with this addiction needs to spend as little time as possible online, so a virtual assistant can help with the workload much like a personal assistant or secretary. You need to set boundaries. How long are you going to use the computer from now on? For what purposes? There’s no point trying to change your habits if you haven’t decided on your new boundaries. Decide this first, take action second Ensure your family keeps you accountable and limits the amount of time you spend online. Set a time limit in hours or minutes and make it clear that there are no valid excuses for extended use; you’ve got to be dragged away from the computer no matter what, once your time runs out. Try changing your routine. For example, If you check email first thing in the morning, then check it later in the day. If you head straight for the computer when you get home from work, intending to get off and do other things but never quite getting there, change your routine a bit and get other things out of the way first. It’s much easier to get off the computer if you don’t get on it! Wait until you’ve done your household chores and got time spent with the kids (or pets, if that’s more your thing) out of the way, then give yourself some net time. Reward yourself, in small amounts, for holding out Remove the emotive feel-good incentive to use the computer by using it for business and email. Get it done and get off. Uninstall computer games, and vow to stay away from social networks and other recreational web destinations for at least a month or two. Find recreational activities in real life and completely replace your internet entertainment with them. And finally, remind yourself how much good progress you’re making by tracking the amount of time you spend online compared to the boundaries you set in step one. These tips should get you well on your way to a more balanced life.
Children can develop the same internet addiction as adults, but thye may need our help in overcoming it. As parents, we need to ask ourselves several questions. First, how is using the internet affecting our children? Is there the potential for psychological damage and/or physical injuries as stated by Joy and Patricia. Is homework and household chores being neglected to spend time online? Has your relationship with your children changed because of the internet? If you answered yes to most of these questions, then you may need to seek professional help. And one other important point…Make sure you have not developed an addiction as well.
In a two-parent household, it is critical that both parents present a united front. Discuss the situation together so that when you approach your child, you will be coming from the same page. If not, then the child will play one parent against the other. In a single-parent household, the parent needs to take some time to think about what needs to be said. In both of these situations, parents need to prepare for the likely emotional response from the child. A child who is addicted to the Internet or becoming addicted to it will feel threatened at the very idea of curbing computer time. Parents need to be prepared for an emotional outburst laden with accusatory phrases designed to make them feel guilty or inadequate. It is important not to respond to the emotion—or worse yet, get sidetracked with a lecture on disrespect. Acknowledge your child’s feelings but stay focused on the topic of his or her Internet use. Show you care As a parent you need to let your child know you love him or her and reassure them that you are not condemning them. Rather, tell your child you are concerned about some of the changes you have seen in his or her behavior and refer to those changes in specific terms: fatigue, declining grades, giving up hobbies, social withdrawal, etc. Assign an Internet time log - Tell your child that you would like to see an accounting of just how much time he or she spends online each day and which Internet activities they engage in. Remind them that with television you can monitor their viewing habits more easily, but with the Internet you need their help and cooperation to become appropriately involved. Put them on the honor system to keep the log themselves for a week or two to build trust between you. If they balk at this idea or clearly lie in their log, you are likely dealing with their denial of addiction Become more computer-savvy Checking history folders and Internet logs, learning about monitoring software, and installing filters all require a degree of computer savvy. It is important for every parent to learn the terms (both technical and popular) and be comfortable with the computer, at least enough to know what your child is doing online. Take an active interest in the Internet and learn about where your child goes online. Set reasonable rules Many parents get angry when they see the signs of Internet Addiction in their child and take the computer away as a form of punishment. Others become frightened and force their child to quit cold turkey, believing that is the only way to get rid of the problem. Both approaches invite trouble - your child will internalize the message that they are bad; they will look at you as the enemy instead of an ally; and they will suffer real withdrawal symptoms of nervousness, anger, and irritability. Instead, work with your child to establish clear boundaries for limited Internet usage. Allow perhaps an hour per night after homework, with a few extra weekend hours. Stick to your rules and remember that you're not simply trying to control him or her – you are working to free them of a psychological dependence. Make the computer visible - Move your child’s personal computer out of his or her bedroom
Listed here are several types of software that can help when dealing with Internet addiction for yourself or your child. All of these listed have many of the same features. They will Block porn and other unsuitable web sites, content and images Restrict access to sites like Facebook, YouTube and MySpace Allow you to create your own pre-approved list of sites Limit Access to Programs Prevent program downloads that can harm your PC Restrict Chat & Instant Messaging Keep cyber bullies, online predators and scammers away from your kids. Protect your identity by keeping your personal information (address, phone number, etc.) from being revealed Block objectionable words and phrases used by cyber bullies and predators Choose from an enhanced list of common cyber bullying phrases to bloc Limit Time Online Too much Internet? Create predetermined time rules. Limit based on time of day, or daily/weekly cumulative time allowances Control both Internet and program use Once time limits are reached, a blocking message appears Monitor Internet Activity Know where your kids go online. Get detailed reports on web pages visited, time and length of visit View and save weekly and daily summaries Easily block future access to objectionable sites As an adult, we could have a family member or friend set up the time filter and monitor so we do not know the password. This way, we cannot override the settings to give ourselves just a few more minutes.
If you think you or someone you know is addicted, then please go to the following website and take the Internet Addiction quiz. The Internet Addiction Test is the first validated and reliable measure of addictive use of the Internet and was developed by Dr. Kimberely Young. This test is a 20-item questionnaire that measures mild, moderate, and severe levels of Internet Addiction. You can see that other tests are also available as well.
Much like schools have focused on healthier snacks in the snack machines, students and teachers need to be taught the importance of digital health and wellness to help avoid injuries and addiction. You have also received a brochure for you to refer to in helping identify the warning signs of internet addiction and how to avoid repetitive strain injuries. Also listed in the brochure are proper procedures for typing on a keyboard and sitting at the computer. If you follow these techniques, then you can avoid injuries associated with technology use. Thank you for being a part of our presentation. In tonight’s presentation you haved learned the symptoms of repetitive strain injuries and strategies to avoid such injuries. You have also learned the symptoms of Internet Addiction and the available treatment options. We hope that our workshop has educated you so that you can in turn educate others about the physical and psychological well-being related to digital technology use.
![Digital Health and Wellness ,[object Object],[object Object]](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)