School Media Specialists play a critical role in developing the media literacy of students and have the unique opportunity to expand media literacy to include Digital Wellbeing thereby supporting the wellbeing and learning of students.
The US Surgeon General describes youth mental health as a defining public health crisis and has called out technology as a root cause. The growing omnipresence of Technology and Digital Media (TDM), its potential negative impacts, and lack of solutions point to a clear need to better understand the impacts of TDM on youth and how to support youth’s Digital Wellbeing.
LiveMore ScreenLess, built upon positive youth development (PYD) models, offers a strength-based approach to Digital Wellbeing leveraging Developmental Relationships and Adult-Youth Partnering. The model equips and supports educators and students with the training, coaching, and resources necessary for adult-partnering to uplift and nurture the inherent ability of youth to influence their lives and their peers.
From February to June 2024, LiveMore ScreenLess created a pilot study with funding from the Minnesota Department of Education to examine the outcomes of a school-based Digital Wellbeing intervention that equips Media Specialists with the training to hold Digital Wellbeing Facilitated Conversations; the tools for the creation of Digital Wellbeing activities; and the coaching to support the steps along the way.
A panel of Minnesota Secondary Media Specialists, LiveMore ScreenLess staff, and an MDE Library Services representative will share the implementation of the pilot, their individual projects, and how Digital Wellbeing can be infused in your library culture.
