Digital Wellbeing in School: 5 Essentials for Safe Education

Digitalisation has also transformed classrooms, offering innovative tools for learning. However, with these opportunities also come important challenges, such as ensuring safety, privacy and balance in the use of technology by students. As a result, digital wellbeing has become a priority for schools, which seek to educate students not only in the relevant subjects, but also in digital responsibility.

In the following, we will discuss the essential foundations for promoting optimal digital wellbeing in school environments.

Digital Education Essentials

1. Safe Digital Environment

Ensuring a protected environment is the first step in promoting digital wellbeing. This includes:

• Filtering and monitoring: Implementing systems that protect students from inappropriate content and detect potential risks, such as cyberbullying or alarming behaviour.
• Data protection: Ensuring that students' personal information is safeguarded and complies with privacy regulations.
• Cybersecurity awareness: Teach students to recognise risks such as phishing or online scams. 

2. Responsible Digital Education

Digital wellbeing is not only about protecting, but also about educating. Schools should incorporate programmes that promote the ethical and responsible use of technology. This includes:

• Digital education: Teach students to critically evaluate the information they consume online. Creating a safe, non-prohibitive environment will allow students to feel confident to ask for help with certain digital challenges.
• Digital interaction: Encourage respect in virtual interactions as there are people behind the screen and this should never be ignored.
• Screen time management: Help students balance their time between digital and non-digital activities to avoid addiction risk.   

3. Risk Prevention and Management

Schools should be prepared to identify and address problems related to the use of technology, such as cyberbullying or excessive use of devices. This includes:

• Clear policies: Define rules and implications related to digital behaviour at school, as well as establish a possible action plan for situations outside the classroom.
• Emotional support: Provide resources such as mentoring for students facing challenges online and support for those who need it.
• Collaboration with families: Work with parents to encourage healthy digital habits also outside the classroom and provide them with adapted tools. 

4. Promoting Digital Wellbeing Culture

Creating an environment in which digital wellbeing is part of the school culture means involving the whole educational community:

• Teacher and management training: Train teachers and all people involved in the school's decision-making process to integrate digital wellbeing into their methodologies.
• Student participation: Involve students in activities related to the use of technology and be receptive to their proposals in this regard.
• Collaboration with experts: Work with professionals and technology companies that offer specific solutions for education.

5. Continuous Evaluation

Digital wellbeing is a rapidly evolving goal. Schools should regularly review their policies and tools to adapt to new challenges and needs. This includes collecting data regarding the impact of initiatives and seeking feedback from students, teachers and families, as well as changing them if it is identified that they are not delivering the expected results. 

Qoria's Conclusion

Promoting digital wellbeing in schools is not just about technology, but about education and values. It is about empowering students to face the challenges of the digital world with responsibility and balance. With a holistic approach that combines protection, education and support, schools can ensure that technology is an ally in the learning and personal development of their students, and not perceived as an enemy. 

At Qoria, we are committed to accompanying schools on this journey, offering solutions that enhance digital wellbeing. If you want to know more about our solutions, click here and we will show you how we do it.