Equip learners with the skills and knowledge they need to reflect on their technology usage and to become more mindful about their technology choices.
About This Module
This curriculum module is based on takeaways from series four of NYC Digital Safety training videos. You may use this module by:
- Including it in your pre-existing public workshops
- Combining it with other NYC Digital Safety modules to make a longer data-privacy focused workshop
- Sharing the handout with library users at various service points
Downloadable presentation slides, a facilitation guide, and a handout can be found below.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module, learners will be able to:
- Define technology mindfulness
- Describe issues and challenges surrounding the use and consumption of technology
- Identify approaches for being a reflective and mindful user of technology
Lesson Plan
This lesson plan is also included in the downloadable facilitation guide below. You are welcome to use any and all of this, or adapt it as you see fit.
This module will take approximately 55 to 60 minutes to complete. While this module tackles some fairly complex and weighty issues, it can also be broken out and combined with other modules for different kinds of learning experiences.
Introduction and welcome
Greet learners and share the plan for this module
Defining technology mindfulness
Start by defining technology mindfulness. Pause here to make sure everyone understands the terms. You might also consider asking if people are familiar with the term mindfulness more generally and what that means to them
Activity: Technology habits
Divide your learners into small groups. Have them discuss questions about their technology habits and routines. Have the small groups report back out about their conversations
Technology and daily lives
Share the information here about how technology is a huge part of our daily lives and how it has many effects we are only just now starting to understand
Discussion: Issues and challenges with our technology habits
Ask learners to share what issues they may have experienced with technology, if they feel comfortable, or what issues they have heard or read about. You might consider sharing some of your own issues and observations as well to help further the discussion
Issues with technology use
Review the slides that cover different issues with technology use including physical and mental health, social issues, and information consumption. Conclude with a final slide that covers technology benefits. Consider pausing after each new slide to see if anyone has anything else to add
Technology mindfulness strategies
Review different approaches and questions people can ask about their technology habits. Pause to see if your learners have additional thoughts or questions to share
Activity: Reflection on technology habits
Have your learners use the guided handout to reflect on their technology habits. Have them discuss their observations with others in small groups
Wrap up, final tips, and final questions
Review the closing thoughts and best practices and share the suggested resources. See if anyone has any final questions
Next Steps
Download the materials below for use in your workshop or at service points throughout your library.
If you plan to create a longer privacy-focused workshop using these materials, here is a link to Google slides. Feel free to make a copy if you’d like to add these slides to any other deck.
And please let us know how it went! Use this form to share your feedback on this module. We’d love to hear from you.