Format

Individual Presentation

First Presenter's Institution

Cullman County Schools

Second Presenter's Institution

Cullman County Schools

Third Presenter's Institution

NA

Fourth Presenter's Institution

NA

Fifth Presenter's Institution

NA

Strand #1

Heart: Social & Emotional Skills

Strand #2

Home: Family & Community Engagement

Relevance

This presentation is relevant to the “Heart” strand due to its affirmation that technology serves a a major catalyst to the social climate for all children and youth.

It also relevant to the “Home” strand as it pertains to engagement and communication between students, parents, and teachers.

Brief Program Description

This session will explore how technology has become enmeshed in many aspects of daily life and elaborate on how to use technology and social media to foster healthy attachment in the classroom setting.

Educators and helping professionals will also learn safety implications and self-care that must be applied to lessen negative effects of technology use.

Summary

This session is designed to share the scope of technology use on our daily lives and the connection to social emotional development.

This informative and relevant presentation will utilize evidence based practices and therapeutic framework to teach the audience to embrace technology and social media to create an atmosphere that fosters all areas of development.

The 21st century has been coined by many the “Technology Age.” With the introduction of email, the world wide web, and technological advancements in communication devices; we are now more interconnected with people all over the world than ever before. Over time, these advancements have trickled into every facet of our society including the education setting.

Students and families are now using technology in place of more traditional methods of learning and interaction. The occurrence of COVID-19 has further amplified our reliance on technology to fulfill basic needs of security and connection. Local education authorities must adapt approaches to technology in order to maintain connection and relevance to students and families.

This presentation seeks to close the gap between families, students, and local education agencies as it pertains to understanding the need for technology. While technology can have negative effects, LEAs cannot neglect to include such an integral part of our society into school life. It is our responsibility to bridge that gap and use technology effectively to our advantage.

In doing so, the presentation will educate participants on ways to practice and teach internet safety, self-regulation, and self-care. Participants will learn how to establish appropriate boundaries not only for themselves but for their students. Participants will gain a better understanding of how technology can impact an individual’s attachment styles, cognitive development, and overall mental health.

Evidence

According the Kaiser Family Foundation, kids, ages 8-18 now spend, on average, 7.5 hours in front of a screen for entertainment each day.

1.82% of 5-7 year olds go online for 9.5 hours per week.

2. 85% if children ages 13-17 in the United States use Youtube or have Youtube accounts; 72% have an Instagram account, and 67% have Snapchat.

3. Nine out of 10 students age 13-17 use at least one social media account and 71% use more than one.

4. 69% of adults have a Facebook account; 74% of those with a Facebook account access it daily.

Based on the above-mentioned statistics, technology has increased presence and prevalence in our society. In order to best reach our students, it is vital that we understand the attachment to technology and its effects on students' interaction and abilities. In this presentation, we will provide educators with steps to meet students' technological needs while fostering true connection.

Learning Objectives

  • Participants will understand the impact of social media and technology from a therapeutic framework.

  • Participants will discover ways to use social media and technology to foster connection during virtual and remote learning.

  • Participants will explore both advantages and disadvantages of social media and technology on education and social and emotional development.

  • Participants will acquire knowledge about safety considerations for increased use of technology.

Biographical Sketch

Tiffany Monk- Tiffany is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in the state of Alabama. She is a Clinical Fellow in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Tiffany belongs to the Association of School Counselors and is a member of the Alabama School Counselors Association. She received her Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Counseling from the University of Mobile in 2015. Tiffany has extensive experience working with children and adolescents, ages 3-19, and their families. She has worked with the adult population as well. Before joining Cullman County Schools, Tiffany practiced in community mental health center and school based settings.

Shalandra (Shay) Whaley- Shay is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Alabama. She belongs to the Association of School Counselors and is a member of the Alabama School Counselors Association. She received her Masters of Science in Counseling Psychology from Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University in 2015. Shay is a former preschool teacher and has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, and families in both clinical and educational settings. She also has experience working with the adult and geriatric populations.

Keyword Descriptors

Attachment, Technology, Social Media, Self-Care, Self-Regulation, Maslow, Connection, Safety, Digi-attachment

Presentation Year

2021

Start Date

3-10-2021 11:25 AM

End Date

3-10-2021 12:25 PM

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Mar 10th, 11:25 AM Mar 10th, 12:25 PM

The POWER of Connection: A Therapeutic Approach to Utilizing Technology and Social Media to Build Attachment

This session will explore how technology has become enmeshed in many aspects of daily life and elaborate on how to use technology and social media to foster healthy attachment in the classroom setting.

Educators and helping professionals will also learn safety implications and self-care that must be applied to lessen negative effects of technology use.