Internet Addictions“How do we identify, treat, and prevent them?”

Presented by: Alexis Scranton & Akosua Joiner

Who are we?

Akosua Joiner

• Hometown: Milwaukee, WI

• College: University of Wisconsin

• Teaching for 7 years 4 yrs/ Atlanta Public Schools/ (3rd Grade)

3 yrs/Georgia Virtual Academy/(K-5)

• Pursuing M.ED in Instructional Technology from Georgia Southern, and

Online Teaching Endorsement

Alexis Scranton

• Hometown: Stone Mountain, GA

• College: University of West Georgia

*Taught kindergarten and 3rd grade for 2 years

*Currently pursuing opportunities teaching abroad

• Pursuing M.ED in Instructional Technology from Georgia Southern, and

Online Teaching Endorsement

Focus Question:• How can school personnel identify, prevent, and

educate students on the dangers of internet addictions?

Related questions: • What is an internet addiction and how can it be

identified? • How can teachers and parents help students who

are addicted?

 

Objective:

Teachers will identify internet addictions and select the appropriate methods for helping students with this addiction seek help. Teachers will be able to help students make proper choices when dealing with digital health and wellness.

NETS –T I.B; NETS-A V.C

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrlD3yh8bDE

Katie Couric talks about Internet addiction and how it is becoming a growing problem; it may affect as much as 10 percent of the population. (CBSNews.com)

Internet Addiction Test Results: Are YOU addicted?

The higher your score, the greater your level of addiction and the problems your Internet usage causes. Here's a general scale to help measure your score:

20 - 49 points: You are an average on-line user. You may surf the Web a bit too long at times, but you have control over your usage.

50 -79 points: You are experiencing occasional or frequent problems because of the Internet. You should consider their full impact on your life.

80 - 100 points: Your Internet usage is causing significant problems in your life. You should evaluate the  impact of the Internet on your life and address the problems directly caused by your Internet usage.

WHAT IS AN INTERNET ADDICTION?

• Internet addiction is defined as any online-related, compulsive behavior which interferes with normal living and causes severe stress on family, friends, loved ones, and one's work environment.

• Internet addiction has been called Internet dependency and Internet compulsivity. By any name, it is a compulsive behavior that completely dominates the addict's life

Source:http://netaddiction.com/faq.htm

Warning Signs• A demonstrated "loss of control" when trying to stop

or limit the amount of time on the computer. Breaking promises to self or others.

• Being dishonest about internet activities or minimizing the extent of the time you stay on the computer.

• Mixed feelings of euphoria (a "rush"), combined with feelings of guilt brought on by either the inordinate amount of time spent on the computer or the abnormal behavior acted out while using the computer.

• Feelings of depression or anxiety when something or someone shortens your time or interrupts your plans to use the computer.

Warning Signs-Continued

• Participation in high risk or normally unacceptable behaviors when using the computer. Compromising your morals and values based on the opportunity to remain anonymous and protected on the computer.

Source: http://www.warningsigns.info/computer_addiction.htm

Who is at risk?

• Anyone using the internet for more than two hours a day outside work commitments

• Teenagers and children who use the internet unmonitored• Women and men in their mid-50s suffering from the

loneliness of an “empty nest.”

Do you think Internet Addiction is a real disorder?

A. Yes, I know people who are addicted to the internet

B. It is a real problem, but it should be named something else

C. No, using the internet can never be such problem

Types of Internet Addiction

• Internet gambling addictionGambling is a growing business on the internet and people who have gambling addiction are now not just at risk as in casinos.

• Internet gaming addictionGaming addiction is probably the most talked about internet addiction. Probably because we are seeing so many children and adolescence losing control on this type of internet addiction. The games that are most addictive are those that are played real time with real people (MMORPG= Massive multiplayer online role playing games and MMOFPS = Massive multiplayer online first person shooters)

Types of Internet Addiction• Internet chatting addiction

Everyone is chatting and now some cannot stop chatting. This can also include the use of Facebook, MySpace, and any other social networking sites. Many times users will withdraw from physical social interactions to engage in virtual interactions.

• Cybersex addictionThis is a preoccupation with visiting sexual websites and looking at pornography on the internet

• Auction addictionAuction sites like eBay can also be addictive and it is probably similar to shopping addiction but with a gambling twist to it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mc407XRyAWQ

“A Glimpse Into Internet Addiction”

How Would You Help?

How Can You Help?

• You can and should model appropriate computer use

• Supervise computer activity and get your child help from one of the following resources if he or she needs it:

• School counselor• School social worker• School Psychologist• Outside agencies and resources

Encourage other interests and social activities

Get the child out from behind the computer screen.

Expose kids to other hobbies and activities, such as team sports, Boy or

Girl Scouts, and afterschool clubs.

Monitor computer use and set clear limits.

Make sure the computer is in a common area where you can keep an eye on the child's online activity, and limit time online, waiting until homework and chores are done.

Talk to children about underlying issues.Compulsive computer use can be the sign of deeper problems. • Is the child having problems fitting in? • Has there been a recent major change, like a move or divorce, which

is causing stress? • Is the child depressed?

Don’t be afraid to seek professional counseling and speak to parents if you are concerned about a child.

School-Wide Action

• We must make sure school personnel and students’ parents are well-informed about the potential dangers of children’s internet addiction and can recognize warning signs.

• The following is a lesson plan that can be implemented in the school setting to help inform parents, teachers and students and become proactive about technology addiction.

Ribble, M., & Bailey, G. (2007). Digital citizenship in schools. Washington, DC: ISTE (school-wide action plan p. 72, other lesson plans available)

Technology Addiction(Health & Wellness)

Objective Resources Needed

Teachers will gain a great awareness of the signs and dangers of technology

addiction.

Psychiatric Times- Computer Addiction: What is it?:

www.psychiatrictimes.com/p980852.html

Focus Question Related Question

How can students become addicted to digital technology?

What can teachers do to identify technology addiction?

Nets Addressed

NETS*A VI.D; NETS*T VI.D

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION• Survey students about their technology use, both in

school and out. Include in this poll questions about time spent online, time spent with video games, cell phone usage, and other pertinent topics.

• Share this information on the technology habits of students with staff. Have teachers discuss whether they see this pattern of use as a problem for student engagement or performance in school.

• Work with counselors to identify students who may be having issues with technology addiction. Have them share that information with teachers.

• Come up with a plan to work with parents, teachers, and students on the issue of technology addiction.

• Extension Ideas• Provide workshops for parents on the potential

problems with technology education.• Provide ways to help parents identify and address the

issue and offer support mechanisms for teachers who believe they may have students with addiction problems.

• Teaching Tips• Identify strategies to support the use of digital

technology without encouraging overuse.• Define technology addiction and describe how it

differs from normal use. Without this information, teachers may become overly concerned about what may just be typical technology use.

EXTENSION IDEAS &TEACHING TIPS

Additional Resources for Teachers and Parents….

• Parents play a vital part in helping to monitor, detect and refocus children’s internet usage and behaviors. It is essential in our students’ overall digital health and wellness that we keep their parents informed on the risks at hand.

• Use of the Internet is a contributing factor in nearly _____ % of all relationship and family problems.

• ______% of the people going on-line are becoming compulsive or addicted.

• Use of the Internet is a contributing factor in nearly 50% of all relationship and family problems.

• 11% of the people going on-line are becoming compulsive or addicted.

Resources for Parents http://www.netaddiction.com/resources/parents_test.htm

This is the parent-child internet addiction test. It is designed to help parents determine if their child is potentially dealing with an addiction to the internet.

http://www.bewebaware.ca/english/internetaddiction.html

Parents can find tips on internet addiction as well as both the physical and psychological symptoms displayed by children affected by the addiction. Safety tips are provided for parents, available for children ages 2-17, varying depending on the age bracket. Various types of internet addiction are listed, including their risks. Information can be found on how to help a child suffering from an addiction to the internet.

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/internet_cybersex_addiction.htm#treatment

A very valuable resource, the help guide provides parents and guardians with a wealth of vital information. Included in the help guide is: advice on balancing time spent in the virtual world with the real world, explanations of healthy and unhealthy internet usage, signs and symptoms of internet addiction, characteristics that increase one’s chances of becoming addicted, self-help tips, resources for treatment, counseling and group support, advice on helping a child or teenager with internet addiction and an array of related articles.

Show Us What You Know!List one indication that a child is suffering from an

internet addiction:

How can teachers and parents help students who are addicted to the internet?

Show Us What You Know!

List one type of internet addiction:

Show Us What You Know!

Question and AnswersWhat would you do if you discovered one of your students had a possible internet addiction?

Do you think internet addiction is something that teachers should discuss with students in school? Why or why not?

It can be argued that as our society becomes more digital, we will relay on the internet more, do you think that the amount of people with internet addictions is exaggerated?

How did we do? Please go to the following link and evaluate our

presentation

http://www.rsvme.com/wsb.dll/15944/20090921160449750.htm

•www.netaddiction.com [internet addiction test] (participant quiz) •www.youtube.com : “Notebook: Internet Addiction, CBS News”; “Internet Addiction, Kevwizzer 98”] (video streaming) •Ribble, M., & Bailey, G. (2007). Digital citizenship in schools. Washington, DC: ISTE. ISBN: 978-1-56484-232-9 (school-wide action plan p. 72, other lesson plans available)•www.rsvme.com (workshop evaluation)•Microsoft Office: Clip art and PPT graphics

For joining us today! We hope that you learned a lot!

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