Digital Tech Resources
Your PTA would like to help families and students in the CAJ community to better manage and control digital tech, rather than letting the technology control you.
We have started by hosting some Digital Tech Forums. Links to videos of those forums (with Japanese translation) will be made available here.
We would also like to give information about helpful resources. We will start with some informal information that came out in the forums. Later, we would like to add more formal information and recommendations from our CAJ IT Department, CAJ Librarian, etc.
We hope that you find this information helpful and we welcome your additional questions, ideas and feedback.
Forum #1, May 2022 Digital Tech Vimeo Video
第1ディジタルテックフォーラムのビデオ
If you missed the first DTF, be sure to take a look at the video below.
第1DTFを見逃した方、是非、ビデオをご覧ください。
Forum #2, November 2022 Digital Tech Vimeo Video
Inviting parents to think about tech use in the home, what interferes with the home life they want, and what enhances it. We are not dealing with a matter of morality or willpower; this is well-funded experts creating addictive algorithms to override our morality and willpower.
Forum # 3, May 24, 2023 Digital Tech Vimeo Video
In collaboration with CAJ's IT Dept. and Andrew & Sarah Wilson.
Learn about the dark side of digital info-tainment for kids & families and what you can do about it.
Articles, videos and podcast regarding Digital Tech and Students
Prof. Cal Newport: He is a computer science professor at Georgetown University and often writes and discusses the topics of productivity, studying, attention/distraction in relation to technology. His books are suitable for ages from high school to adults. He has a show that is available on YouTube or any podcast platform. Two recent episodes were particularly relevant to our Forum #2:
Episode #219 discusses: Kids and Screens / Social Media / Video Games
Episode #222 discusses: Handling distraction/Getting deep work done / The WSJ article above
Podcasts are available directly from his website along with links to all his podcasts on all platforms:
IMPORTANT: Any software or hardware examples given here are reference examples. Please use these examples as a basis for your own research to decide if they are right for you, by looking at reviews and comparing what is available in the market.
Ideas to help you take breaks and/or concentrate better:
Freedom
Blocks websites on a schedule. (For Mac, Windows, Android, iOS, and Chrome)
Focus Mode on your smartphone or tablet
Both iPhone and Android phones have a "focus mode" setting that can be set for "work" and other profiles that block notifications, etc.
Time Out
For MacOS: blanks screen on a schedule as a reminder to take a break
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/time-out-break-reminders/id402592703?mt=12
DF Tube (Distraction Free for YouTube™)
Works for Chrome OS and the latest Edge browser, Edge Chromium:
--Disables auto play of the next video
--Hides the video recommendations sidebar
--Hides the related videos that appear at the end of videos
--Plus other useful functions
The 8 best apps to help you focus and block distractions in 2023
https://zapier.com/blog/stay-focused-avoid-distractions/