To help students reduce unnecessary screen time and make them increase focus and attention span, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) has started a course — Digital Wellness. Since Prof Prem Lal Patel also has the additional charge of Director of Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Nagpur, the course has been launched there too. ‘The Hitavada’ has been raising this issue for quite sometime. Most students are habituated to browsing mobile every now and then.

 

The screen time of students, especially, those who stay in the hostels, has increased. This was found out long ago by Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) by its then Vice-Chancellor Dr Dilip Mhaisekar. According to Prof Prem Lal Patel, this rising screen time is harming students no end. They are not only unable to concentrate, but their attention span is also drastically falling. Most of them are experiencing brain rot. “This is a very serious issue and I fear it could lead to any outcome. Considering its seriousness, we have decided to introduce this course. We approached Brahmakumaris, which has already taken this initiative in its internal system. Digital wellness is the practice of using technology in a balanced way that promotes physical and mental health. It involves being mindful of how digital interactions affect us. Digital wellness improves focus and attention span, reduces distraction, improves efficiency and effectiveness and leads to improved physical and mental health,” elaborated Prof Patel. “The course has started in January and it will be for one semester.

 

Those who have taken admission have to stay in the class for two hours during which they are taught the mobile handling management. Mobile use has become a necessity now. But here, in this course, we teach them the judicious use of mobile. The strategies for digital wellness include setting screen time limits, take breaks from screens, avoid using screens before bed, use blue-light-blocking glasses, mute notifications, designate tech-free zones, go on a digital detox,” explained Prof Patel. The course is not mandatory, but both the institutions --VNIT and IIIT Nagpur received good response as 60-70 students took admission.

 

Prof Patel feels, the institutions should not force students to go for Digital Wellness, but surely, try to convince them how beneficial it is for their overall life. The course module contains course introduction, power of attention, power of neuroplasticity, power of positive self-talk, science of addiction and deaddiction, digital detox techniques. The individuals are advised to design technology to promote healthy use, and help employees maintain a healthy lifestyle, track screen time, use parental controls or apps, power down before bed, avoid using screens for at least an hour before bedtime, be conscious of how digital interactions affect overall well-being. The risks of digital overuse include digital eye strain, headache, fatigue, and increased risk of depression.