16 Technology
What is it?
Technology consists of products, equipment, or systems that people can use in their everyday lives to promote participation and performance in occupations (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2020).
Why is it important?
Technology can be a useful tool to promote engagement in the classroom while also providing additional resources that be be used to improve health. According to Lai and Bower, “There are different motivations for integrating technology into learning, for instance, to improve student learning outcomes, improve access to learning, and enhance learner motivation” (Lai & Bower, 2019). Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming more prevalent in education. This technology is changing how courses can be taught and the access students have to information (Chen, Chen, & Lin, 2020). Check your course syllabus to learn more about allowed uses of AI in your academic work.
However, overuse of technology can have many negative health consequences for users. The increased use of smartphones and social media can contribute to a decrease in mental health. According to Dr. Jonathan Haidt, suggests that the average teen spends around 5 hours per day on social media platforms, he suggests that this use of technology has negative health effects. Spending increased time on phones and social media can lead to decreased sleep health, more time spent sedentary, increased anxiety, and additional exposure to blue light (Huberman, 2024).
Tools You Can Use
- Technology can be used to promote health and wellness. Using a Fitbit or other device to monitor health (i.e. track steps, heart rate, etc.) can be helpful for regulating health.
- Apps can also be used to track eating habits to monitor health
- Apps can also be used for guided meditation to improve mental health