Manage digital device use at school#

Your board should have up-to-date policies and practices to manage health and safety risks around the use of digital devices for ākonga | students and staff.

This could involve:

• ergonomic assessments
• managing student screen time in learning programmes.

This is required under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 – New Zealand Legislation

What the Paediatric Society of New Zealand recommends#

There is increasing evidence that managing screen time for students – especially young students – is important for limiting health and safety risks.

When using digital devices for learning at school, the Paediatric Society of New Zealand recommends the time spent on screens is limited by age:

• Children up to 6 should have minimal screen time, in sessions of 10 to 15 minutes.
• Students up to 12 should spend no more than a third of the school day on digital devices, in sessions of 20 minutes.
• Students over 12 should have eye breaks every 20 minutes.

They also recommend:

• students use screens in class only with the approval of teachers or kaiako
• a limit on the use of headphones and earbuds
• purposeful and intentional screen use
• a balance between screen learning and outdoor tasks, exercise and play
• adjustable seating and chairs and suitable lighting for digital device use.

Download more recommendations for how to safely use digital technologies at schools and kura.