At least $2.5 million is the amount the NSW Government has set aside for research into the impacts of excessive screen usage on children’s development and learning.
The fund will be overseen by the Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation (CESE).
It is hoped the findings will deliver “a comprehensive database of knowledge on how screen use affects young people and students at school”, which can then be used to inform government policy.
Issues that may be looked at include key sources of problematic screen time, impacts of screen use on learning, wellbeing and behaviour, strategies to counter the negative impacts, and the impact on teaching as a result of changing digital technologies.
“Students spend a lot of their time on devices – so it is important that we find out how this new reality is impacting children and their development,” Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said.
“Many parents I speak with are worried about the impact screen time is having on their children, and it is important we help to provide parents all the facts they need to make informed decisions.
“Investing in research is vital, so the government can form evidence-based policies that we know will have a positive impact on our students, teachers and larger school cohort moving into the future.”
Funding of up to $500,000 will be available to successful applications for tender grants, and up to $200,000 will be offered to successful recipients of partnership grants.
The grants will be advertised in two rounds with the first beginning in late 2023.
Applicants will be asked to deliver their research by 2026.
This announcement comes after the Minns government successfully banned mobile phones for students in all NSW public schools from the beginning of Term 4, after consultation with teachers, students and parents.
“We all know young people love their devices – be it mobile phones, gaming devices or their computers,” Premier Chris Minns said.
“Many parents are worried about screen time and how it might be affecting their children and how they learn, but the impacts of devices on children are largely unknown.
“Investing in this research fund will help create a growing body of knowledge on this issue to inform our government policies, but it will also help inform parents in NSW.”
Related stories:
- Optometrist urges parents to monitor children’s screen time – Jan 2023
- Screen time harming children’s sleep UofN researcher finds – Nov 2022
- Screen time delaying school start research finds – March 2021
- Excessive screen time could lead to diseases – Nov 2021
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