Digital Well-Being

Educational Institutions across the world have shifted fromcampus-based teaching and learning to online system of deliveryof education. During this transition phase, much emphasis hasbeen laid on the administrative and technological aspects of theonline teaching and learning. This includes resource building,faculty development, online student engagement and training.Importance has also been given to the challenges of onlineassessment which includes but is not limited to online cheating,implementation of online proctoring, and assessment of clinicalskills. However, in this process, one of the aspects that has notbeen given due diligence is the digital wellbeing of the end usersi.e., teachers and students.A new system of teaching and learning with its share ofchallenges puts stress both for students and teachers and affectstheir well-being. Well-being is more than just being happy. Aswell as feeling happy, well-being means developing as aperson, being satisfied, and making a contribution to thecommunity (Dodge & Huyton). The digital wellbeing takesinto consideration the effect of technologies and digital serviceson people’s mental, physical, and emotional health. It meansunderstanding and identifying the positive and negative impactsof engaging with digital activities and being aware of ways tomanage and control these to improve wellbeing (Shah, A., 2019).To ensure the well-beings of the teachers and students,the enhancement of well-being should be planned by theinstitutions for short-, mid- and long-term durations. To dothis, the institutions should consider the challenges faced bythe teachers and students in using the technology to teach andlearn, respectively. Institutional leaders should be aware of thepros and cons of the online teaching and learning.To ensure digital well-being, the process of using technology hasto be simple and friendly. It requires training of both teachersand students, selection of user-friendly applications, effectivelyengaging students in online sessions (Khan, Atta, Sajjad, &Jawaid, 2021), managing technology enhanced assessment,listening to the issue of teachers and students. If this is notdone in an effective manner, the results would be catastrophicresulting into disinterest in the delivery and acquisition ofknowledge. This would also cause extra stress and burden forstudents who will end with more extrinsic and cognitive loadand less germane load.Apart from the institutional level, it is important to managedigital well-being at the personal level as well. The time spenton technology should be effectively balanced. Derive moreoutput in lesser time (Gazzaley, & Samuel, 20121). Minimizethe distractions and take adequate breaks and find time for yourfamily (Allen, & Bhuyan, 2021). Monitor the time spent on usingthe technology (Samuel, & Gazzaley, 2021). This can be donemanually. However, applications are available that automaticallymonitor the technology usage. Daily or weekly reflections on useof technology and how it affects your mental and physical healthcan be helpful in attaining digital well-being.