Collaboration spéciale

With digital technology now embedded in everyday life, schools face the ongoing challenge of balancing its educational benefits with its potential distractions and risks. In this article, Chris Kennedy, Superintendent of the West Vancouver School District, presents Personal Digital Device Best Practice Guidelines to support K–12 classrooms, outlining key principles and approaches to guide purposeful technology use, support student well-being, and promote a positive, inclusive digital culture.

In classrooms today, digital tools are more than just add-ons—they are central to how students learn, connect, and express themselves. Yet questions persist about when screen use supports learning and creativity and when it becomes dependency. This article from EngagED Learning presents research by Si Chen, Omid Ebrahimi, and Cecilia Cheng that examines the intricate connections between emotions, behaviours, and digital habits, emphasizing that the quality of engagement is a key factor in shaping student digital well-being.

With growing parental concerns and the day-to-day realities in schools, the issue of screen use has become impossible to ignore. Given the well-documented negative effects of digital overexposure, how can schools take an active role in fostering more intentional and healthy use of technology? In this article, Laurie Michel, Specialist in Digital Well-Being and Disconnection Support, examines three complementary dimensions of digital well-being and outlines strategies for schools to promote balanced, healthy digital engagement.

The health and well-being of young people have become central concerns in education, particularly following the pandemic’s impact on students’ physical and mental health. In response, École secondaire Eulalie-Durocher launched an elective course titled Health and Well-Being. Amélie Rodrigue, Education Consultant at École Eulalie-Durocher, Centre de services scolaire de Montréal, presents how the course fosters healthy lifestyle habits through physical activity, well-being strategies, nutrition education, and supportive learning environments.

Technology is advancing rapidly. In just over 30 years, the world has witnessed the birth of the internet, the advent of social media, the proliferation of smartphones, the introduction of self-driving cars, and the mainstream adoption of generative artificial intelligence, often accompanied by bold promises of improving lives. In this article, Kathleen Lane, Executive Director of the EdCan Network, examines how emerging technologies affect educator well-being and professional efficacy.

A topic that has been at the forefront of education and public health discussions for several years is the measurable impact of smartphone use on the well-being of children and adolescents. Should smartphones be viewed as harmful devices to be avoided, or can they also offer meaningful benefits for youth well-being? In this article, Charles Bourgeois, Ph.D., Lecturer at Université de Sherbrooke and Vice-President of the Centre pour l’intelligence émotionnelle en ligne, examines the potential and limits of school-wide smartphone bans, highlighting research on mental health, attention, and equity, and considering inclusive, reflective approaches to fostering student well-being.

Each issue of the magazine features a selection of resources to discover.
In this edition, the focus is on digital tools designed to support well-being and promote personal growth in the school setting.

Global experts, including the World Health Organization and International Labour Organization, recognize that workplace well-being is a shared responsibility among employees, employers, and unions or associations. In this article, discover how authentic employee input, union collaboration, and systemic strategies can strengthen healthy, supportive workplaces by addressing the issues affecting well-being through individual, collaborative, and systemic actions.