Kids and devices – Using them for good, not evil!
Kids and devices – Using them for good, not evil!
If you can’t beat them, join them; encouraging kids to use their devices - for positive outcomes
Community Participation -
NSWLP-011-R059
The issue
We all know that getting kids off their devices is an impossible challenge. So when Wagga Wagga Urban Landcare was asked to provide an outdoor activity for up to 40 high school students, we knew that we would be competing with 40 mobile phone distractions.
On top of that, out activity would be on the last day of school for the year, so we predicted that many of the kids would be tired, bored, and unmotivated to work on anything too onerous.
Sigh.. What to do?
The solution
Well, how about we give them something productive to do that involves them using their phones? Bingo!
Wagga Wagga Urban Landcare group has recently received a small grant to educate the community about the plight of the Platypus in our region. These special creatures make their homes in sheltered areas of riverbanks, and have been spotted in several local waterways around central Wagga including Flowerdale Lagoon.
Flowerdale Lagoon is the end point wetland storage for stormwater from the Glenfield catchment, which drains one third of Wagga Wagga (1,620 ha). Stormwater from the Glenfield catchment carries litter and sediment into the Lagoon, where it contributes to destruction of habitat for platypus and other native species.
We brought the students to Flowerdale Lagoon, and set them the challenge of designing a logo, brochure, poster or social media post to educate the community about the plight of the Platypus at Flowerdale Lagoon, and motivate them to take action to protect them. Students could use their phones to take photos, undertake research, and use design programs to complete their task.
The impact
The students were excited to be given the opportunity to use their phones to take photos and explore the Lagoon. Many had never been to this part of Wagga before, and were delighted at the countless birds and other creatures we saw in the few hours we spent there.
The kids formed small groups to work on their challenge, with some taking an artistic approach while others used more of a scientific angle. The various approaches used resulted in a great variety of material produced, which the Landcare group can now use to promote the Platypus’ plight to the wider community.
Key facts
- 40 high school students now know that there are platypus living in our local waterways
- Students were able to use their creativity and digital skills to produce valuable educational and marketing material for Landcare