Magic Time

Now ask students how many of them watch videos on YouTube Kids, Netflix, or a similar app.

Ask those students: What happens when you get to the end of a video?

Another video starts playing.

Tell students that this is called autoplay.

Now ask: Does autoplay may it harder to balance your time? If so, how?

It makes it harder because unless you choose to stop it, it will play another video.

It also suggests videos you might not have known about that you’ll want to watch.

Explain that the people who make these apps chose to make them autoplay so that you will watch them for longer.

Now ask: If you had a magic wand that could make the apps stop autoplaying videos, would that make it easier to balance time?

What could you do to act as if you had used that magic wand?

Examples: Turn off autoplay; remind yourself to stop after each video; set a timer.

Now have students think of different things about apps or devices that make it harder to balance your time.

Now distribute the student handout I Wish…

Have students pick one of the ways identified in the class discussion that devices, apps or games make it hard to balance your time.

Under “I wish,” have them write (or draw) how they would change that if they had a magic wand.

Under “I will,” have them write (or draw) what they could do to act as if it had been changed like that.

With very young students, you may wish to do this as a whole-class activity. If so, you can project the Course Presentation in the student chapter I Wish… I Will…