Case Study: Digital Well-being at Vancouver Christian School
In the spring of 2024, JOMO(campus) launched a comprehensive program dedicated to enhancing digital wellness among students, faculty, and families at Vancouver Christian School (VCS), a phone-free campus in British Columbia, Canada.
Igniting a positive technology use movement
Joyful Environmental Prompts: JOMO phone boxes replaced no-phone signs and bright, positive campaign posters were installed in the school lobby to promote social connectedness and raise awareness about digital well-being among students and staff in a fun and positive way.
Stakeholder Engagement: The movement at VCS kicked off with staff and parent events aimed at building stakeholder commitment for the JOMO movement on campus. These initial events were crucial in garnering support and enthusiasm from the entire school community.
“These initiatives align with our long-term vision of promoting holistic well-being and digital literacy in our school community,”
- Grace Voo, High School Principal
Student-Led Initiatives
A major highlight of the campaign was the 2-Week Digital Well-being Challenge. Participation exceeded expectations with over 45 students signing up, showing enthusiastic responses from all grades. The campaign also included a student-led Joy of Missing Out carnival, which further engaged the students in offline activities such as reading, outdoor sports, art, and community service projects. This initiative allowed students to reconnect with friends and family without the constant presence of digital devices.
Feedback and Outcomes
The feedback from students was overwhelmingly positive. Many students expressed a newfound appreciation for the simplicity and joy of real-world interactions. One student shared, “I was able to get more work done and interact with others without having distractions from my phone. I found that I was able to sleep better at night when I didn't use my phone before I went to bed.” The campaign successfully raised awareness about the benefits of reducing screen time and the importance of being present in the moment.
Many students reported continuing to practice JOMO principles even after the campaign ended, indicating a lasting impact on their daily habits.
Community Impacts:
1. Deeper Sense of Community
The campaign fostered a stronger sense of community within the school, as students bonded over shared activities and experiences. Another student insightfully noted, “I started relying on my phone less and felt able to have better conversations.”
2. Better Focus and Sleep Habits
Student Insight: “I was able to get more work done and interact with others without having distractions from my phone. To continue, I found that I was able to sleep better at night when I didn't use my phone before I went to bed.”
Phone Free Schools are only the beginning of building a digital wellness culture
Based on this campaign's success, VCS plans to make JOMO a regular part of its school culture with ongoing challenges and events to reinforce these positive behaviours.
VCS is a member of the Society of Christian Schools British Columbia (SCSBC) school association, and JOMO has partnered with SCSBC to develop and deliver a digital wellness program for its member schools as a model for schools worldwide, in consultation with an SCSBC Digital Wellness Advisory Group, student interns, and pilot schools across the province.
Stats and Impact
Based on this campaign's success, VCS plans to make JOMO a regular part of its school culture with ongoing challenges and events to reinforce these positive behaviours.
100%
made a change to their digital habits as a result of the digital wellness challenge
96.8%
of participating students said they would recommend the JOMO Challenge to a friend
1st
Supported by SCSBC
JOMO has partnered with the Society of Christian Schools British Columbia (SCSBC) in consultation with the SCSBC Digital Wellness Advisory Group, student interns, and pilot schools province-wide, including VCS, to develop and deliver a global digital wellness program for K-12 campuses.
Learn more here.
West coast high school to implement the JOMO digital wellness program
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We would be honoured to work together to bring Digital Wellness to your students and faculty. Fill out this form to learn more about JOMO (campus).
