Back to School: Screens, Sleep, AI and More — Our Experts Weigh In
Concordia University experts are available to discuss back-to-school topics.
🔵 Childhood, Education and Screens
The role of reading and screens in children's lives raises major educational challenges, particularly regarding child and adolescent development, social relationships and the impact of digital environments.
Sandra Martin-Chang, Professor, Department of Education — can discuss the importance of reading for young children and ways to encourage them to read for pleasure.
S.martin-chang@concordia.ca
William Bukowski, Professor, Department of Psychology, Concordia University Research Chair on Development in Early Adolescence — expertise: adolescent development, peer relationships, youth social environment and the impact of technology on young people.
william.bukowski@concordia.ca
Annabelle Brault, Professor, holds the Sandra and Alain Bouchard Professorship in Music Therapy. Her research specifically examines how youth perceive digital well-being and how creative arts therapies might offer one way to explore the impact of technology on young people themselves and on their relationships.
Annabelle.brault@concordia.ca
🔵 Social media, Attention and Digital Behaviours
The proliferation of digital platforms and the growing use of screens raise questions about our ability to remain in control of our attention, habits and choices.
Iman Goodarzi, PhD Candidate, John Molson School of Business — expertise: social media addiction, digital behaviours and online well-being.
iman.goodarzi@concordia.ca
Christopher Dietzel, Affiliate Assistant Professor, Communication Studies — expertise: youth digital safety and exposure to online harms (sexual violence, violent content), AI and dating apps.
Christopher.dietzel@concordia.ca
Juan Carlos Castro, Professor, Department of Art Education, Faculty of Fine Arts — expertise: art and digital education, creative practices in technological contexts.
JuanCarlos.Castro@concordia.ca
🔵 Mental Health and Well-Being
The challenges of the back-to-school period — academic pressure, transitions, isolation — raise important issues for the mental health of students and teachers alike.
Jean-Philippe Gouin, Professor, Department of Psychology — expertise: stress, mental health, chronic anxiety, sleep and psychological adaptation.
jean-philippe.gouin@concordia.ca
🔵 Sleep Well, Learn Better: Sleep at the Heart of the Back-to-School Season
Thanh Dang-Vu, Professor, Department of Psychology and Concordia University Institute for Health, Canada Research Chair in Sleep, Neuroimaging and Cognitive Health — expertise: sleep, cognitive health, effects of sleep deprivation on attention, memory and daily functioning.
TT.DangVu@concordia.ca
🔵 Artificial Intelligence and Education: New Pedagogical Approaches in the Digital Age
AI in the classroom raises fundamental questions about learning, ethics and the future of education.
Ann-Louise Davidson, Professor, Department of Education — expertise: digital pedagogy, game-based learning, educational technologies and artificial intelligence in education.
ann-louise.davidson@concordia.ca
Jessie Beier, Professor, Department of Art Education — expertise: artificial intelligence, critical pedagogy, art education and the relationship between technology and learning.
jessie.beier@concordia.ca
Florent Michelot, Assistant Professor, Department of Education — expertise: critical thinking, information and media literacy, artificial intelligence in education, disinformation, 21st-century skills and educational technologies.
florent.michelot@concordia.ca
🔵 Creating to Learn: Art as a Pedagogical Tool
Creative and artistic practices play a key role in learning, well-being and resilience among students and teachers.
Heather McLaughlin, Professor, Creative Arts Therapies, Director of the Graduate Program in Art Therapy and Director of the Concordia Centre for the Arts in Health — expertise: art therapy, arts in health, creative practices that foster learning, support during transitional periods and stress management in educational settings.
heather.mclaughlin@concordia.ca
Sarah Brodie, Professor, Arts Therapies — expertise: art therapy, student well-being, resilience and creative tools for navigating transitional periods.
sarah.brodie@concordia.ca
🔵 Cybersecurity at Back-to-School: How to Avoid Scams, Phishing and Identity Theft
The back-to-school period is often accompanied by a rise in phishing attempts, fake housing offers and other forms of online fraud. These experts offers practical advice on account protection, passwords, multi-factor authentication and the protection of personal information.
Mohammad Mannan, Professor, Cybersecurity and Intelligent Systems Engineering — expertise: cybersecurity, authentication, privacy and mobile security.
mohammad.mannan@concordia.ca
Carol Fung, Professor, Department of Cybersecurity and Systems Engineering — expertise: cybersecurity, privacy, IoT security and network security.
carol.fung@concordia.ca