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Book Study

Student Wellness & Success

Balancing The Anxious Generation and Online Learning

SESSION DATES & TIMES COMING IN AUGUST 2026
Audience Classification: Online Learning
Audience Expertise: All Levels - This session is intentionally designed to engage and provide value across experience levels-from beginners to seasoned leaders.
Grade Level Focus: Elementary Schools, Middle Schools, High Schools, Higher Education
Primary Audience: Counselor / St Support, District Leader, Teacher
Does this session focus on a specific product? Yes - Created by another organization - The session focuses on how a school, district, or team uses an external product or service.
Abstract Description : As educators, we are witnessing a generation of students increasingly affected by anxiety, disconnection, and distraction—often exacerbated by the very digital tools we rely on for instruction. In this book study, we will explore The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt through the lens of online and alternative learning environments. Together, we will examine how the rise of screen-based childhoods and social media culture intersects with online education and how we, as educators, can respond with intention, balance, and empathy.

Participants will engage in thoughtful discussion about the root causes of student anxiety, consider the implications for digital learning design, and share practical strategies for fostering healthy relationships with technology—both in and out of the classroom. This group will benefit those working in virtual, hybrid, and alternative settings who are seeking ways to support student mental health while maintaining the power and flexibility of online learning.

Learning Objectives:

  • Analyze the key arguments presented in The Anxious Generation to understand how modern digital environments contribute to rising anxiety among youth, particularly in online and alternative education settings.
  • Develop practical strategies for designing and facilitating online learning experiences that promote student well-being, digital balance, and emotional resilience.