What it shows
Daily screen time for study, play and chat is logged for a week, averaged and charted, then a plan is made and tested. It teaches self-observation and healthy habits with data.
The science
People often guess their screen time wrongly, so measuring gives a truer picture. Splitting it into learning, entertainment and chatting shows what the time is used for. Comparing school days with the weekend and using the average per day gives a fair summary. Setting a small goal and measuring again checks whether a change really worked.
Materials
Cost: free. Many items come from home or from waste; spare parts such as LEDs, motors and wire are in the store.
- A computer, laptop or phone with a browser (free)
- A spreadsheet program: LibreOffice Calc (free) or Google Sheets (free)
- A phone that shows screen time, or a simple paper log with a clock
- A parent or teacher to talk to about the plan
- A notebook and a pencil
Safety
For this project: This is a personal diary; share only what you are comfortable with. Take breaks from the screen every 30 minutes and look at distant things to rest your eyes.
Never use mains electricity: power models with cells, batteries or a low-voltage adapter. Sharp and hot tools, flames and lab chemicals need an adult or your teacher beside you. Keep magnets, button cells and small parts away from young children, and wash your hands after making.
All the safety rulesStep by step
8 steps. Do them in order, and test each part before you go on to the next. Write what you notice in a notebook as you go.
Make a table with the seven days in rows and the columns Learning, Games and videos, Chat and social, and Total in minutes.
Before you start, guess your average daily total and write it down.
For seven days write the minutes for each column, using the phone’s screen time page if it has one, or a paper log.
In the Total column use =SUM(B2:D2) and copy down for all seven days.
In a cell use =AVERAGE(E2:E8) for the weekly average and compare it with your guess.
Insert a stacked column chart of the three columns by day, and note which day was highest.
Set a plan with an adult, such as no screens during meals and one hour before sleep, and write a goal in minutes.
Repeat the diary for another week and compare the averages and the sleep or mood changes you noticed.
What you should see
A weekly chart shows how time is split between learning, games and chat, and the second week shows whether the plan reduced the total.
Viva questions
A teacher or a judge will ask how it works. Try to answer each question before you open it, then compare.
1Why measure instead of guess?
Guesses are often wrong; measured numbers are more reliable.
2What does a stacked column show?
The total for the day and how it splits into parts.
3Why compare two weeks?
To check whether the plan made a difference.
4Name one healthy screen habit.
Take a break every 30 minutes and avoid screens just before sleep.
Take it further
Add a column for hours of sleep and see whether late screen use matches shorter sleep.
Change one thing, measure what happens, and add a table or chart of your readings: that is what turns a model into your own investigation.
Free ebooks for this project
Computer & office
Computer Fundamentals Study Book
The complete study notes, practice questions and glossary for Computer Fundamentals
Computer & office
Safe UPI and Digital Payments
Pay and receive money online, and recognise the tricks fraudsters use