Objective: To change the habit of distracted walkers with your friends and peers.
Activity Brief:
Step 1: Perform field observations at your school by observing real walking behavior and counting the students who are using an electronic device or are visibly reading something while walking. A distracted walker is visibly using or holding their phone, a music player or any other electronic device in their hand while walking. (pre-observation)
Step 2: Do some activities and messaging around your school to let these walkers know the risk they are taking by walking distracted. We’ll provide ideas and resources to help you do the messaging.
Step 3: Perform another field observation to see how many walkers you shifted into not walking distracted. (post-observation)
Step 4: Return all your observations for All-Star credit by April 2, 2021. If completed after April 2, 2021 they will roll over into 21-22 All-Star year.
What are field observations? Field observations are a way to find out how many people are engaging in an act. In this case, you will be observing walkers and taking count if they are or are not visibly using an electronic device while walking. In this activity, you will be performing two field observations – pre- observations before you do messaging and activities, and post-observations after you’ve completed messaging and activities.
Why two field observations? The idea is to do pre-observations to get a baseline of walker’s behavior. This lets you know how many people are walking distracted and how big the problem is in your community. After your team does some messaging and activities to let your walkers know they are being distracted while walking, you’ll want to know if you made a shift in their behavior, so you complete a post-observation to find out.
What happens to the data? These field observations will help Teens in the Driver Seat® study the problem of distracted walking among teens and find ways to help prevent it. We need to know what you see and how you’re helping keep your classmates safe by conducting this project right in your own community. When you complete the entire activities and send us the observation data, we’ll crunch some numbers, do some comparisons and send you back a report with how your school did.
What do we get in return? Not only do you get to be a part of a great activity, you also get extra TDS All-Star points. Here’s the deal – do the pre-observation and post-observations, return them to us and get 15 TDS All-Star points, do your activities and report them (as normal) and you’ll still get those points! We’re also awarding high schools that complete the activity with a $50 giftcard, thanks to Union Pacific sponsorship.
COVID-19 Precautions: Follow your schools safety protocols currently in place, for example 6 ft physical distancing and wearing masks.
Sign Up for the Distracted Walkers Activity Now!
* this activity is only available for active Texas High Schools at this time.