Life-Affirming Ways
to Use Technology
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The Problem

Children spend over 1,600 hours a year with screens—making digital devices the most powerful influence in their lives.  Without intentional human guidance, technology is shaping how children think, feel, and connect—in ways that undermine learning and empathy.

The Solution

At ICMC, we use neuroscience to “prime” young minds for healthy, empowered tech use before the screen turns on. By pairing self-awareness and reflection with screen use, we spark exponential growth in empathy, learning, and community.  

Joe Lewis, father of three and lead Screen Smart® instructor, shares why this work matters.

  • Discover Life-Affirming

    WAYS TO USE TECHNOLOGY

    WAYS TO USE TECHNOLOGY

  • The Problem

    Children spend 1600+ hours a year with screens, making digital devices the most influential forces in their lives. Yet we know that thousands of studies detail screen-related dangers including ADD/ADHD, literacy loss, bullying and depression.

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    The Problem

  • The Solution

    ICMC resolves these concerns by “priming” young minds for optimal outcomes before turning on digital devices. The results are exponential gains in empathy and learning. We create educational programs and festivals that model mindful, compassionate ways to engage digital devices, while ensuring access to high-quality, culturally diverse media.

    Co-Viewing Guide
    The Solution

    Our Mission

    What we do:
     
    We equip children with the tools to use screens with empathy, focus, and agency. Our neuroscience-based programs turn screen engagement into a force for equity, creativity, and joy in learning.

    Our Purpose

    Why we do it:
     
    Because children are growing up in a digital world that too often shapes their minds without their consent. We believe every child deserves to meet technology with humanity—and to see themselves as thinkers, makers, and change agents.

    Our Vision

     The future we’re building:
     
    A world where all children learn to engage screens with intention and compassion. Where education embraces neuroscience as a tool for growth, and every child from every background—is empowered to thrive.

    Our Donors

    You can help thousands of children LEARN BETTER with
    Screen Smart®!

    Want to close the achievement gap and shut down the school-to-prison pipeline? Help bring Screen Smart to Chicago kids in need. Click here to donate! 

    Our Programs

    Instead of focusing on “what, when and how much” media children watch, the ICMC focuses on how youth engage and use screens.

    Screen Smart®

    Fast FOCUS!

    Screen Smart® is an accelerative early learning program for schools.

    The ICMC’ screen Smart PD workshops are also available for teachers, parents, school districts and conferences.

    Fast FOCUS! and Mindful Viewing Workshops, Seminars & Parent Resources

    The ICMC’s workshops for parents, pediatricians, counselors, and corporations provide adults with essential 21st-century tools.

    ICFilm Fest - Movies Make You Smarter®

    Global Girls, Women’s View & WorldScene

    ICMC festivals train children of all ages to think and talk critically about the content they consume.
    The ICFilmFest – Movies Make You Smarter® introduces families to global culture and opens their minds to new perspectives, defusing racial, gender and religious bias.
     
    Building Job Skills & Empathy through Film Festivals.

    These inspirational arts residency programs boost prosocial behaviors, reduce aggression and serve as job training for marginalized and abused youth in detention centers, jails and homeless shelters.

     

    What we do

    Instead of focusing on “what, when and how much” media children watch, the ICMC focuses on how youth engage and use screens.

    <span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Screen Smart

    Screen Smart® is an accelerative learning program designed to close the achievement gap in early childhood.

    Screen Smart PD workshops are also available for teachers, parents, school districts and conferences.

    Fast FOCUS!

    Fast FOCUS! and Mindful Viewing®Workshops & Parent Resources

    The ICMC’s workshops for parents, pediatricians, counselors, and corporations provide adults with essential 21st-century tools for healthy tech habits.

    ICFilm Fest

    ICMC festivals train children of all ages to think and talk critically about the content they consume.
    The ICFilmFest introduces families to global culture and opens young minds to new perspectives, defusing racial, gender and religious bias.
     

    <span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Global Girls, Women’s View & WorldScene

    Building Job Skills, Empathy & Community Capacity Through Film Festivals.

    These inspirational and therapeutic arts residency programs boost prosocial behaviors, reduce aggression and serve as job training for marginalized and abused youth in detention centers, jails and homeless shelters.

     

    How we can help you

    Parents and teachers often feel they’re running to keep up with the tech tidal wave—trying to manage the fallout rather than shaping the future. ICMC changes that. We make healthy tech habits fun and achievable, showing kids (and adults!) how to be more fully human while using technology. Our proven methods deliver rapid, lasting results—all you need to do is reach out! Schedule a meeting or email us at workshops@icmediacenter.org

    Get in touch

    Testimonials

    Salim Ismail ExO Works Chair, former VP of Yahoo! and author of Exponential Organizations

    ❝Screen Smart is the most important breakthrough in education in a hundred years. Nicole Dreiske is the world's leading expert on how kids can and should interact with media and screens so that they bring their higher order thinking to bear.❞
    John Cech Chair, Dept of Children's Literature, U. Florida, Gainesville

    ❝Nicole Dreiske is one of the leading international authorities on technology and learning. Dreiske engages this essential and important work in ways that are dynamic, informed by the latest research, immediately accessible to a broad range of audiences, and deeply applicable to us all.❞
    Mahima Poddar Founder, The Kindness Foundation, Expressive Art Therapy Practitioner

    ❝I am utterly amazed and inspired each time I hear Nicole speak. The large global audience at the International Kindness Festival was also completely captivated by her brilliant, yet simple techniques for infusing "tech use" with fresh, human and humane awareness. Nicole's Screen Smart methods are simply jaw-dropping! ❞
    Nicholas Peneff CEO, Public Health & Safety; Partner, Healthy Buildings Informatics, LLC

    ❝Nicole has restaged the light shining on the hidden dangers of technology to illuminate the smartest use of electronic devices. She shows us how to keep from hurting ourselves, our well-being and our children, by applying systematic principles of healthy screen use to our digital devices.❞
    Salim Ismail ExO Works Chair, former VP of Yahoo! & author of Exponential Organizations

    ❝Screen Smart is the most important breakthrough in education in a hundred years. Nicole Dreiske is the world's leading expert on how kids can and should interact with media and screens so that they bring their higher order thinking to bear.❞
    John Cech Department of Children's Literature Chair, University of Florida

    ❝Nicole Dreiske is one of the leading international authorities on technology and learning. Dreiske engages this essential and important work in ways that are dynamic, informed by the latest research, immediately accessible to a broad range of audiences, and deeply applicable to us all.❞
    Mahima Poddar Founder, The Kindness Foundation, Expressive Art Therapy Practitioner

    ❝I am utterly amazed and inspired each time I hear Nicole speak. The large global audience at the International Kindness Festival was also completely captivated by her brilliant, yet simple techniques for infusing "tech use" with fresh, human and humane awareness. Nicole's Screen Smart methods are simply jaw-dropping! ❞
    Nicholas Peneff DrPH Partner at Healthy Buildings Informatics, LLC

    ❝Nicole has restaged the light shining on the hidden dangers of technology to illuminate the smartest use of electronic devices. She shows us how to keep from hurting ourselves, our well-being and our children, by applying systematic principles of healthy screen use to our digital devices.❞