Phones In The Classroom Debate (& 5 Things Parents Can Do To Help)
The topic of cell phones in the classroom is a complex one.
Parents encourage their children to have and use them, and teachers are frustrated trying to teach a lesson to a classroom full of students who’d rather look at their phones than pay attention.
The Program of International Student Assessment found a sharp decline in student test scores starting around 2012, at the onset of smartphones and social media. In fact, 97% of students use their phones during school hours, with screen time ranging from less than a minute to 6 1/2 hours!
While the majority of parents and teachers see this as a problem, where they differ is how to fix it. As the leaders of our future, it is essential to come together to explore the benefits and setbacks of their use to reduce their effects on our academic performances.
Let’s dive deep and lay everything out.
What are the advantages of using mobile phones in the classroom?
Each year, updates and technological advances enhance our devices. With this comes a new set of responsibilities and possibilities for students to get their work done and express themselves, too. Let’s explore to see what that looks like
- Digital Citizenship:
Digital citizenship is the ability to navigate our digital environment in a way that is safe and responsible–a skill that students will need as they head on to college or into the workforce. This will help them with positive online interactions, learn digital boundaries, and to be mindful of their posts and activities. As well as how to manage their mental health while having an active social presence.
- Tools:
Cell phones provide access to various tools to use in a classroom environment. From advanced calculators to maps and search engines, cell phones put a world of information at their fingertips. Speech-to-text software and text-reading apps can make learning accessible for students with impairments and disabilities. And scheduling and communication tools make keeping up with after-school activities much easier for parents to manage.
- More Student Participation:
Although many households possess a computer, that is not the same in all parts of the country. Often, a cell phone will double as a computer for a student, allowing them to participate in group assignments or simply transfer documents to a teacher. For others, the ability to use a phone to complete an assignment might be preferable to using a laptop or desktop computer.
- Creativity:
Students can take their projects and assignments to a new level when using their phones. In addition to academic tools, they have several creative tools, such as cameras, video editing, and access to apps like Canva. Phones can inspire students and open their eyes to the endless ways they can present their work, shaping their unique ideas and turning them into their very own creations.
What are the disadvantages of using mobile phones in the classroom?
Although the pro arguments are very beneficial to students in terms of the tools available to them, there are some significant drawbacks. Some are inherent because of the nature of the devices, but other cons should be closely monitored for their lasting effects.
- Distractions:
Notifications are a massive cause of distraction. Apps such as social media and streaming devices were created to keep fans in the app as long as possible–creating habits that are very difficult for us to break. The temptation to scroll or check notifications is almost impossible to curb with these apps and other leisure activities readily available–making focusing on schoolwork a challenge.
- Push Back from Parents:
The relationship between teachers and parents regarding phone usage in classrooms is tense. Parents want their children to have phones for safety, while teachers need focus in the classroom. This debate creates a divide, impacting students who feel justified in having their phones because of their parents. This ongoing conflict causes disharmony, ultimately affecting the students’ learning experience.
- Decreased Academic Performance:
Phone usage negatively impacts academic performance by disrupting sleep and focus. Over half of teens use their phones overnight, leading to tiredness and lack of concentration in school. During class, students often turn to their phones when bored or facing complex tasks, making it harder to regain focus. Frequent phone use disrupts learning, as reliance on quick answers stunts problem-solving.
- Limited Student Interaction:
Phone usage during school downtimes hampers student-to-student interaction. Even when chatting with peers, students miss forming deeper interpersonal bonds. Meeting and bonding are vital for children, but constant phone use during lunch or between lessons limits these interactions. Additionally, it reduces participation in gym class and extracurricular activities, further isolating students and impeding their social development.
How Can You Help?
Parents and teachers can collaborate to curb excessive cell phone use in the classroom. Understanding each other’s viewpoints is crucial. While parents have valid concerns, recent events have heightened these worries, and teachers struggle to manage phone use, disrupting the classroom. However, hope is not lost. By working together, parents can help change perspectives and enforce appropriate phone usage at home, supporting teachers’ efforts in school.
PARENTS:
- Have a serious conversation about the importance of proper phone usage with your child.
- Set rules regarding phone usage during school hours, and their corresponding consequences.
- Use app monitoring to check if the rules are being followed.
- Lead by example by decreasing your leisure time on your phone.
- Don’t text them outside of emergencies.
TEACHERS:
- Have a designated area where phones can go when they aren’t serving an academic purpose.
- Incorporate phones in classroom assignments or activities..
- Document incidents and causes of violations. Having a record of this to present to their parents will help enforce your reasoning behind their disturbance. Most likely it won’t be because of them doing school work or texting their parents.
- Propose the school get Wifi or app blocker in their networking system that won’t permit social media use.
- Communicate with parents on safety protocols so they feel less of a need to rely on phones.
For a successful outcome, parents and teachers must work together to reduce cell phone use in the classroom. By setting clear rules, students will focus better and feel less tempted to check their phones. Working together on ways to limit phone access can improve the school environment and ease parents’ worries. It’s important to push for new rules and laws with school leaders and politicians. Although some progress has been made, more can be done. Having the same rules for all grade levels will reduce confusion and teach students good digital habits early. This teamwork will create harmony for everyone. Students will take control of their learning, teachers can focus on teaching, and parents will feel confident that their children are learning. With strong rules in place, this effort will promote healthier habits and improve engagement for everyone involved.
If There Is a Will, There is a way:
Imagine a classroom where students are not buried in their phones, but are instead focused, collaborating, and actively participating. They look up information when needed and then put their phones away, willingly and with pleasure.
This can become a reality if parents and teachers cooperate and compromise.
While weighing the pros and cons can be challenging, it’s clear that changes are necessary. Parents should remember that schools have their child’s best interests in mind. Enforcing cell phone rules and restrictions in the classroom requires ongoing effort.
The freedom students experienced, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic, needs to be balanced with structure. By working together, teachers and parents can regulate phone usage, boosting student productivity and fostering responsible habits. Improved safety guidelines and provisions will also ease parents’ minds. If there is a will, there is a way, so let’s get creative and find ways for students to embrace technology without it holding them back.
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