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How Students Are Dodging Cellphone Restrictions Yes! Students are sneaky. Fun reading the comments from #educators on what kids are doing to get around the mobile phone #restrictions. On the positive side, its #ingenuity and #innovation at work. How could we turn this around to get students to use these skills to solve real world problems beyond this ‘problem’? https://ow.ly/S1cY50UrrM0 #technology #schools #educators #K12 #students

Where do you stand on cellphone bans in schools? Our new Pew Research Center study finds that most Americans (68%) support bans that prevent middle & high school students from using cellphones during class. Fewer (36%) support banning students from using cellphones during the entire school day. Why do Americans support cellphone bans during class? Among supporters, 98% say a reason is that students would have fewer distractions in class (91% say major reason). Why do Americans oppose cellphone bans during class? Among opponents, 86% say a reason is that parents should be able to reach their child when needed (60% say major reason). Go here for the full set of findings: https://lnkd.in/e423AEVb

Some time ago, I posted an Op-ed by a public school teacher who said he was quitting teaching because his students use of smart phones during class made teaching almost impossible. The school board had refused to ban phones from classrooms, and had left it up to each teacher to find ways to stop students from IPhone use during class. But, appealing to students to stop using their phones wasn't working. And trying to take them away from students only caused stress for both the teacher and the students. With no help from the administration, no help from parents, and no cooperation from students, the teacher finally threw in the towel. I revisit this issue because I read today in the WSJ that the school board in Los Angeles, of all places, has outright banned cellphones. Although Los Angeles had a policy that students should not use cell phones during class. Like the scenario above, this policy was unenforceable. Instead of just telling students they cannot use their cell phones, the school board will institute a policy in January that cell phones must be locked away during classroom hours. To assuage parent's concerns about being able to contact their little darlings, the policy will permit students to have phones that only having calling and texting features. No Internet. Be interesting to see if this policy works. Kids these days are so stuck to their phones, it is hard to imagine that any policy prohibiting them will be successful. But, at least it is acknowledgment that "voluntary" compliance with phone bans is unworkable. I will reiterate my own view. I don't have a smart phone. I only have a flip phone. I don't text. And when I am not sitting at my computer, I am otherwise engaged with the world around me. As much as I enjoy hearing from people on Linkedin. I don't feel the need to check what they are saying every minute of the day.

Is It Time to Shift Focus From Blanket Bans to Empowering Education? 💡 Perhaps it is more beneficial for schools to shift the focus from blanket bans to fostering responsible and effective technology use among students. The recent discussion on weak evidence from research behind mobile phone bans in schools prompts us to consider that today's generation employs mobile phones for a myriad of purposes beyond traditional calls. They utilise data-driven communication, recording, and educational resources, much like the diverse array of learning devices allowed in schools. Instead of adhering to somewhat outdated ban ideologies, why not prioritise teaching digital literacy and responsible tech use? Recognising that knowledge and skills are tools, it's crucial to guide students on when and how to use them. Age-appropriate guidelines are essential; a four-year-old shouldn't be glued to their device during a school break when there is a clear need for active play and exploration. In navigating the exponentially developing digital era, perhaps it is time to embrace a more proactive stance—equipping students with the skills to responsibly engage with technology, preparing them for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. #EdTech #DigitalLiteracy #EmpowerEducation #TechInSchools

Shouldn't this be: "We looked all the missing recent evidence on mobile phone bans in schools"? The paper argues that there is no good evidence on the impact of mobile phone bans. Policymakers, therefore, should not do anything. It would be interesting to know what types of evidence and knowledge actually have been used to justify mobile phone bans. Of course, there could never be evidence, as the authors want it, on the impact of bans before there are bans. The first movers can never justify their action using random controlled studies or correlation studies (unless they extrapolate existing research beyond its domain of validity; known as abduction). The paper shows that, so far, there are just a handful of studies of varying quality, about half of those being done by masters or doctoral students. Few of those have been peer reviewed. One could (and should) ask what kind of a methodology would be needed to learn about the impacts of mobile phone use. Can we make conclusions from an aggregated set of correlation studies that have been done in very different contexts? Or should we ask the teachers who are, at least to some extent, able to filter out confounding factors? My current untested hypothesis is that mobile device use can have important long-term effects, for example, for reading comprehension. That, in turn, could erode the capacity to learn. Such effects will not show up when a mobile phone ban is correlated with synchronous impact on "learning outcomes."

Absolutely support the implementation of cellphone bans in schools! Research and real-world experiences show that these bans lead to significant improvements in student focus, engagement, and academic performance. Schools in the Capital Region have reported fewer classroom disruptions and a reduction in cyberbullying incidents. Innovative solutions like Yondr pouches ensure compliance and minimize resistance, proving that such policies are both practical and effective. Clear communication with parents and students about the benefits is key to successful implementation. Let's prioritize education and create environments where students can thrive! https://lnkd.in/eHkYTcSN

Student Cell Phone Use: What’s Happening Across the States? Curious about the latest trends in student cellphone use policies? A wave of new laws and policies is aiming to restrict student access to phones during school hours, citing benefits to mental health and learning. Discover which states are leading the charge and the reasoning behind these changes in this insightful EducationWeek article by Arianna Prothero, Lauraine Langreo, and Alyson Klein: https://lnkd.in/gQZNUJkQ #Education #StudentLife #MentalHealth #EdTech #SchoolPolicies

A planned ban on mobile phones in secondary schools under consideration by the government must include a specific "Post of Responsibility " position, so that it can be implemented in a serious, meaningful way which does not impede the functioning of the school and add to the already heavy burden on post holders. Mobile phones set to be banned across all second-level schools under new Government plans https://lnkd.in/ezv8AzvR

📱Cellphones in school, yea or nay? The debate is ongoing with strong opinions from both sides. Honestly, I’ve been on both sides of the debate: ✅PRO: A FREE graphing calculator on the phone, leveling the playing field and providing equity to students who many not be able to afford the TI-84 they need for higher level math classes. 🚫CON: A constant distraction and sense of FOMO. The clear mental health consequences and addictive nature of the phone. IMHO, at this point, the CONS outweigh the PROS. In fact, since students have access to their phones outside of school and more often than not, devices are provided in school, it doesn’t make sense to have smart phones on campus. Not just in class, but on campus. Schools have phones (landlines even and the adults supporting students have phones. I’d love to see a return to a less #FEAR based community ethos where parents know and have faith in their educators and understand they can get in touch with their child through the school office. Moreover, students need space to exist in their school community without having to check in at home, forcing them to keep a foot in two places at once. Let’s #empower students to think critically, collaborate and use their #curiosity, and #compassion to build #community . They don’t need that other ‘c’ word. (hint: cellphone) What are your thoughts? National Association for Media Literacy Education Media Literacy Now Devorah Heitner Phyllis L. Fagell, LCPC