cell phones in school for educational purposes

Using Smartphones as Learning Tools

The use of smartphones in schools is among the most contested topics among educators, parents, and students. Understandably, the motivation for debate stems from a desire to limit distractions.

Even though hundreds of millions of people rely on mobile technology for many simple tasks, we have yet to tap its full potential to transform learning. The COVID-19 pandemic forced educational content to become much more digitally focused , and this shift has since not shown any signs of slowing down.

Mobile technology can change the way education is delivered. Your average cell phone is a low-cost intervention that packs significant computing power and technology into your pocket. It is a powerful teaching aid that can dramatically improve learning outcomes when used correctly.

History of Using Cell Phones in the Classroom

Lisa Nielseon, an educator who started her career as a librarian and eventually became an education blogger and speaker, broke down the history of cell phones in schools .

When cell phones were introduced in the early 1990s, educators considered them a nuisance. School administrators banned all electronic devices, fearing that students could use such devices for unlawful activities.

That, however, did not stop the widespread adoption of cell phones. By the late 1990s, they had become smaller and cheaper and were widely used by teens for text messaging.

By 2002, some parents argued that cell phones were necessary for safety because they enabled them to communicate with their children anytime. There were calls for lawmakers and administrators to reconsider school cell phone bans.

The National School Safety and Security Services noted that many schools were starting to allow cell phones among their students , and by the mid-2000s, the role of cell phones in the school was being rethought.

Policies changed to allow cell phones on campus so long as they were turned off during the day. However, educators couldn’t stop the use of these devices. As the 2000s rolled along, even elementary school students began using cell phones daily.

By 2007, educators conceded that cell phones could play an important role in learning. Universities started using text messages to reach out to students, and parents believed text messaging helped improve communications with children .

The following year, schools in Brooklyn began distributing cell phones to students, and by 2010, there was a significant shift toward embracing cell phones as educational tools. From being used for text messaging to keep students connected with their schools, cell phones slowly found applications for broad educational purposes.

Today, technological advancements have allowed cell phones to become as powerful as laptops and computers while occupying only a fraction of the space. They have transitioned from devices that educators feared to tools that educators embraced.

Technology is transforming how students learn and how teachers teach, and tools like cell phones can help bridge the gap between in-classroom and at-home learning.

Benefits of Cell Phones in Learning

Viewing cell phones as mere “distance learning tools” misses a deeper point. They represent a profound shift in the way education is delivered and received.

In the United States, for instance, the oral fluency of kindergartners in New Mexico tripled in just three years after educators began using cell phones to assess individual students’ progress and tailor lessons to their needs. This is just one example of the tremendous potential they can unlock.

The use of cell phones in learning offers three distinct advantages with the potential to improve education delivery and thereby enhance learning outcomes:

It simplifies access to content and experts, overcoming traditional constraints of time, location, and collaboration.
It personalizes education solutions for individual learners, helping educators customize the teaching process using software and interactive media that adapt difficulty levels to individual students’ understanding and pace.
It addresses specific challenges that lower the efficiency of educational systems worldwide. For example, MIT’s “global classroom” is a low-cost digital or blended classroom that helps non-MIT learners worldwide by offering them MIT-quality education digitally.

Smartphones today pack the power and potential of computers (even comparable to supercomputers of the 1980s) and require only a fraction of the energy to operate:

Traditionally, the United States categorized computers into PCs and laptops. However, during the last decade, mobile phones have quickly become popular and have grown much faster in popularity and usage to become the most preferred means of personal computing:

As of January 2024, there are about 5.35 billion internet users worldwide, and over 96% of them use cell phones to access the internet, while just 62% use laptops and desktops.

Most children in the UK own their own cell phones by the age of 11 . In China, 88% of first to third-grade pupils (aged six to nine) reported having their own cell phone.

This implies that students are already accustomed to cell phones and require little to no device-specific instructions when using them as learning tools. Teachers can save time and focus on their lessons instead of instructing students how to use cell phones.

Another advantage of using cell phones for learning is that it can address the digital divide in education resulting from a socioeconomic gap between communities, cultures, or individuals. Those in lower-income households are particularly likely to rely on their cell phones (over PCs and laptops) to go online.

Thus, cell phones can benefit teachers by providing a nearly ubiquitous tool to students with incredible processing power that allows internet searches and apps to aid learning.

Ways of Using Smartphones in the Classroom

As a student, you can use cell phones as a learning tool in several ways – its uses can be broadly classified into seven areas:

1. To access educational content and e-books

Schools are increasingly turning to digital books or e-books as a cost-effective and efficient way to provide educational materials to students. In 2019, Bill Gates predicted that textbooks would become obsolete , while 75% of teachers now believe digital content will completely replace print textbooks within the next decade.

E-books have many advantages , making them an appealing option for both in-class and remote learning. Here are some of the key benefits for students:

Easier note-taking : Students can highlight and take notes directly in the text, eliminating the need for separate notebooks or papers and making it easier to track important information.
Adjustable highlighting : Unlike traditional textbooks, eBooks have features that allow students to adjust the color and size of their highlights, making it easier to differentiate between key concepts and supporting details.
Portability : Changes made in the cell phone can be accessed on various devices, including laptops and tablets – no need to carry your heavy backpacks.
Cost-effective and environment-friendly : e-books are less expensive than traditional textbooks, and they are also more environment-friendly.
Better accessibility : cell phones offer built-in features such as screen readers and adjustable font sizes that make e-book-based learning more accessible to students with visual impairments or other disabilities.

2. To access the school’s Learning Management System

Your knowledge acquisition need not be confined to classrooms or study rooms anymore. Learning has gone mobile, seamlessly weaving into the fabric of our everyday lives through cell phones. Modern authoring tools allow teachers and instructional designers to create, edit, and organize digital learning content without extensive programming knowledge.

Schools are increasingly adopting Learning Management Systems (LMSs) to manage content and lesson plans and customize them using built-in authoring tools. LMSs facilitate the delivery, tracking, and management of learning experiences and help transcend physical boundaries, enabling learning anywhere and anytime.

LMS platforms like BlackBoard Mobile Learn allow students to download course material, timetable updates, assignment deadlines, and grades, bringing a fully digital learning experience to their favorite mobile device without limits.

There are several advantages to using an LMS on a smartphone:

3. To use AR/VR tools to aid learning:

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) based environments can help students understand and learn in exciting ways.

While dedicated headsets like the Oculus Quest, HTC Vive, and Valve Index are great VR headsets available, they are also expensive. In contrast, cell phone-based headsets like Google Cardboard are cost-effective and ideal for educational applications.

They enable an immersive learning experience using free VR apps downloaded from the app store to simulate an environment and teach students concepts that would otherwise be difficult to experience and illustrate in a classroom (e.g., visualizing molecular structure ).

Similarly, AR enriches the classroom learning experience by overlaying digital content onto real-world content using devices like cell phones and tablets. It can bring traditional textbooks to life by adding interactive elements like videos, models, or supplementary information to printed pages.

The SkyView app, for example, allows students to explore the universe using AR overlays of the night sky – anyone can point their cell phone upward to identify stars, constellations, planets, and even satellites.

4. As a collaboration tool

Mobile phones make real-time collaboration possible through tools embedded within LMS and social networking platforms. They help educators and learners stay in touch with colleagues and allow students to get immediate feedback.

The use of social media for collaborative learning positively impacts student learning , performance, and confidence.

Students can, for example, ask a question on X ( Twitter ) class feed, and teachers can respond without singling out the student. This can be made more accessible when the teacher creates a recognizable hashtag that students can use.

Other forms of social media can be used for similar purposes, such as maintaining a classroom Facebook page to keep students updated.

Learn more about how to use social media in education .

Students can also use cell phones to capture photos and videos and collaborate with classmates using free cloud-based presentation software such as PowerPoint or Google Slides . Platforms like YouTube allow students to share videos that can be used for video projects, such as documenting historic sites in a city or recording running documentaries of their research.

Cell phones can record audio, which can be used as voice-overs for projects. A cell phone’s basic audio/video recording function can also record classroom lectures or take pictures of the class board—which can be referred to when studying.

5. As tools for adaptive assessment

Teachers can use cell phones to assess students’ understanding in real-time through research-based assessment tests. These tests can be quizzes or surveys, which students can respond to quickly using a cell phone.

Curriculum can be adapted to individual student progress, allowing teachers to track class progress and tailor instruction for students requiring remedial support.

6. For test preparation support

Students worldwide take standard tests such as the SAT, GRE, and GMAT. Cell phone-based mock tests with built-in guidebooks and applications help students compare their performance with thousands of others while providing customized tips to improve performance.

Using just your cell phone, you can access a myriad of study apps designed to streamline learning, enhance productivity, and optimize your time management.

7. Distance tutoring and homework support

Once considered a luxury service, tutoring is now widespread among families with school-age children. Private tutoring has several benefits . With the rise in distance learning and the high penetration of cell phones, it’s become more accessible to find a tutor online.

While the online tutoring process can vary depending on the learner’s goals and objectives, it usually involves using video calling software like Zoom, which can be easily accessed via cell phone.

Depending on the student’s situation, an online tutor might help the student gain proficiency in a specific subject by providing extra materials to learn and review or by helping the student complete homework assigned at school.

The options for finding online tutoring services are nearly endless. Here’s how to find one .

Apps for Teachers

When students use cell phones for learning, teachers can better leverage technology to deliver instructions and enhance the learning experience. A collection of great apps is now available to aid teachers.

Educator and TED-Ed speaker Stacey Roshan points out how even simple tech in the classroom can provide a safe space for all learners to contribute.

According to McKinsey, to engage students effectively, educators must focus on eight dimensions of the learning experience . Technologies like cell phones play an important role:

Cell phone-based apps are uniquely tailored to target different subjects and help teachers engage students more closely with their lessons.

Duolingo , for example, can be used by students taking a foreign language course. The app provides interactive flashcards and analyses voice responses to gauge whether words are pronounced correctly. Themed lessons within the app help students learn specific parts of a new language, making it much more engaging.

Another useful app is Instructables , which contains over 100,000 do-it-yourself projects and instructions. It is perfect for maker classrooms that emphasize creation and making projects that use science and engineering lessons.

Students can also use more general apps for daily work. Evernote , for example, is a great app for distributing lessons to students. Teachers can eliminate handouts by creating shared notebooks with students’ assignments, lessons, and related media.

As this brief review shows, teachers can use multiple apps to enhance classroom lessons. Some more are discussed in 35 of the best educational apps for teachers . These apps benefit students because they can work hands-on with their materials even when outside the classroom.

Examples of Smartphones in the Classroom

Having discussed the history of cell phones and how they’ve generally been used in the classroom, let’s look at some specific examples of how teachers integrate cell phones into their lessons.

Using Poll Everywhere to enhance class participation

Authors Warnich and Gordon provided a specific example of how cell phone technology was integrated into the classroom. Educators used Poll Everywhere , a free audience response system that allowed the audience to vote on a topic (individually and as a group) for what they believe to be the correct answer to a question.

History teachers, for example, used this tool to receive immediate student feedback, which was instantly displayed on the Poll Everywhere website. Responses were visualized using graphs and tables and instantly displayed using a projector.

This allowed instructors to determine whether the lessons were effective and what percentage of students picked up the teaching effectively. This data was crucial for adjusting lessons to suit student’s needs and enhance teaching.

Today, poll features are also available on social media sites and messaging apps . These features help enhance class participation by ensuring students understand what is being taught.

The use of media features in teaching science

Another example of cell phone use to enhance learning can be seen in Sri Lanka, where educators used cell phone media features to make science lessons much more interactive, enhancing engagement and encouraging an inquiry-based learning style.

Researchers Ekanayake and Wishart published a study that details how students captured images and videos using cell phones to help support a discussion about household chemicals.

Instructors asked students to take photos of chemicals in their homes and surroundings. Students then shared these images with the teacher to build a collection of photos.

The chemicals were classified into various classes through group discussion, such as detergents, medical supplies, etc. Visual stories were created that helped promote independent investigation and collaborative work among students.

Smartphones during the pandemic

During the height of the pandemic, BCG worked closely with three state governments in India to develop and implement a digital home-schooling program for K-12 students.

While the initiative revealed significant and persistent challenges for students in households without internet, computers, or tablets, it also offered an intriguing glimpse of the potential for advancing digital education through cell phones as a foundational and low-cost learning delivery system.

As many as 70% of households could access digital education content for the first time using basic cell phones that cost less than $70.

The poorest households often don’t own computers or have the fastest internet connections, but cell phone ownership is rising fast in developing countries:

Mobile phone ownership in developing countries

BCG’s report reinforces the potential of cell phones and other digital technologies as a remote learning alternative for children in developing countries.

Academic Outcomes of Smartphones as Education Tools

Researchers, of course, have wondered just what the impact of cell phones might be when used instead of other devices, such as computers. Authors Sung, Chang, and Liu tested these devices to see which had the best impact : a computer or a cell phone.

After analyzing the data, the researchers discovered that cell phone use in education had a better overall effect than desktop computers or not using a cell phone at all.

They noted that devices like cell phones promote cooperative learning , game-based learning , inquiry-based learning , and self-directed study, which improves engagement and encourages students to take ownership of their learning.

Guidelines for Implementing Smartphones in Learning

Sung, Chang, and Liu also cautioned that there are certain principles that teachers should pay attention to when integrating cell phones into the classroom. This broadly has three implications:

1. Leveraging the pedagogical effects of smartphones through elaborate designs of learning/teaching scenarios

While mobile phones offer unique features like personalized use, quick information access, context awareness, direct communication, and feedback, these features don’t automatically make learning better.

It is important to use cell phones smartly to address specific educational challenges and match their special features to educational challenges to enhance learning outcomes.

For instance, teachers still need to ensure students aren’t simply idling on their phones. They could, for example, use wireless communications broadcasts to caution students to stay on task and alert them to how much time was left to work on a project.

2. Enhancing the quality of the experimental design for mobile intervention

Cell phones can enhance educational outcomes, but their impact requires longer intervention durations, closer curriculum integration, and assessment of advanced skills.

The researchers found that in many cases, teachers used mobile technology for only a few units of teaching instead of integrating the technology into lessons throughout the semester. Teachers must experiment with multiple units and iterative trials for optimal instructional design.

For example, for vocabulary learning, bite-size materials and short-term durations may be

appropriate for learners, but longer interventions are needed for more complex skills or methods, such as inquiry or cooperative learning.

3. Connect smartphones with software and pedagogical design

Gaining maximum benefit from information technology in the educational field requires an integration between three components:

Technology (hardware and software)
Educational context and missions (learning and teaching processes in various settings)
Users (teachers and students).

Connecting these three components is crucial. For example, simply designing a program around cell phone use is not enough. It must be personalized to suit the teacher’s style and the unique needs of the students.

Smartphones have come a long way from being seen as distractions in the classroom to being recognized as potent educational tools. As teaching aids, they offer multiple benefits, including improved learning outcomes, increased student engagement, and an easier way to connect with students. However, as with all tools, teachers must plan to ensure these devices are used appropriately within the classroom.

Weighing the Costs and Benefits of Cellphones in Schools

Posted August 10, 2022
By Emily Boudreau
K-12 System Leadership
Teachers and Teaching
Technology and Media

Typically, the discussion around cellphones in school — whether they are learning tools or distractions — has revolved around their impact on measures of academic success like test scores or grades. But in his research, Ed School alum Dylan Lukes looks at other outcomes policymakers should be considering.

“I’m hoping to move beyond thinking about test scores and consider the potential importance of other outcomes like discipline and school culture which may factor into student wellbeing,” says Lukes, Ph.D.’22.

As schools are gearing up for the fall, with some considering new and amended policies on the use of cellphones in class, Luke gets into his findings — including how the New York City Department of Education’s (NYCDOE) recently reversed cellphone ban impacted student suspensions and school culture — and gives his thoughts on what schools and districts should be considering when creating policies around technology moving forward.

Why are cellphones in schools such a contested topic among educators, parents, and students? The motivation for many of these policies comes from a desire to limit distractions. If you think about it, from a school’s perspective, if a cellphone ban can improve student learning, that’s a great low-cost intervention with a favorable benefit-cost ratio. However, from a parent’s perspective, the calculus is a bit different, and the cost of not being able to get a hold of their kid(s) may outweigh any potential benefit accrued from the ban.

How have cellphone policies evolved over the years? Over the past several decades, many large urban school districts have intermittently experimented with cellphone bans. However, most cellphone bans have been repealed due to their unpopularity with parents and students and concerns over equity [ as low income students often have mobile-only access to the internet ]. In March 2015, the NYCDOE lifted their longstanding districtwide cellphone ban and provided schools with significant discretion in designing and implementing school-level policies governing student cellphone use — and that shift is what I explore in my research.

Most research around cellphone use in schools looks at the impact on test scores, reaction time, and the ability to focus. You look instead at two areas: discipline and a sense of safety. The existing studies provide evidence that allowing phones in the classroom negatively impacts test scores and long-term learning retention. There are some correlational studies that suggest negative relationships between off-task device use and student achievement. Further, in psychology, research on multitasking generally finds negative effects on learning and task completion and, more generally, research has shown that cellphones distract and negatively impact reaction times, performance, enjoyment of focal tasks, and cognitive capacity.

In my research, my thinking was that as schools consider removal of bans or enforcement, they should also consider often overlooked dimensions of school culture that could play a role in educational productivity and student wellbeing. That is not to say academic achievement is not important — it is — but there are other potentially important inputs that contribute to educational productivity such as school discipline and culture.

Why? From a disciplinary standpoint, if the school has a cellphone ban and there are students breaking that cellphone ban, it’s possible that over time — and I’ve seen this from survey responses from NYCDOE school principals and parent coordinators — at some point there can be some punitive measures if you’re caught breaking that ban. That’s one of the reasons I explore the impact on discipline and suspension — you could be using a cellphone which, yes, could be distracting, but even more negatively, have the student removed from school. That kind of impact on learning could be a net-negative, even when you consider that against the positive effects a cellphone ban may have on a student’s learning and their peers’ learning.

I also think it’s important to look at other factors we don’t typically think about, like school culture, that might also have a big impact on learning.

And what did you find? So just as a disclaimer, there might be policies I can’t control for that impact these outcomes. For example, in 2014, there was a new chancellor [in New York] who made changes to the discipline code. With that caveat, I do find that the ban removal positively impacted school discipline but had negative impacts on student perception of school culture across the dimensions of respect, student behavior, and school safety. It also had negative impacts on teacher perception of school safety. My findings suggest an improvement in educational productivity due to the NYCDOE’s ban removal. But there’s a tradeoff — a cost to school culture.

What do you mean by safety? When it comes to emergencies, students likely feel safer having access to a phone. But the day-in and day-out component of school safety is how students use phones within school. This might include things like bullying, harassment, videotaping, and posting to social media. Those are reasons why having phones within schools could potentially be accelerators of negative student behavior. These safety measures which look at how safe students feel in classrooms, hallways, locker rooms, cafeterias, show a pretty negative jump after the ban has been lifted, which suggest to me that having a phone is at least interrupting a student’s ability to safely navigate those spaces.

So what should policymakers think about moving forward? This is just the tip of the iceberg. It would be interesting to look at how cellphones further contribute to school culture using more robust measures across time. And to be clear, I don’t think there’s anything inherently bad about cellphones but I do think it’s key to engage in a discussion around the tradeoffs of having them in schools and classrooms. There might be some interesting ways to balance the tradeoffs of their distractions and their benefits — something like having magnetized pouches and allowing students to take out cellphones under special circumstances (e.g., class activity, lunch). Some schools are already experimenting with these alternatives and there are some prime opportunities in this space to evaluate impacts of these polices on educational outcomes, including school discipline and school culture.

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cell phones in school for educational purposes

Home » Tips for Teachers » Why Cell Phones Should Be Allowed in Schools — 11 Reasons Based on 16 Research Studies

Why Cell Phones Should Be Allowed in Schools — 11 Reasons Based on 16 Research Studies

The dramatic rise in cell phone usage globally , including among younger, school-aged users , brings into focus the debate on why phones should be allowed in school.

Cell phones are a forbidden item in most classrooms. Many schools have policies against students taking their gadgets out of their backpacks during the day or even bringing them to school at all.

Are You for or Against Phones at School?

However, I think that cell phones can play a very beneficial role in a classroom, especially when used effectively. I’ve stretched the ‘rules’ in the past and let my students pull out their phones for various classroom lessons and activities, and I’m definitely glad I did!

Some also believe that allowing students to use phones in school teaches them responsible usage for later in life:

If we don’t let kids use cell phones in the classroom, how will they ever learn to use them responsibly in a workplace? Every adult I know uses their phone all day every day. Let’s prepare kids for the real world. — Matthew B. Courtney, Ed.D. (@mbcourtneyedd) August 7, 2022

In addition to keeping my students more engaged in learning, using the gadgets offered a whole host of other benefits, many of which I didn’t even think of until I saw them! I’d love to share my answers to the question “why should students be allowed to use cell phones in class” with you.

In this article, I’ll share:

Cell Phones in School — Teachers’ Thoughts

Why Should Phones be Allowed in School

7 Ideas How Cell Phones Can Be Used Effectively in the Classroom

Digital etiquette for students in the classroom.

You can watch this video below. It contains a brief retelling of the article.

Many teachers and parents are on the fence about whether to let students have cell phones in school . More and more teachers are beginning to see the potential learning benefits mobile phones can offer to their students and are advocating for gadget use in the classroom. In this video, Sam from New EdTech Classroom Why we should allow students to use cell phones in schools.

Below are what some teachers have shared about using mobile phones in the classroom:

”We need to embrace these changes and instead of trying to separate that reality from an outdated vision of a classroom, we need to find a way to optimize the educational experience for the connected kids of the future. We can’t disconnect them from the world between the hours of 8am – 3pm everyday. Don’t be scared. You have to leave your comfort zone and take a risk. The same thing you ask your students to do. Take a risk and see what the future may look like and then change your teaching to ensure that the technology is used as a tool and not just a distraction.” —Tim Floyd, Education Awesomeness

“I’ve also seen the value that cell phones can bring to education. Students who might not have access to computers at home can type and submit essays on their phones. Students can quickly look up some information and verify its validity. Furthermore, students can also use their cell phones to collaborate with their peers.” —Christina, The Darling English Teacher

“When students have access to technology and social media, they have access to empowerment and leadership online. As educators, we need to empower our students to use technology for good. When students are given the chance to use their cellphones in class as a learning tool, we can teach them how to positively influence and impact other people online.” —Amanda, EDTech Endeavors

“When students have access to technology and social media, they have access to empowerment and leadership online. As educators, we need to empower our students to use technology for good. When students are given the chance to use their cellphones in class as a learning tool, we can teach them how to positively influence and impact other people online.” — A.J. Juliani , the Director of Technology & Innovation for Centennial School District

Why Should Phones be Allowed in School — 11 Reasons

There is a lot of debate about whether phones should be allowed in schools. While there are some cons to letting your students use cell phones in class, I feel that the benefits of using gadgets can outweigh these cons. As long as you have solid classroom management and set clear expectations for students using their mobile phones, I think you’ll find that there are many benefits to letting your students use them.

The Secret of Any Teacher's Success Is Good Classroom Management

Setting up a phone charging station, just as you may set up a tablet or Chromebook charging station in your classroom, can ensure your students’ gadgets are charged and ready when needed during instruction.

Many people wonder, “why should students be allowed to use cell phones in class?” In my opinion, some of the biggest benefits of allowing students to use their phones in school include:

1. Providing an Additional Tool for Learning

In today’s digital age, the ubiquity of mobile phones, especially among younger individuals, is undeniable. Most children receive their first phone around the age of 11-12 , making these devices a prevalent part of their daily lives even before they hit their teenage years. The integration of these phones in the classroom, thus, presents a unique opportunity for enhancing the learning experience.

When students have the freedom to use their mobile phones during lessons, they instantly gain a portal to a world of technology right at their fingertips. This is invaluable, particularly in educational settings where there might be a shortage of tablets or computers. Instead of waiting for their turn on limited school devices, students can directly tap into the vast reservoir of information available online via their phones. Here are some of the benefits:

Powerful Research Tools: Mobile phones can be transformative tools for research. If a student encounters a concept they’re unfamiliar with or if a topic sparks their curiosity, they can swiftly dive into a deeper exploration online.
Interactive Learning: Educators can capitalize on interactive elements by using phones for classroom polls, ensuring active engagement and participation from all students. It becomes an immediate feedback mechanism, gauging understanding and promoting discussions.
Note-Taking and Collaboration: With the myriad of note-taking and word-processing apps available, students can seamlessly jot down their thoughts, answers, or even craft detailed essays. This not only promotes paperless classrooms but also allows for easy sharing and collaboration among peers.

In essence, by harnessing the potential of mobile phones, educators can cultivate dynamic, interactive, and resource-rich environments that cater to the needs of the modern student.

In the context of safety and the unpredictable nature of emergencies, the presence of cell phones with students becomes of paramount importance. Particularly, in the gravest and unfortunately increasingly prevalent scenarios like school shootings , a mobile phone can serve as a lifeline. During such incidents, when every second is crucial, students can use their phones to alert authorities, inform their parents about their safety, or even receive vital instructions from law enforcement.

Phones are already banned. The parents are worried about these bans because of the very high chance there is a school shooting and their child is unable to call for help. https://t.co/TxpJfrUgJn — Anosognosiogenesis (@pookleblinky) June 6, 2023

Schools, as places of learning, also bear the responsibility of ensuring the well-being of their students. Cell phones can be crucial in the subsequent scenarios:

Unpredictable Events: In the unfortunate event of an unforeseen incident or crisis at school, having immediate access to a cell phone can make a significant difference. One of the primary advantages is the ability to swiftly contact parents or guardians. Whether it’s to inform them about an unexpected situation or to seek urgent assistance, being able to communicate directly can offer both the student and parent a measure of relief in stressful situations.
Commuting Students: For students who commute alone or those who remain on school premises for extracurricular activities, a mobile phone serves as an essential tool to stay connected.
Medical Emergencies: In situations where there might be a need for medical attention or other emergency services, the quick dialing capability of a phone can be life-saving. Without it, students may find themselves isolated and without the immediate resources to seek help.

While detractors may argue against the distractions phones might pose academically, the security and peace of mind they offer, especially in dire situations, make a compelling case for their presence in the school environment.

3. Improved Communication

In our rapidly evolving digital age, the line of communication between students and their educators is becoming increasingly streamlined thanks to the ubiquitous use of cell phones. Apart from maintaining connections with family and friends, students are harnessing the power of these devices to facilitate a more direct and immediate line of dialogue with their teachers. This virtual bridge enables students to:

Promptly relay their feedback to the teachers
Pose queries for immediate resolution
Engage in constructive discussions, irrespective of the confines of school hours

Even when teachers find themselves swamped during the day, mobile communication ensures that students aren’t left hanging. Queries sent after school hours can be addressed at the teacher’s earliest convenience, eliminating the conventional wait time that could span till the next school day. The immediacy of this system enhances the overall learning experience.

Interestingly, a study from the School of Business highlighted another crucial dimension to this trend. Beyond the teacher-student dynamic, students are proactively forming educational bonds with their peers through their phones. They often initiate and manage class-based groups on various social platforms, allowing for an organized exchange of study materials and collaborative learning, devoid of any official oversight. Such initiatives underscore the instrumental role cell phones play in modern education, fostering a holistic and communal approach to learning.

4. Organization

The Cell Phone Is a Real Pocket Organizer

In today’s digitally-driven world, cell phones have evolved beyond mere communication devices. They now function as personal assistants, packed with tools designed to enhance productivity and organization. For students, these devices can play a pivotal role in shaping their academic journey, thanks to an array of built-in features such as calendar apps, clocks, alarms, and reminders.

Here are the key features that can be beneficial for students:

Calendar App: It can be an invaluable tool for students to plot out their academic calendar, inputting assignment due dates, exam schedules, and even extracurricular commitments. With reminders set up, students receive timely prompts, ensuring that no task is forgotten or left to the last minute.
Alarms: They can be utilized not just to wake up for school but also to ensure punctuality for classes or study group meetings.
Clock: This feature can assist in time management, allowing students to allocate specific blocks of time for focused study, breaks, or recreational activities.

By planning and visualizing their day or week, students can achieve a balance between academic and personal commitments. This underlines why phones should be allowed in school, as cell phones, often perceived as distractions, can actually be powerful organizational tools. When used wisely, they can significantly enhance a student’s ability to manage time, keep up with responsibilities, and maintain a balanced academic life.

5. Can Save Schools Money

The digital revolution has fundamentally transformed the education sector, offering avenues for cost-saving and enhanced accessibility.

Here’s how schools can leverage cell phones for economical and sustainable education:

E-books and Online Materials: A significant advantage is the rise of e-books and online course materials. By allowing students to access these digital resources via their cell phones, schools stand to benefit economically and environmentally. When students use their phones to tap into a plethora of e-books and other online resources, it significantly reduces the need for schools to invest in physical textbooks, which can be expensive to purchase, update, and maintain. This shift to digital not only alleviates financial pressures but also ensures that students have the most up-to-date information right at their fingertips.
Digital Document Sharing: Moreover, the digital sharing of documents by teachers further complements this eco-friendly and economical approach. Instead of relying on traditional methods of printing and copying, which come with associated costs and environmental concerns, educators can instantly distribute study materials, assignments, and other critical documents. This streamlined method reduces paper waste, aids in quicker dissemination of information, and fosters a more efficient classroom environment.

In conclusion, embracing the capabilities of cell phones in the academic realm presents a win-win scenario. It offers students the convenience and immediacy of digital access while allowing educational institutions to optimize resources, reduce costs, and promote sustainability.

6. Good for the Environment

Using Gadgets in the Classroom You Reduce the Amount of Waste

The push towards a more sustainable and environmentally conscious approach in education is becoming increasingly important, and digital transformation plays a pivotal role in this shift. By reducing the reliance on print resources and leveraging digital platforms, educational institutions are not only achieving significant financial savings but also contributing positively to environmental conservation.

Using gadgets in classrooms leads to:

Saving Paper: It’s worth noting that a typical school consumes approximately 75 trees per year , further exacerbating the issues of deforestation. Every sheet of paper spared from printing translates to saved trees, which play an indispensable role in absorbing carbon dioxide, regulating global temperatures, and fostering biodiversity. By reducing the demand for paper, schools indirectly promote forest conservation and reduce their carbon footprint.
Reducing Ink and Energy Consumption: The cascading benefits extend beyond just paper conservation. Lesser printing implies reduced consumption of ink, which in turn means fewer plastic cartridges that often end up in landfills. The energy used by printers and copiers, though seemingly minor on a day-to-day basis, accumulates over time, leading to substantial power consumption. By cutting down on these activities, institutions also reduce their energy footprint and the associated greenhouse gas emissions.

In essence, embracing digital alternatives in education is not merely a cost-saving strategy; it’s a declaration of commitment to the planet. Schools and educators, by opting for this approach, are not only preparing students for a digital future but also instilling in them the values of sustainability and responsible consumption.

7. Prepares Students for the Future

As educators, our primary responsibility extends beyond just imparting knowledge; it involves equipping students with skills and tools that will remain relevant in their future endeavors.

Undeniably, in the rapidly evolving landscape of the 21st century, technology stands as a colossal pillar shaping numerous sectors. In such a milieu, it becomes imperative for students to not only be familiar with but also proficient in utilizing technological tools, including mobile phones. Here’s what students can acquire that will be advantageous for their future:

Using Phones as Research Tools: Mobile phones, often perceived merely as communication tools, have metamorphosed into multifunctional devices capable of tasks ranging from basic research to complex problem-solving. By incorporating them into the classroom environment, we offer students a hands-on approach to understand and harness the vast potential these devices possess.
Enhancing Education through App-Based Learning: Moreover, phones serve as a practical tool to teach students how to study using technology, introducing them to a plethora of educational apps and online resources that can enhance their learning experiences.
Preparing for a Future Profession: Furthermore, as many future careers will demand technological adeptness, proficiency in using smartphones and other tech tools can be a significant advantage for students entering the workforce. They will inevitably encounter scenarios where quick thinking, complemented by technological skills, will be invaluable.

In conclusion, embracing mobile phones in educational settings is more than just keeping pace with the times; it’s a forward-looking strategy. By doing so, we not only enhance the current learning experience but also lay a robust foundation for our students, ensuring they are well-prepared and competitive in their future careers.

8. Can Create Digitally Responsible Citizens

In the Future, We Will Have to Use More and More Gadgets

In an age dominated by digital communication, it’s crucial to instill not only tech proficiency but also digital etiquette among students. Schools, as primary centers of learning and social interaction, have an essential role in shaping this aspect of students’ digital journey. By permitting gadget use within school premises, we lay the groundwork for creating digitally responsible citizens.

Understanding the nuances of when and where to use a phone is paramount . Here’s how educational institutions can guide students towards responsible digital citizenship:

Learning Digital Etiquette: In a professional setting or during crucial personal interactions, the inappropriate use of a mobile device can be perceived as disrespectful or inattentive. For instance, looking up and maintaining eye contact when someone addresses you demonstrates respect and active engagement, an essential soft skill in both professional and personal realms.
Providing Environment for Practice: The school environment offers a controlled and supervised platform where students can practice these etiquettes. They can learn to strike a balance between staying digitally connected and being physically present, discerning when to put away their devices and engage with their surroundings.

Without these lessons, students may inadvertently cultivate habits that may hinder their interpersonal relationships in the future. Thus, integrating digital etiquette into the curriculum doesn’t just foster tech-savvy individuals; it molds well-rounded, respectful citizens adept at navigating the digital and real-world landscapes.

9. Can Help Students When Studying

In today’s digital age, the traditional means of note-taking have undergone a transformative evolution, with smartphones emerging as invaluable tools in this process. The built-in camera on mobile phones offers students an efficient and immediate way to capture essential educational content, augmenting their learning experience. Here’s how this can be helpful:

Capturing Visuals Efficiently: During lectures or instructional sessions, there are often intricate diagrams, charts, or images that may be time-consuming or challenging to replicate by hand in notebooks. Here, the mobile camera serves as a boon. With a quick snap, students can capture these visuals in high resolution, ensuring they don’t miss out on any crucial details. This method not only saves time but also guarantees the accuracy of the information they’re recording.

“In my classes, I let students take pictures of the digital whiteboard, too. If an assignment description or important PowerPoint slide has been up long enough and I am ready to move on, before doing so, I invite kids to snap a picture. This allows them to refer back to the slide at home if necessary.” — Chad Donohue , National Education Association

Reviewing and Studying: When it’s time to review the material, be it for a quiz, exam, or class discussion, these photographic notes can be invaluable. Students can easily revisit these images, zooming in on specific details or annotating them with additional insights. This visual approach to studying aids in better retention of information and can make abstract or complex concepts more tangible and understandable.

In essence, the integration of mobile cameras into the educational process amplifies the efficiency of learning. By merging traditional note-taking with digital resources, students are equipped with a richer, more comprehensive set of study materials, paving the way for enhanced academic performance.

10. Accessibility and Personalized Learning

The rise of technology in the educational sector has ushered in a new era marked by accessibility and personalized learning, with cell phones being central to this revolution. The push to incorporate mobile phones in the classroom stems from the profound potential they hold in creating more inclusive and tailored educational experiences, for example:

Equal Opportunities: Accessibility is about ensuring that every student, regardless of their background, abilities, or challenges, has equal access to learning resources. Cell phones bridge this gap efficiently. For students with learning differences or physical disabilities, smartphones equipped with assistive technologies can be life-changing. Features like screen readers, voice-to-text capabilities, and adjustable text sizes ensure that content is accessible to all.
Personalization: Beyond accessibility, mobile phones enable personalized learning. With a myriad of educational apps and platforms available, students can pace their learning according to their individual needs. Whether it’s diving deeper into topics of interest or taking additional time to grasp challenging concepts, smartphones allow for this flexibility. Teachers can also benefit, using these tools to offer differentiated instruction, catering to diverse learning styles and abilities within one classroom.

In conclusion, the allowance of cell phones in class isn’t just about keeping up with the times; it’s about championing a more egalitarian and individualized approach to education. By embracing this tool, educators can create a learning environment where every student feels valued, understood, and empowered.

11. Boosts Creativity and Innovation

In a world where creativity and innovation stand as pillars of progress, integrating cell phones into the classroom can act as a catalyst to spark these vital qualities in students. Permitting the use of these multifunctional devices within educational settings can usher in an era where boundaries of traditional learning are expanded, fostering a culture of imaginative thinking and inventive problem-solving:

Unlimited Canvas for Students: Cell phones are no longer just communication tools; they’re compact hubs of unlimited resources and applications. From digital art platforms to music creation apps, coding environments to virtual reality experiences, the scope for exploration and creation is vast. When students are granted the freedom to utilize these tools, they are essentially handed a canvas with unlimited colors.
Boosting Creativity Through Autonomy: Research indicated that student creativity flourished the most under professors who permitted their pupils to engage in “tasks of their own choosing,” particularly in devising innovative solutions via the development of educational apps. For instance, a literature student might create a visual representation of a poem, or a science enthusiast might design a virtual experiment. Such engagements not only solidify understanding but also encourage students to think outside the box, enhancing their creative prowess.
Collaborative Innovation: With the collaborative features many apps offer, students can work in groups, brainstorming and building upon each other’s ideas. This collaborative innovation teaches them the essence of teamwork in creation.

In essence, understanding why phones should be allowed in school goes beyond merely embracing technology; it represents an opportunity for students to think differently, challenge norms, and innovate. It’s about nurturing a generation of creators and innovators who are prepared to shape the future.

As we mentioned above, allowing students to use phones in the classroom can greatly benefit your instruction.

There are a number of ways you can use these technological tools to enhance your lessons and provide your students with access to resources they may otherwise not be able to use. Some of the top ways to effectively use cell phones in the classroom include:

1. Scanning QR Codes

Teachers can create QR codes to send students to a specific website where they can find important information. You can also use QR codes to let students self-check their work (multiple QR codes, with the one next to the correct answer directing students to the next question or problem to solve).

Try to Use More Technologies in the Classroom

2. Using Educational Apps

There is a multitude of educational apps out there designed for students of all ages and all subject areas. Choosing a few of these apps to use to give your students extra practice on a skill or target a specific area of need can be quite beneficial. Take a look at our articles on educational VR apps or vocabulary games .

Everything Has Already Been Thought Up for You

3. Collaborating on Assignment

Students can work together with their classmates using Google Docs and see what the other is typing. This could work with students seated together, as well as with students working separately from one another.

This Is How Students Will Exchange Knowledge and Ideas

4. Completing Surveys and Quizzes

You can have your students answer polling questions through their phones to assess their understanding of a given topic. These questions may be written as true/false, multiple-choice, or short answers. There are many different programs and websites that can help you with creating quizzes and surveys for your students.

Add Interactivity to the Work at the Lesson

5. Providing Feedback to Others

Students can read other students’ writing assignments or other work and provide them with digital feedback or additional questions to consider.

6. Augmented Reality Experiences

Leveraging cell phones, students can access augmented reality (AR) tools, transforming classroom learning. AR overlays digital information onto the real world, allowing students to interact with 3D models, historical recreations, or complex diagrams. This immersive experience deepens understanding, turning abstract concepts into tangible, interactive lessons, and making learning more engaging and memorable.

7. Recording and Editing Multimedia Projects

In the classroom, cell phones empower students to create multimedia projects by recording videos, capturing photos, and editing them on the go. This hands-on approach facilitates deeper understanding, promotes creativity, and enhances presentation skills. By producing and refining content, students learn both the subject matter and vital digital literacy skills, preparing them for modern, tech-driven environments.

Once your school has settled the debate over whether gadgets should be allowed in school and decided to let students use these valuable technological resources, it is essential to teach proper phone and technology etiquette to your students and develop systems to manage cell phone use in your classroom. Using mobile phones in the classroom properly is key; they should not be a distraction or something that gets in the way of learning.

In this video, CJ Reynolds is talking about tips that he uses to keep kids off their phones without making it a big deal.

Share these rules for digital etiquette with your students to help ensure phones are a beneficial tool, not one that distracts from learning.

Put your phone down when someone is talking to you and make eye contact with the speaker. Don’t text while you are walking. Be aware of your surroundings and don’t get distracted from someone or something important. Silence your phone when you are in class. Remove your headphones if someone is trying to talk to you. Don’t post on social media during the school day. Be a good digital citizen and avoid getting into any digital drama. Know the cell phone policy for each of your teachers, and respect it when in their classroom. Don’t make your teacher, classmates, friends, or family secondary to your phone.

Watch more about digital etiquette in this video by Rich Colosi Media.

Additionally, if you’re interested in crafting your own phone policy, please refer to our specialized article on the topic.

Useful Resources

Cell Phones in School: Let’s Talk about the Pros and Cons
What is Classroom Management?
19 Big and Small Classroom Management Strategies

Final Thoughts

There are some pros and cons to consider regarding using cell phones in the classroom. However, given all the benefits that were shared above, I think the reasons to allow mobile phones in school far outweigh the reasons against allowing them. Allowing students to use their gadgets in the classroom will help keep them engaged in learning and provide them with instant access to technology, tools, and resources to help them learn.

So, now that you know the answer to the question, “why should students be allowed to use cell phones in class,” has your thinking changed? How do you see yourself using mobile phones with your students?

“Number of mobile phone users worldwide from 2015 to 2020”, Statista
“Share of Americans owning a smartphone in the U.S. as of June 2023, by age”, Statista
“Should you let your kids have a cellphone in school?”, USA TODAY
Education Awesomeness
The Daring English Teacher
EdTech Endeavours
A.J. Juliani
“Should the Cell Phones Be Allowed in Schools”, DebateWise
“Cell Phones in School: 11 Reasons Why They Should Be Allowed”, StudentTutor
“What age are kids when parents first buy/give them their own cell phone?”, Statista
“School Shootings Are Fueling the Debate Over Cellphones in Class”, Education Week
“Smartphones can improve academic performance, when used appropriately”, phys.org
“School Communication and the Environment”, Schoolstream
“Building lifelong learning, with the help of technology”, University of Washington
“The Importance of Promoting Digital Citizenship for Students”, School of Education
“Using Smartphone Cameras To Improve Student Organizational Skills”, National Education Association
“How I use my phone as assistive technology in class”, Perkins
“Mobile Learning Can Promote Student Creativity When Done Right”, Campus Technology
“Cell Phones In The Classroom: Learning Tool Or Distraction”, Oxford Learning
“Should Cell Phones Be Allowed in School?”, School of Education
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My principal seems to have an old-school thought process about cell phones in school and has completely banned them from being out in the classroom. I’d like to let my students use them for instructional purposes. Any tips on how to change her thinking?

That is tough. I’d start by finding some other teachers in your building that share your opinion and come up with a plan to present to your principal together. Bringing data, like what I shared in the article, about how cell phones can benefit students in class could help you make your point.

I love the artice and am using it for an assingment if you see it your name or website will be on it.

Thanks for the article it is truly an elaborate article, thanks for sharing it.

yes, this is fab

my teacher does not allow phones

my whole state banned phones in class TvT

I feel like you should be able to use your phone at passing periods and breaks and also lunch.

this is a common question people ask me I 57 year old male once allowed my kids to have phones in class but one pranked called the police so I say no

This is a nice source for my citation C: Thank you.

I am writing a speech to present to my class to persuade the teachers to allow more phone usage in class, thank you for your point of view and the information.

You’re welcome!

thanks so much! this will help a lot with a project I’m doing

I am making a debate speech this is really helpful thank you!

I was not born with this new technology, cell phone, I had to learn it. Now, I am a teacher and honestly, it is great as a tool for students to use but it’s also a deterrent. Like my wife says, “You give a mouse a cookie and they will ask you for a glass of milk”. Students seem to confuse rights with privilege. My students honestly believe that they have the right to use a phone whenever they want, this includes during a class, versus asking permission. Unfortunately, others do not use it appropriately. I have no problems with the use of cell phones, as long as it is for academic achievement, but not as a school alternative (ignore teacher and ignore daily task).

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us! We completely agree about the inappropriate use of phones.

thank you! so much i don’t know what i would do without this information!

Thank you for this essay

The essay has good information but I want more. You are telling me about the technology benefits but that’s what the Chromebooks are for. So if you could give me a stronger argument I would definitely agree.

Thanks for letting us know. We will take your wishes into consideration

All nonsense!

Phones are by far the biggest distraction for teachers to deal with. You can’t compete with the entertainment value of their phone and when you have them out it away…they are still thinking about how to get around the rule. TOTAL BAN is the only way!!!

Students can not handle these devices!!!!

Thank you for sharing your opinion. I still believe there are many ways to get students’ attention in the classroom rather than on the phone.

I always enjoy the creative ways technology can be used in schools. The mix of video talks, blog ideas and teacher input this post are great ways to share ideas. Thanks for the modern takes on how to use phones in the classroom, it is refreshing!

My pleasure!

I NEED THIS FOR MY ESSAY. THANK YOU!

I believe that cell phones in schools should be friends not enemys

thank you so much

We need our phones for SAFETY ?

This was very cool and so many good reasons why we should be able to use our phones in class!

This was very helpful imformation

I appreciate this article it is so supportive and believes in this article thanks ✌

four big guys is crazy lol four big guys and they grab on my thighs

i agree they should allow phones in school but just when were are really stuck or bored. so that is why i think that.

Hey! Thank you! I needed this for my ELA class argumentative writing prompt, this information was very useful. Since my school has a no phone-in-class rule, I can’t even have it with me in my bag! The only time I have on it during weekdays is at home and on the bus. But anyways this information was essential for my project. Thank you! 😀

You’re welcome!?

This is so helpful for argumentative essays! Thank you!

Thay can be good use for kids that walk home from school or to school or both.

In many school districts, the students borrow laptops, so they don’t need cell phones. Teachers may use software to restrict the laptops to their selected educational websites. Cell phones have disrupted learning, so they must be banned or jammed in the classroom. However, when students aren’t distracted by cell phones, they will gradually become worse at running around, yelling, and fighting, like they did before their cell phone addictions. We need consistent discipline. Disruptive students should learn with fun programs on a computer in separate rooms, instead of infecting other students with bad attitudes. After a year of learning on a computer, they can try the classroom again. We also need online video in the classrooms, so everyone, especially parents, can see the discipline problems in schools. When white schools have strict discipline and cell phone bans, but minority schools don’t, which students will get the high-paying better jobs? This is racism.

I agree with this as a student! But unfurtently my school is very old school so they banned cellphones.

Thank you for this helped me with a essay im doing for school. 🙂

i agree so much?

thank you for the info cause i have been having trouble finding an article like that and i found one so thank you!?

I forgot to put that i’m having a debate about using cell phones in class.

Im a current high school student and honestly what I’ve seen is the exact opposite of this. first period English is just a majority of people being on their phones. Unless a teacher is very strict about phones usually nothing is done about it. Honestly my parents disallowing me to bring my phone to school is what changed my grades for the better for the rest of the school year up until now. Also, some students might argue for these points but it’s usually only used as a scapegoat to make the excuse of “Oh but this article says it’s good to use phones!” Still, I’ve seen phones do so much more negatives than positives as well as the points listed here barely ever being utilized.

Yes i think they should allow it for many reasons

Coming in from Parker Middle School so I am doing a essay on why we should be able to have phones in schools and even class rooms and I was wondering if you could have your word to support having cell phones in school.

phones are what brought you into this world be thankful

I love the way you used cell phones in the classroom. Me personally-I use mine for extracurriculars.

As a High School teacher, I pretty much dislike the use of cellphones. If used for emergency, yes that’s a legitimate argument and in such case, cell phones need to be accessible to students in case of an emergency. However that would be the only reason cellphones should be allowed in classrooms. I studied high school without a cellphone and I was able to be engaged, organized and learned by using other technologies. This article doesn’t mention the pros and cons of allowing cellphones in classrooms and does not consider if the benefits weigh more than the disadvantages.

Thank you this website is amazing hope I get an A+ for my argumentative essay. Wish Me Luck!

Thanks I will use this for my topic

As a teacher at my school, I can say the cell phones are 99% more a distraction than ever as a learning tool. All the kids on the phones during class is to play video games. and look at non educational sites so that’s why cell phones are banned in my classrooms. I would say if the kids understood accountability and are responsible, then it’s a different discussion.

i can use this for my project . Almost all my classmates try to sneak there phone in class . But they always get in trouble . They don’t need a phone becuase it is can make you fail class and other things that is a proably

Very valid points. I am using you as a source for my essay. Thank you.

Thanks this helped me with my Delve Project

Hi, my name is Eli and I am an 8th grader at Indianola Middle School in Iowa. I am doing a research project about a topic of my choice and I chose to research Should phones be allowed in class. I think you would be a great person to give me more information about this topic because you gave great points and reasons why phones should be allowed in school classrooms.

Thank you so much for this article, Love your work!!!

Talking to Tweens About Social Media

Candace Howze Aug. 15, 2022

teenager boy sitting in his bedroom using cell phone

While some school districts have enacted cellphone bans in the wake of the pandemic, others are reestablishing guidelines that were in place beforehand. State legislatures, like in California , have also weighed in on the issue in recent years, giving districts the authority to limit or ban smartphones in schools.

Randall Skrinjorich, superintendent of Ringgold School District in Pennsylvania, says that pre-pandemic, his district had a policy limiting cellphone use in class.

“During COVID, although the policy was in place, there was a greater need for electronic devices. And so we probably got a little bit lax on it," Skrinjorich says. "Then, starting to come out of COVID, at the end of last year, we started encountering some of the behavior issues and discipline issues related to it."

For the 2022-2023 school year he announced stricter guidelines that prohibit cellphone use during the school day and mandate specific penalties for each offense.

In a letter to parents, he noted that the local police department had "documented 56 criminal incidents in the last school year where students used cellphone communication with fellow students to plan fights, harass other students, coordinate vaping 'gatherings' in school bathrooms, vandalize property and commit other criminal mischief."

Although some parents have complained about the cellphone ban, Skrinjorich says that overall the policy seems to be a net positive.

Should Cellphones Be Allowed in School?

Answering that question often depends on the school, or even the specific teacher.

Over 90% of principals in a 2020 study supported restrictions on cellphone use for students in middle and high schools, and over 80% said they believed that cellphone use during school has negative consequences for social development and academics. But the specifics on what people consider appropriate use can vary.

In some classes, students use cellphones for instructional tools and games like Quizlet, Kahoot! and others. Amber Snell, a teacher at Madison Middle School in Richmond, Kentucky, says she previously let her students use cellphones to listen to music while working in class and didn't see phones as a problem. But this fall, her school enacted a new rule banning cellphones during the school day.

Snell, who teaches primarily seventh graders, says she's been surprised at how well her students have adjusted to the new policy and hasn't seen any real issues with students disobeying it. There haven't been as many incidents of cyberbullying or students using social media for harm during the school day this year either, she says.

"I think the eighth graders are probably struggling a little bit more," she says, "because they went through the pandemic as sixth graders, seventh graders, and had a little bit more of that flexibility. And they're now trying to reel it back."

Ferroni, who has a large social media following himself, says he recognizes that technology is a "necessary evil," and has seen students use cellphones and social media to stay connected to each other and encourage positive change around the school. But those activities are best done outside of class, he says.

For some students, the connectivity aspect is crucial, says Sourav Sengupta, an associate professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at the University of Buffalo. B ut some have a hard time knowing where to draw the line on cellphones and risk becoming too dependent on them as a primary means of communication. He says being present in real life and developing strong interpersonal connections is still vital to success in adult life.

"Adult life requires moderation," he says. "Ultimately, part of growing up is knowing how to moderate that experience, and frankly social technologies are no different, except that they might be a little more habit-forming."

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Professional therapist. Serious smart woman looking at her notes while thinking about her patient

Mental Health Concerns

Ferroni did an experiment with his class in which he asked them to turn their notifications on. In a 40-minute class period, his students received a total of 600 notifications. He says he can't compete with students' attention in class when they're distracted that often.

"It is a drug addiction in their hand," he says. "They have everything at their fingertips. It's caused me to reevaluate how I teach, which is why in the last few years, I've gone away from technology."

While cellphones are prohibited at all times in his classroom, Fridays are completely tech-free, meaning students play board games, draw, write or do "anything that requires some mental stimulation that's outside of typing, or texting or anything on their phones," Ferroni says.

Sengupta, who studies the effect of screen time on adolescents, says he has concerns about the impact that cellphones and social media have on the cognitive development of adolescents, especially their attention spans.

“A lot of the social technology – whether it’s social media, streaming video or app-based video games – they’re all designed to provide a big hit of dopamine very quickly,” Sengupta says. “It’s got to be super sensory-stimulating from the get-go or else you’ve lost them.”

That could have a lasting impact on adolescents' ability to perform tasks that require extended attention and sustained focus, he says. Scores on the ACT for the class of 2022 were down to an average composite score of 19.8 out of 36, the lowest average in more than 30 years. While many factors contribute to that statistic, Ferroni says he thinks students' shortening attention spans have made it harder for them to sit for long tests.

Cellphones and School Safety

Opponents of prohibitive cellphone policies say access to devices is necessary in case of an emergency, like a school shooting, health-related episode or natural disaster.

But Ken Trump, president of the school safety consulting firm National School Safety and Security Services, says students' focus should not be on their phone during a potential school emergency.

“If we’re relying on the kids to make the 911 calls, we really do have a bigger problem that goes beyond cellphone issues,” he says.

Trump, who leads school safety trainings across the country, says he’s sympathetic to the argument that some students might feel safer with access to their phone or a way to communicate with parents, but he says most schools he's worked with use a mass text message system to communicate quickly with parents during an emergency.

If students are on their phone, potentially recording video, that distraction could be detrimental, he says.

“They’re not realizing that the use of the cell phone could make a child less safe in a school because it’s distracting from their ability to pay 100% attention to the directions of the adults and follow steps that could save their life,” he says.

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Where to Go Next

In the wake of the pandemic, with many students still struggling both academically and emotionally , Sengupta says this is a critical time in education.

The adults in students' lives need to model responsible technology and social media practices, he says. "I think, right now, that is largely lacking across most of our educational and social institutions."

He supports school districts that have implemented restrictions on cellphone use. But "at the same time, I don’t think we have to throw the baby out with the bathwater," he says.

“I think there’s a way to harness digital social technologies that can really be amazing for children," he says. "Let’s make it a value added and not a constant background or foreground presence in their attention."

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Do smartphones belong in classrooms? Four scholars weigh in

Associate Professor of Economics, Carleton University

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Louis-Philippe Beland receives funding from SSHRC insight grant and SSHRC insight development grant.

Arnold Lewis Glass, Daniel G. Krutka, and Sarah Rose do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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Should smartphones be allowed in classrooms? A new report from UNESCO , the education arm of the United Nations, raises questions about the practice. Though smartphones can be used for educational purposes, the report says the devices also disrupt classroom learning, expose students to cyberbullying and can compromise students’ privacy.

About 1 in 7 countries globally, such as the Netherlands and France , have banned the use of smartphones in school – and academic performance improved as a result, particularly for low-performing students, the report notes.

As school leaders in the U.S. wrestle with whether or not to ban smartphones , The Conversation has invited four scholars to weigh in on the issue.

Daniel G. Krutka: Use smartphones to encourage ‘technoskepticism’

While the issue of smartphone use in schools is complicated, evidence suggests that spending more time on smartphones is associated with young people being less happy and less satisfied with life .

Technology scholars have long argued that the key to living well with technology is in finding limits. However, in banning smartphones, I worry educators might be missing opportunities to use smartphones to encourage what I and other researchers refer to as technoskeptical thinking ; that is, questioning our relationship with technology.

For example, students might be encouraged to consider the benefits and drawbacks of using navigational apps to travel from one place to another, as opposed to old-fashioned paper maps. Or, students might explore their social media feeds to critique what algorithms feed them, or how notifications get their attention.

In my research , I have looked at how teachers can encourage students to go on techno-fasts – that is, abstaining from the use of technology for a certain period of time. This, I argue, will give students time to reflect on the time they spend away from their devices .

Policy debates often focus on whether or not to put smartphones out of reach during the school day. But I believe educators might find it more beneficial to make the phones an object of inquiry.

A group of kids in a classroom looks at a phone.

Sarah Rose: Consult parents, teachers and students

While there is evidence that classroom phone usage can be a distraction , it can also promote engagement and learning . While research about the potential positive and negative consequences of classroom phones can be used to inform school phone policies, the views of those who are most directly impacted by the policies should also be taken into account.

The views of parents matter because their views may influence the extent to which their children follow the policy. The views of children matter because they are the ones being expected to follow the policy and to benefit from it. The views of teachers matter because they are often the ones that have to enforce the policies. Research shows that enforcing cellphone policies is not always a straightforward issue .

In my research, I have found that children – aged 10 and 11 years old – in collaboration with their parents, were able to come up with ideas for ideal policies and solutions to help enforce them. For example, one parent-child pair suggested mobile phone use in school could be banned but that a role of “telephone monitor” could be given to an older pupil. This “telephone monitor” would have a class mobile phone that children and parents could use to contact each other during the school day when necessary.

This recommendation reflected how parents and middle and high school students – whether from rural and urban areas – felt cellphones were important to keep in touch with each other during the school day. Beyond safety, children and parents also told us that phones were important for keeping in touch about changing plans and for emotional support during the school day.

I believe policies that simply ban phones in schools may be missing an opportunity to educate children about responsible mobile device use. When parents and children are involved in policy development, it has the potential to increase the extent to which these policies are followed and enforced.

A group of kids in a classroom look at their phone.

Arnold L. Glass: Cellphone use in college lectures hurts performance in ways that are hard to see

The intrusion of internet-enabled electronic devices, such as laptops, tablets and cellphones, has transformed the modern college lecture. Students now divide their attention between the lecture and their devices. Classroom studies reveal that when college students use an electronic device for a nonacademic purpose during class, it hurts their performance on exams .

When attention is divided between an electronic device and the classroom lecture, it does not reduce comprehension of the lecture – at least, not when measured by within-class quizzes. Instead, divided attention reduces long-term retention of the classroom lecture, which hurts performance on unit exams and final exams.

When some students open electronic devices, it also negatively affects the performance of all the students around them . Research has shown that student performance on final exams was worse when electronic devices were permitted during classes that covered exam material versus when the devices were not.

Many students won’t think their divided attention is affecting their retention of new information. It may not be for the moment, but a couple of weeks later or down the line, research shows , it does.

Louis-Philippe Beland: Bans help low-achieving students the most

Numerous studies indicate that low-achieving students stand to benefit the most from the implementation of mobile phone bans in schools.

In a 2015 study, my co-author, Richard Murphy , and I examined the impact of banning mobile phones on student performance in high schools, using data from England. By comparing schools with phone bans to similar schools without the bans, we isolated the effect of mobile phones on performance. Our study found that banning mobile phones significantly increased test scores among 16-year-old students. The effect is equivalent to adding five days to the school year or an extra hour per week. Low-achieving students benefited more, while high-achieving students remained unaffected.

Similar studies in Spain and Norway using a similar approach demonstrated compelling evidence supporting the benefits of banning mobile phones. In Spain, grades improved and bullying incidents decreased. In Norway, the ban raised middle school students’ grade-point averages and their likelihood of attending academic high schools while reducing bullying. Evidence from Belgium suggests banning mobile phones can be beneficial for college student performance.

Psychological research sheds light on potential mechanisms behind the impact of mobile phones and technology on student performance. Multitasking, common with mobile phone use, has been found to hinder learning and task execution . Taking notes by hand has been shown to better enhance memory retention compared to typing on a computer.

In sum, banning mobile phones in schools can yield positive effects, improve academic performance and narrow the achievement gap between high- and low-achieving students. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that mobile phones and technology can also be valuable educational tools when used appropriately.

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Smartphones in school? Only when they clearly support learning

The 2023 Global Education Monitoring Report has just released a call for technology only to be used in class when it supports learning outcomes, and this includes the use of smartphones.

The digital revolution holds immeasurable potential but, just as warnings have been voiced for how it should be regulated in society, similar attention must be paid to the way it is used in education.

The report shows that some technology can support some learning in some contexts, but not when it is over-used or inappropriately used. In particular, the use of smartphones can disrupt learning in classrooms. One study looking at pre-primary through to higher education in 14 countries found that it distracted students from learning. Even just having a mobile phone nearby with notifications coming through is enough to result in students losing their attention from the task at hand. One study found that it can take students up to 20 minutes to refocus on what they were learning once distracted.

Removing smartphones from schools in Belgium, Spain and the United Kingdom was found to improve learning outcomes, according to a study cited in the report, especially for students that were not performing as well as their peers.

Concerns over data privacy, safety and well-being also underpin debates about the use of some technology in schools, especially by students at young ages.

There are privacy concerns raised when specific applications collect user data unnecessary for the applications to work. Currently, only 16% of countries explicitly guarantee data privacy in education by law, however. One analysis found that 89% of 163 education technology products recommended during the pandemic could survey children. Further, 39 of 42 governments providing online education during the pandemic fostered uses that risked or infringed on children’s rights.

We saw children as young as nine years old requesting smartphones, and it was evident that these children were not emotionally ready to navigate the complexities of these devices and the digital world.

Almost one in four countries introducing bans on smartphones use in schools in laws or policies from Côte d’Ivoire to Colombia, from Italy to the Netherlands.

Bans are more common in Asia. Both Bangladesh and Singapore ban smartphone use in class, but not in school. France bans smartphone use unless strictly for pedagogical purposes or to support children with disabilities.

Some have instead banned the use of specific applications from education settings because of privacy concerns. Denmark and France have both banned Google Workspace, while Germany has banned Microsoft products in some states. In the United States, some schools and universities have started banning TikTok.

The new 2023 GEM Report, entitled ‘ Technology in education: A tool on whose terms? ’, calls for decisions about technology in education to prioritize the needs of the learner, making sure that any uses of technology are appropriate, equitable, scalable and sustainable.

Students need to learn the risks and opportunities that come with technology and not be shielded from them entirely. But countries need to give better guidance on what technology is allowed in school and what is not, and on their responsible use. Only technology that has a clear role in supporting learning should be allowed in school.

More on this subject

Sixth International Conference on Learning Cities

Event International Conference of the Memory of the World Programme, incorporating the 4th Global Policy Forum 28 October 2024 - 29 October 2024

Global Network of Learning Cities webinar ‘Countering climate disinformation: strengthening global citizenship education and media literacy’

Smartphones can improve academic performance, when used appropriately

by Aalto University

Smartphones can improve academic performance, when used appropriately, according to new research by the School of Business.

The study, conducted by Ms. Yanqing Lin, Professor Yong Liu, Mr. Wenjie Fan, Professor Virpi Kristiina Tuunainen, and Professor Shengli Deng, looked into smartphone usage and how it impacts educational achievement in university students .

Their results found a positive, direct impact of using mobile learning and news applications on academic attainment, which contrasts popular belief.

This is because the use of mobile learning applications stifles the feeling of nomophobia, the fear of being unavailable to your mobile phone .

"Mobile learning acts as part of studying that is practical and compulsory, therefore it is not considered 'fun' for most people, which contrasts other apps such as social media . For this reason, users are not going to be distracted from studying, or end up procrastinating," says Ms. Lin.

The research revealed that even though the university used in the study did not have any official online e-learning or mobile learning platform, students would often establish class groups on social media to share learning materials and exchange information without any official management.

But the researchers warn that other, non-learning, mobile applications like social media are internalized and can trigger nomophobia.

"The more time users spend on entertainment apps relates to the level of nomophobia they experience, which in turn alters sleep habits. Changed sleep habits subsequently affect a student's academic performance," says Professor Liu.

For this reason, the researchers believe the simple change of not using a smartphone before bed should alleviate the adverse effects on students' academic performance .

The study was conducted on 10,000 participants and was published in Computers in Human Behavior .

Journal information: Computers in Human Behavior

Provided by Aalto University

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Should you let your kids have a cellphone in school?

Do you let your kids take their cellphones to class? Does your school district even allow them?

Digital device policies are all over the map in U.S. schools, with parents and teachers divided on whether to curb or outright ban such phone use on school grounds.

Some schools make the kids place phones in a locker. Others require them to be checked in at the front office. But some are OK having students keep them in a backpack or pocket, so long as they’re turned off.

At some schools, the decision about whether to let a kid have a phone in class is up to individual teachers, who may be reluctant to assume the role of enforcer.

In fact, some teachers see the phones as an asset and actually incorporate phone use as part of their lessons.

Yet another question surrounds what kids are allowed to do with phones during lunch or between classes. Can they text, call, play games or use other apps then?

In July, California passed a law that gives public and charter schools the authority to prohibit cellphone use in the classroom , except during emergencies or other special circumstances, such as when a doctor determines that a student needs a phone for health reasons.

The Forest Hills Public Schools, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, revised its policy recently so that students will not be allowed to carry or use cellphones during the school day.

A similar edict is in place at Washington High School in Massillon, Ohio.

A principal expressed his happiness on Twitter about his school's policy: “Looking forward to seeing faces, not cell phones/headphones this school year!” tweeted David Lautenschleger.

What doesn't seem to be in dispute is that screen-time addiction is a problem for young and old. Kids fixated on smartphone screens may merely be modeling the behavior of mom and dad.

The case for allowing phones in class

Those who say cellphones should be permitted in schools often cite educational benefits. For example, kids might be making movies or studying photography through various apps, for instance.

“Have a plan, not a ban," Liz Kline, vice president for education at Common Sense Education in the San Francisco Bay Area, told USA TODAY in 2018.

Even those who favor cellphone use in the classroom acknowledge those times, however, when phones ought to be put away or even collected by teachers, no questions asked, namely during test time. The sad truth: Some students use phones to cheat.

Safety concerns are also often given as a reason to let kids have devices at school. When there’s an accident or tragic incident, the presence of phones lets parents get in touch with teachers and/or students.

For sure, there are times when parents may also try to text the youngsters under more routine circumstances if only to remind the kids to remind their teachers about something.

The case to kick phones out of class

The rationale against cellphones in schools is that excessive exposure to the devices will have a negative effect on school-aged kids – lowering grades, promoting cyberbullying and even increasing the likelihood of teenage anxiety, depression and suicide.

Kids can be sneaky, too. “When we’re asking these 12- to 13-year-olds to carry the phone and not be on them, we 100% know that’s not happening,” Delaney Ruston, a physician and director of the documentary “Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age,” told USA TODAY in 2018.

Through her “ Away For The Day” initiative, Ruston pointed to studies that show that when youngsters don’t have the freedom of accessing their phones during school hours, they’re more engaged socially and academically.

Real-time translation: How technology will help kids not hear language differences

Ruston even dismissed the safety argument. She pointed to an NPR report in which security experts have said that letting a kid have a phone in the classroom during a lockdown makes them less safe, not more so. When students should be quiet, for example, a ringing or vibrating phone might alert an intruder where kids are hiding. Parents trying to reach youngsters in an emergency might jam communications and interfere with first responders. And the kids might miss instructions from the authorities.

Parents, what are your views on the topic? Email: [email protected]; Follow @edbaig on Twitter

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Do Smartphones Belong in Schools? A Look at Different Approaches

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At Florida’s East River High School in Orlando, students bring their phones to school but put them away when the first bell rings. The phones stay stowed while kids are in class and even during transitions and at lunch — until the final bell rings for dismissal. It’s all part of a Florida state law, passed in 2023, designed to keep students focused on school.

East River Principal Rebecca Watson says students have adapted to the no-phones rule during the academic day, but as soon as the bell rings, she watches students walk across the courtyard to the buses, heads looking down at their devices.

It wasn’t always this easy, Watson says. During the first few days of the policy, the school confiscated about 150 phones a day, but that number has dipped to one or two a day.

“Do students go to the bathroom to check their phones? Probably,” Watson acknowledges. “But how has it impacted day-to-day life within classrooms? Students are way more engaged.”

As school cell phone bans take hold across the globe, some parents and educators are cheering the policy while other lament that these powerful tools should be incorporated into school life much like they are ubiquitous in the workplace.

Cell phones in schools is a topic of debate around the world

At East River High, students keep their phones in their backpacks stored at the front of the classroom. If a teacher wants students to use their phones to photograph a project or do some research, the teacher gets clearance from the principal ahead of time.

According to Watson, one of the biggest benefits is increased student interaction during lunch. Instead of staring down at their screens, kids participate in UNO tournaments or throw a football in the courtyard.

“I do think the policy has been positive,” Watson says. “It’s all in the presentation and making sure everyone works in the same direction, helping students with self-regulation.”

That sounds like a successful policy, and many places are following suit. A recent report from UNESCO found that nearly one in four countries has enacted laws or policies banning or restricting student cellphone use in schools. In October, dozens of researchers sent a letter to U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona asking the DOE to issue an advisory urging schools nationwide to ban cell phones.

There is evidence that the mere presence of a cell phone, even when it is not being used, can impact focus and learning ability. Researchers Jeffrey H. Kuznekoff and Scott Titsworth found that students not using their mobile phones wrote down 62% more information in their notes while watching a video lecture and scored a full letter grade and half higher on the material. Common Sense Media tracked 200 young people and found they typically received almost 60 cellphone notifications during the school day.

Still, phones are a reality of modern life. They are a powerful tool almost all students carry around in their pockets. A phone is a calculator, a camera, a way to communicate, and a tool to research any topic. Phones are also the technology that students are most comfortable with and the device often the most convenient to use. By ignoring this reality, schools may miss opportunities to teach self-regulation, technology literacy and digital citizenship. Could schools work with the technology instead of against it?

Victor Pereira, faculty co-chair of Teaching and Teacher Leadership and lecturer on Education at Harvard, says it is worth considering.

“I don’t know if I would be for or against allowing cell phones in classrooms,” he says, “other than it’s important that we’re developing a tech-literate society.”

What do school cell phone policies look like?

In a recent Speak Up survey, 80% of teachers think phones are a distraction for students. Just over 70% of administrators say it is difficult for students to manage their smartphones responsibly.

Regarding schoolwide policies, only 28% of respondents said students were not allowed to use or have phones on campus at any time, whereas 11% said that as long as it’s safe, the campus is completely open to phones. The majority of respondents said that phones are allowed on campus with some restrictions, such as when teachers are monitoring them, when they are being used for learning in the classroom, or during lunch or other breaks.

About 45% of administrators responded that many teachers still haven’t decided how to leverage phones in the classroom. This number could reflect that since the pandemic, most districts have gone 1:1, so teachers prefer students to use their school-issued devices rather than their phones.

Schools with bans generally ask students to keep phones in lockers, backpacks or magnetized pouches at the front of the classroom. Some schools use a red, yellow and green light system that lets students know when phones are acceptable in class, when they should only be used for educational purposes and when they are prohibited.

A more flexible approach to cell phones in school

Oregon’s South Eugene High School has a policy that students must keep their cell phones turned off and out of sight during class unless otherwise specified by teacher policy. Ninth-grader Holden Majors is well aware of the policy but says teachers often ask him to use his phone for classwork.

Bobbie Willis is one such teacher. She asks students in her newspaper and yearbook classes to use their phones to record interviews and take photos and videos. If a student's computer dies, they can access the school LMS and Google Drive from their phone. The convenience makes her wonder if the phones are more valuable than the school-issued laptop.

Majors ran into trouble when his dad took away his phone as a punishment. A few days later, his dad noticed some missing assignments. Majors argued he could not turn in the assignments because his teachers wanted higher-quality photos taken with a phone rather than the camera on his school-issued laptop.

In addition, Majors needs his phone to check out books in the school library or access resources through a QR code in a weekly advisory class. Majors took issue with the policy in an op-ed for Willis’ News and Media class.

“A well-known rule at school is that we’re not allowed to be on our phones. Teachers want us to put them away and stay off them during the school hours,” wrote Majors. “However, these punishments backfire when the school makes us use them to turn in work.”

Given the lack of consistent enforcement of the policy, Majors says it should be rewritten to reflect reality. While she acknowledges that phones can be a distraction, Willis says there is value in using phones for real-life learning, particularly about media literacy.

Willis used to scoff when students confessed to using TikTok as a news source. Then, Russia attacked Ukraine, and her students showed her accounts of Ukrainian teens sharing their first-hand experience of the invasion. She used it as a springboard to talk about using social media to cultivate unbiased, fact-based news sources in a format students will use.

“So many young people have gravitated toward those platforms,” she says. “It’s almost like serious news outlets don’t have a choice if they want to meet people where they are at for accessing content,” she says. “My hope is always that kids figure out some control over their phone rather than allowing the phone to have control over them.”

Watson admits that Florida's policy somewhat hampers the teaching of media literacy. Sometimes, students post on club and organization social media accounts, as long as an adult regulates it.

“I do think there’s not enough education about digital footprint and being a responsible media user,” she says. “I speak with my students about that every chance I get.”

Phones also have the potential to contribute to social drama among teens. Then, schools have to deal with the drama. This becomes especially tricky if fights at school are filmed and posted on social media.

In schools where phones are allowed, teachers are more likely to teach about digital literacy, mental wellness and screen use, digital citizenship, and being a good friend online. These conversations come up naturally when phones are a part of the school day.

Low-income families are more likely to have a cell phone than a home computer or laptop. Learning how to fill out a job application on a phone or respond to an employer’s text can be particularly helpful for students who are part of marginalized populations.

“Learning how to use the phone in a productive way can benefit them in the long term as far as having more opportunities,” says Liz Kolb, author of Cell Phones in the Classroom: A Practical Guide for Educators.

Cell phones are tools for connection

Even with the camera and the web-surfing ability, a phone is still primarily a tool for connection. It’s this capability that can make phones most valuable for students.

When Mike Fauteux co-founded GiveThx, an app that provides a structured way for teachers and students to express gratitude, he made some intentional choices to discourage some of the pitfalls that addictive social media sites have. For instance, the app is web-based and does not have a mobile app. Students can only send one message at a time. The intention is for the app to be used on laptops while at school.

“We made intentional design decisions to help kids be their best selves on their devices,” Fauteux says.

That is still the intention, but Fauteux says there are some surprise advantages to using the app on the phone. Fauteux tested the app at a school where the entire student body met in the gym each Friday to take turns shouting out thanks to each other.

A senior student said he wanted to shout out Ms. Riviera, the office manager. Students at this school were not allowed to use their phones during school hours, but before anyone could remind them of the policy, the students pulled out their phones and thanked Ms. Riviera. She received 500 thank-you notes that day.

In this situation, the phone was more convenient and accessible than a laptop. Another benefit to using the phone, says Fauteux, is that it allows students to form positive habits. If a student pulls out their phone and sends a thank you while riding home on the bus, that’s a positive.

Student phones are a constant connection to their families and friends, and that effect has only grown since the pandemic.

“The cell phone was access to learning for many, many students who were joining Zoom from bedrooms. Many were using phones because they had to share a computer with parents or siblings,” Pereira says. “It became this biological-technology hybrid. It became an appendage.”

If access to that phone makes students feel safer and more connected to their families, that is something policymakers should consider. Growing evidence shows that social media platforms are particularly helpful for young people who need resources or support, especially marginalized groups, such as students of color and LGBTQ students. Students with attention deficit disorders or other neurological conditions sometimes rely on phones to help them engage better.

"I see both sides of the issue, but we have to be careful about completely banning cell phones and not acknowledging that they are important parts of our students’ and families’ lives,” says Kolb. “Clearly, there are distractions, but these are the tools our students have the most access to, so we want to create a balance.”

One of biggest obstacles when districts attempt to enact bans is pushback from parents. Many kids have jobs or family responsibilities requiring them to communicate during school. Or, in case of an emergency, it feels intrusive to go through a teacher or administrator to contact your teen. Worst of all, no parent wants to be cut off from contacting their child in the event of a school shooting.

“The phone is a link between parents and children,” Pereira says. “Parents feel a level of safety being able to communicate with their child in an emergency. Imagine your child’s school is on the live news, and you can’t contact them because they don’t have a phone.”

Designing a cell phone policy

There are some big-picture considerations when designing a policy, whether for a state, district, school or individual classroom. Here are three of them.

1. Consider school culture.

Cell phones can impact school culture for good or for bad. For instance, bullying, harassment, posting harmful videos to social media can negatively impact how a student feels at school.

Watson says physical altercations at school have dropped significantly since Florida enacted its ban, partly because kids can't communicate with each other during the day to meet up for a fight.

On the other hand, enforcing harsh punishments for students who use their phones could increase school suspensions or other extreme disciplinary measures. Some kids may be able to focus better, but others may miss class due to suspensions.

2. Apply policies consistently.

One of the most significant benefits of the policy in Florida is that the blanket policy allows for consistency between districts. If a parent is angry about a ban, Watson reminds them it is a state law.

“Every district struggles, but the ones that have done this the best are the ones that are clear and consistent,” she says, and those that include teachers in the implementation. "Allow teachers to have a little choice about how and if they want to use cellphones or not.”

3. Engage the school community.

Some cellphone bans have been repealed because they are unpopular with parents and students. While many parents want students to have less screen time, it’s a significant tradeoff if they can’t contact their kids.

Florida’s Orange County Public Schools, which includes East River High School, has a policy that goes even further than the state law. The district bans students from using phones during the entire school day, not just during class time.

To get parents onboard, East River is soliciting feedback from the community. Mostly, says Watson, the feedback has been positive. Some parents are concerned about not being able to get in touch with their students. Watson says the problem is easily solved if the student explains to their teacher that they need to contact their parents. Most of the time, the request is granted.

"Any policy, cell phone ban or not, works best when fully supported and enacted by leadership,” says Kolb, “when teachers feel supported by leadership and students know that rewards and consequences are consistent across the board. Make sure everyone understands the policy, communicates it well, clearly follows through, and is very consistent. Support the teachers that have to support the policy.”

artificial intelligence

Why Schools Should Ban Cell Phones in the Classroom—and Why Parents Have to Help

New study shows it takes a young brain 20 minutes to refocus after using a cell phone in a classroom

Photo: A zoomed in photo shows a young student discretely using their cell phone under their desk as they sit in the classroom.

Photo by skynesher/iStock

Parents, the next time you are about to send a quick trivial text message to your students while they’re at school—maybe sitting in a classroom—stop. And think about this: it might take them only 10 seconds to respond with a thumbs-up emoji, but their brain will need 20 minutes to refocus on the algebra or history or physics lesson in front of them— 20 minutes .

That was just one of the many findings in a recent report from a 14-country study by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) that prompted this headline in the Washington Post : “Schools should ban smartphones. Parents should help.” The study recommends a ban on smartphones at school for students of all ages, and says the data are unequivocal, showing that countries that enforce restrictions see improved academic performance and less bullying.

It’s a fraught debate, one that prompts frustration among educators, who say students are less focused than ever as schools struggle to enforce cell phone limitation policies, and rage from some parents, worrying about a possible shooting when they can’t get in touch, who insist they need to be able to reach their children at all times. And, perhaps surprisingly, it prompts a collective yawn from students.

In fact, students openly admit their cell phones distract them and that they focus better in school without them, says Joelle Renstrom , a senior lecturer in rhetoric at Boston University’s College of General Studies. It’s an issue she has studied for years. She even performed an experiment with her students that supports what she long suspected: Cell Phones + Classrooms = Bad Learning Environment.

BU Today spoke with Renstrom about the latest study and research.

with Joelle Renstrom

Bu today: let me get right to the point. do we as a society need to be better about restricting cell phones in classrooms it seems so obvious..

Renstrom: Of course. But it is easier said than done. It’s hard to be consistent. We will always have students with some kind of reason, or a note from someone, that gives them access to technology. And then it becomes hard to explain why some people can have it and some people can’t. But student buy-in to the idea is important.

BU Today: But is getting students to agree more important than getting schools and parents to agree? Is it naive to think that students are supposed to follow the rules that we as parents and teachers set for them?

Renstrom: I have made the case before that addiction to phones is kind of like second-hand smoking. If you’re young and people around you are using it, you are going to want it, too. Every baby is like that. They want to reach for it, it’s flashing, their parents are on it all the time. Students openly acknowledge they are addicted. Their digital lives are there. But they also know there is this lack of balance in their lives. I do think buy-in is important. But do it as an experiment. Did it work? What changes did it make? Did it make you anxious or distracted during those 50 minutes in class? I did that for years. I surveyed students for a number of semesters; how do you feel about putting your phone in a pouch? They made some predictions and said what they thought about how annoying it was. But at the end, they talked about how those predictions [played out], and whether they were better able to focus. It was very, very clear they were better able to focus. Also interestingly, not a single student left during class to get a drink or go to the bathroom. They had been 100 percent doing that just so they could use their phone.

BU Today: Should we be talking about this question, cell phones in classrooms, for all ages, middle school all the way through college? Or does age matter?

Renstrom: It’s never going to be universal. Different families, different schools. And there is, on some level, a safety issue. I do not blame parents for thinking, if there’s someone with a gun in school, I need a way to reach my kids. What if all the phones are in pouches when someone with a gun comes in? It’s crazy that we even have to consider that.

BU Today: What’s one example of something that can be changed easily?

Renstrom: Parents need to stop calling their kids during the day. Stop doing that. What you are doing is setting that kid up so that they are responding to a bot 24-7 when they shouldn’t be. If you’re a kid who gets a text from your parent in class, you are conditioned to respond and to know that [the parent] expects a response. It adds so much anxiety to people’s lives. It all just ends up in this anxiety loop. When kids are in school, leave them alone. Think about what that phone is actually meant for. When you gave them a phone, you said it’s in case of an emergency or if you need to be picked up in a different place. Make those the parameters. If it’s just to confirm, “I’m still picking you up at 3,” then no, don’t do that. Remember when we didn’t have to confirm? There is a time and place for this, for all technology.

BU Today: This latest study, how do you think people will react to it?

Renstrom: This isn’t new. How many studies have to come out to say that cured meat is terrible and is carcinogenic. People are like, “Oh, don’t tell me what to eat. Or when to be on my phone.” This gets real contentious, real fast because telling people what’s good for them is hard.

BU Today: I can understand that—but in this case we’re not telling adults to stop being on their phones. We’re saying help get your kids off their phones in classrooms, for their health and education.

Renstrom: Studies show kids’ brains, and their gray matter, are low when they are on screens. School is prime habit-forming time. You should not sit in class within view of the professor, laughing while they are talking about World War II. There is a social appropriateness that needs to be learned. Another habit that needs to be addressed is the misconception of multitasking. We are under this misconception we all can do it. And we can’t. You might think, I can listen to this lecture while my sister texts me. That is not supported by science or studies. It is literally derailing you. Your brain jumps off to another track and has to get back on. If you think you have not left that first track, you are wrong.

BU Today: So what next steps would you like to see?

Renstrom: I would like to see both schools and families be more assertive about this. But also to work together. If the parents are anti-smartphone policy, it doesn’t matter if the school is pro-policy. If there is a war between parents and schools, I am not sure much will happen. Some kind of intervention and restriction is better than just ripping it away from kids. The UNESCO study found it is actually even worse for university students. We are all coming at this problem from all different ways. Pouches or banned phones. Or nothing.

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Doug Most is a lifelong journalist and author whose career has spanned newspapers and magazines up and down the East Coast, with stops in Washington, D.C., South Carolina, New Jersey, and Boston. He was named Journalist of the Year while at The Record in Bergen County, N.J., for his coverage of a tragic story about two teens charged with killing their newborn. After a stint at Boston Magazine , he worked for more than a decade at the Boston Globe in various roles, including magazine editor and deputy managing editor/special projects. His 2014 nonfiction book, The Race Underground , tells the story of the birth of subways in America and was made into a PBS/American Experience documentary. He has a BA in political communication from George Washington University. Profile

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There are 28 comments on Why Schools Should Ban Cell Phones in the Classroom—and Why Parents Have to Help

i found this very helpful with my research

It was ok, but i will say i enjoyed learning more about why we should not have cell phones.

It was a great research, helped me a lot.

I think that this was helpful, but there is an ongoing question at my school, which is, though phones may be negative to health and knowledge and they’re a distraction what happens if there was a shooting or a fire or a dangourus weather event and you don’t have a phone to tell your parents or guardians at home if you are alright? (Reply answer if have one)

Yeah they would get an amber alert

well, the school has the technology that can help communicate that to the parents, and if that were to happen, I guess that’s why there’s always a cell phone in the classrooms those old-time ones, but I feel it would not be okay in case of a shooting since you have to go silence, and on the moment of fire or weather everything happens so fast in the moment.

Yeah, that’s exactly why they have those supplies or items in the classroom, to alert parents. Kids don’t need to use their phones for that.

In schools all teachers have cell phones. So one way or the other the messages would get out to the parents as needed. If a student gets on the cell phone to inform the parent about the activity, that’s taken place it could cause panic. School staffs are informed as to how to handle such situations.. what I have seen take place in classes are students who are texting each other either in the same room or in another classroom during the school time. Many students spend time on YouTube and not concentrating what’s going on in the classroom.

Teachers have communication with all parents and it also has amber alerts

You just give the kids watches to call there parents or guardians on.

I think that this was helpful, but there is an ongoing question at my school, which is, though phones may be negative to health and knowledge and they’re a distraction what happens if there is a shooting or a fire or a dangerous weather event and you don’t have a phone to tell your parents or guardians at home if you are alright?

I am writing a paper and this is very helpful thank you.

I am writing a paper and this is very helpful but it is true what if our mom or dad have to contact us we need phones!

this helped me with my school project about whether cell phones should be banned in school. I think yes but the class is saying no. I think it’s because I was raised without a phone so I know how to survive and contact my parents without a phone. but anyway, this helped me with my essay! thank you!

I don’t think phones should be allowed in school, and this is perfect backup! Thank you Doug

great infromation for debate

Thanks, this helped a lot I’m working on an essay and this has been really helpful.by the way, some people may think, but what if i need to call my mom/dad/guardian. but the real thing is, there is a high chance that there will be a telephone near you. or if it’s something that only you want them to know,go ahead and ask your teacher if you can go to the office.

I mean it could also depend on the student, like for example let’s say that i’m a student inside the school, if I used my phone and I got off it, for me it would instant focus, but for others students they might take longer or the same time as me, it all really depends if the student is tend to be responsible with their time trying to focus so I would say that this claim is not true.

I think that is article was very good. I’m currently writing and essay and I have used this for most of my evidence so far. I personally think that cellphones should be banned from the classroom because the school will get the information that your parents need out to them so you don’t have to cause a panic because you don’t know if your parents know what is going on at your school or not. It will just be better because then we wouldn’t have as many distractions in the classrooms as we do now because kids are always getting caught on their phones and they are constantly being sent down to the office and it takes time to get the class back on track. I personally agree with Doug that cellphones should be banned in the classrooms.

It’s striking to realize that the reason some parents feel the need to advocate for phone usage in school is due to concerns about a potential school shooting. While parents may be more informed about the harmful effects of smartphones in a learning environment, they take preference for the safety of their child in a hypothetical situation. It’s a hard debate because while the safety of their children is important, the drastic effects of students needing 20 minutes to refocus is significantly impacting their ability to learn in their classes. I find it very saddening that this is what our world has come to – prioritizing safety for a school shooting over academic performance, because it is no longer so unusual for a school to experience that type of tragedy.

I liked the comment, “Addiction to phones is kind of like second-hand smoking. If you’re young and people around you are using it, you are going to want it too,” because I experienced this phenomenon in my early middle school years, with the invention of the first iPhone. All of a sudden an invention that was broadcasted on the news became an essential for the other students in my middle school class, to the point where I became one of the only students without one. Then, I finally succumbed to the pressure, and begged my parents for an iPhone as I felt extremely left out. It’s frustrating to accept that this pressure is affecting children now younger and younger by the year, with even six year old children I babysit owning their own iPhone/iPad.

I also think that with the prevalence of child phone usage significantly increases parental anxiety, particularly for those parents who are already overbearing to start. Giving parents the ability to contact their child at any given time is harmful, and it can create a dependence on either side. It’s ironic given the fact that parents push their children to focus and succeed in their classes, yet harass them all day about minuscule things that could’ve been addressed later that day. So yes, parents need to stop calling their kids during the day.

this helped me with my school project, very reliable source.

I think that this talked more about why parents should help more than why cell phones should be banned.

I think the teachers or guardians will allow you to contact someone but I think after the shooting or crisis they will contact your parents or guardian from the office or person in charge

I agree, I’m 13 and I honestly could live without a phone

i also agree but parents need to reach their kids somehow if something happens in school

I’m also 13

had to research this for an assingnment and onistlly, I love my phone and I would marry it if I could!

This is really reasonable. In my school my friends have cell phones and there is a lot of drama. I am writing a report on this.

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Best practices for smartphone use in K-12 classrooms

The capabilities of smartphones are becoming greater as time goes on. Implementing technology in the classroom and promoting digital citizenship is vital for education. Although cell phones can misdirect focus within education, using smartphones — and best practices — in the classroom can open up a whole new realm of possibilities throughout curricula.

Why Smartphones Are Good for Students.

Smartphones are becoming more common in school because they offer a variety of benefits beyond calling/texting communications, quick answers, the weather, and social media. Cell phones are gaining acceptance inside US schools because they can be positive for students in a variety of ways.

A study by World Scientific News concluded that as the technology available for cell phones continues to evolve, smartphones can be capable of positively contributing to student learning, curricula, and academic effort as a whole. 36.5% of the 274 students analyzed (159 male, 115 female) agreed that mobile phones assist them in their learning as a whole.

The students also agreed that cell phones are also helpful for informational exchanges between peers and educators. While there are some downsides to smartphones in the classroom — such as distractions, up-training, and failed multitasking attempts — the benefits far outweigh the negatives.

Can Cell Phones Be Educational Tools?

The rise of mobile education for children of all ages brings forward the question of how and where to bring cell phones into the classroom. Prior to formal education, today’s students can become technologically savvy, so it is important to consider the ways to use cell phones in the classrooms to enhance education.

Bringing Multimedia to the Classroom.

The ways to use a smartphone for student interaction are limitless. Examples of multimedia in the classroom are:

Using audiobooks for alternatives to traditional reading;

Using songs or music videos to teach a lesson;

Using slideshows to introduce a new topic;

Using games to add fun to dry topics;

Using virtual reality to offer alternative learning spaces.

Multimedia can also distract learners, so it is important to follow tips towards keeping students engaged by doing the following:

Offer explicit instruction;

Test all multimedia prior;

Incorporate movement;

Create stipulations or classroom policies surrounding alternatives to traditional instruction.

As Part of a Student’s Individualized Education Plan.

Some students require additional educational support in the form of an individualized education plan (IEP). Cellphones can be used to facilitate assistive technology and the IEP . Students who are auditory learners can record lectures. Virtual reality smartphone capabilities can help eliminate distractions and promote visual learning.

It becomes important to understand which technology provides educational benefits, and which distracts from education, and that ultimately, is based primarily on intent. Consider three primary questions when determining whether to use a particular technology:

What is the assistive technology needed for?

What up-training or prerequisites are needed to make use of the assistive technology?

Is there proven correlation between the assistive technology and the desired outcome?

Viable assistive technology found in schools can be used for:

Access (physical boundaries);

Augmentative communication;

Assistive listening;

Computer-based instruction;

Environmental control;

Recreation/leisure;

Visual aids.

Important Considerations When Introducing Smartphones.

Prior to introducing smartphones within your curricula and classroom, you need to be aware of potential issues, concerns, and considerations. “ Considerations of the Use of Mobiles Phone in an Educational Context ” examines things such as the distractions that mobile phones bring. Once you decide to bring cell phones into the classroom, it becomes necessary to create a classroom policy surrounding acceptable smartphone usage and unacceptable phone behavior. Parental controls can be a great resource for setting boundaries.

It’s worth noting that not all students own or have access to a smartphone. In cases like this, the school will either need to provide school-owned tablets or alternative devices (which brings forward an array of new concerns), or a parent must be responsible for a kid’s plan . It is also important to analyze how effectively your smartphone introduction is working; assess and address accordingly.

Apps for Students.

In addition to the various practical uses of smartphones within classrooms, students can use their mobile devices to organize information, collaborate on various projects, and create a more efficient educational experience on a continual basis — both at home and within the classroom. The following apps — pulled from Common Sense Educations Top Pick List of reviewed, credible applications — will help students achieve greater academic success:

Best Planner Apps for Students.

One way to ensure efficiency within the classroom is finding a solution to organizational and planning apps for students, parents, and educators to collaborate schedules. The following apps are viable options:

Choiceworks : Offers easy-to-use digital collaboration that focuses on developing self-control, social skills, and daily routine management. Choiceworks costs $6.99 and is available exclusively on iTunes;

myHomework : Offers the ability for students to manage their schedules and planning with digital guidance from educators. myHomework is free to download on Google Play and iTunes;

WorkFlowy : Offers a simple platform for teachers and students to organize lists and plan. WorkFlowy is free of charge, and it is available exclusively online;

Time Timer : Offers up to 99 customizable timers with various options to manage and conceptualize time. Time has a one-time cost of $2.99 and is available on Google Play and iTunes.

Best Note-Taking Apps for Students.

Helping children take notes and organize their notes in a manner that is scannable and well-organized helps children stay on top of their work. The following apps are viable, well-reviewed apps for note-taking:

Bear : Offers writing, editing, and syncing note-taking capabilities. Bear has a free version, as well as a pro version offered for $1.49/month. The pro-version allows for themes and export options. Bear is exclusively offered on iTunes;

Evernote : Offers digital notebook organization and collaboration. Evernote is free to download, with a Premium option that costs $7.99/month. The Premium plan offers more monthly uploads, improved note size, and collaboration space; offline access is gained, as well as the number of devices that are available to use the application on. Evernote is offered on Amazon, Google Play, and iTunes;

Microsoft OneNote : Offers a large platform for thinking and organizational collaboration. Microsoft OneNote is free of charge and it is offered on Amazon, Google Play, and iTunes;

Notability : Offers versatile note-taking for students that also considers the best suits for varying learning styles. Notability is $9.99 on iTunes.

Other Useful Apps for Learning.

There are other apps to consider when introducing technology into the classroom, as well as must-have educational apps for parents. It is important to find apps for international students and students with disabilities as well. Other useful apps to take into account are:

Kahoot : Offers a fun jeopardy-style game as a fun alternative to traditional assessment and studying. Kahoot is available online and ranges in cost from $10/month to $40/month depending on the amount of participants;

Quizlet : Offers study tools — broken down by subject — such as flashcards, tests, spelling quizzes, matching games, all for free and available online. Quizlet is free, but Quizlet Pro is $1.99/month and it offers offline access, scan-in options, and ad-free studying;

Remind : Offers message reminders to keep both parents and students up to speed with events, homework, upcoming projects/tests, etc. Remind is available for free online;

TinyTap : Extensive array of educational games. The app is free to use, and also offers the ability to create your own games. It is available exclusively on iTunes.

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Cell Phones in School: Pros and Cons

Khadija Bilal

Cell phones and smartphones are a big part of modern life. Many people use them every day, including kids and teens. But there’s still a debate about cell phones in school. In this guide, we’ll look at some arguments for why should phones be allowed in school, while also addressing some common concerns parents may have.

Interesting Facts and Statistics About Cell Phones in Education

How cell phones can be used effectively, what are the pros of allowing cell phones in school, what are the cons of allowing cell phones, are there any alternatives, should kids have cell phones in school.

iVazoUSky/Shutterstock.com

Before we look at some of the pros and cons of cell phones in school, let’s look at some statistics to get a clearer picture of the situation.

53% of children will own a smartphone by the age of 11 in the US
That number increases to a whopping 95% in teenagers
Surveys show that as well as passing the time, 83% of kids use their phones to learn
Cell phones are the favored tool of communication among modern teens
41% of teens from lower-income households use their phones to access the internet
Studies show that learning on mobile devices can boost productivity by over 40%
Teens can spend over 7 hours a day looking at screens

These are just some of the many, many statistics about cell phones among teens and in the education sector. From this, we can see that mobile and cellular phone technology is a big part of life for today’s teenagers, and cell phones in school do have the power of providing super educational opportunities.

At the same time, with so many kids spending hours a day staring at their phone screens, there’s also a risk that a phone in school could be too much of a distraction. This means that authorities need to weigh up the pros and cons before deciding about banning or allowing phones.

Ground Picture/Shutterstock.com

Many parents and teachers worry about the risks or downsides associated with using cheap phones at school. However, there are plenty of ways in which children can use these devices for educational and beneficial purposes.

Educational Apps and Games

One of the most obvious ways in which cell phones can be used effectively for education is through the many educational apps and games out there. Mobile app stores are filled with educational content for kids of all ages.

There are apps designed to help kids learn languages, for example. There are also tools and games to help with every school subject, from math to geography.

Related: The 30 Best Educational Apps for School .

Digital Learning Materials

20 reasons why cell phones should be allowed in school

Anna Jurkovska/Shutterstock.com

Giving kids access to their phones at school allows them to use an almost endless library of digital learning materials. There are countless educational documents online, from scientific research papers to exam tips and more.

This can be very beneficial in a school environment. If a child doesn’t quite understand a subject, their teacher can help them by sharing digital learning materials that explain the idea in other ways.

Videos, Podcasts, and More

Every child has their own way of learning. Some like to learn by repeating and memorizing information over and over. Others are more visual learners and want to see ideas and concepts represented with images to get a strong understanding of how they work.

A great thing about using phones and other devices is that they can access all sorts of different digital materials. There are videos about scientific processes, podcasts discussing literature, and long-form articles on mathematic principles, for example.

Cell Phone eReaders

Reading is one of the crucial skills that all children are taught during their early school years. Being able to read well is so important in later life. This skill allows children, teens, and adults to read and understand countless resources, from books to articles and encyclopedias.

A great way that phones can be used in schools is as digital eReaders. It’s easy to download an eReading app onto a phone and then read digital versions of books and documents. This also has eco-friendly benefits, as it removes the need for paper or physical versions of books.

Online Encyclopedias

Another useful way in which phones can be effective at school is by giving kids access to online encyclopedias, like Wikipedia. These educational resources are very powerful, filled with reams of information and knowledge for kids to soak up.

Children can use their phones to look up the different topics they’re taught at school. This can help to deepen their understanding of almost any subject. It also provides supplementary information that the class teacher might not mention.

Screen Control Apps

One of the common problems that people cite when it comes to phones in schools is that they can be distracting. Many parents and teachers worry that kids will spend too much time looking at their phones and not enough time paying attention in class.

However, a way to combat this is to make use of screen control apps. Apps like Kids360 , for example, allow you to track and control how much time your child’s device is on.

Collaboration and Group Work

Often, teachers put kids into groups and ask them to work together on a project. This is a great way for kids of different ages to not only build new social bonds but also develop their teamwork skills.

Phones can be helpful tools for collaboration. They facilitate communication between the different team members, letting everyone participate, even after-school when the various team members say goodbye and go home for the day.

Related: What Age Should a Kid Get a Phone? The Ultimate Guide to Deciding .

Zivica Kerkez/Shutterstock.com

Clearly, when it comes to phones in schools, there are both pros and cons. Let’s take a look at some of the advantages.

A Powerful Learning Tool

One of the best benefits of allowing cell phones in school is their incredible potential for educational benefits and stronger learning.

As shown above, there are lots of ways that phones can be used for learning. They give access to eReaders, educational apps, online encyclopedias, and more.

An Additional Security Measure

Another benefit of letting kids take phones to school is for their own safety. If any kind of emergency happens, the child will be able to make a call and get help or contact their parents.

Not only that, but phones can be helpful for safeguarding kids outside of school, as they make their way home. Parents can use the Findmykids app to track their child’s location and keep them secure.

Download the Findmykids app today for free and be sure your child is safe wherever they are.

Communication with Friends and Family

Despite having so many different uses nowadays, the primary purpose of a phone is for communication.

Phones at school can help kids keep in touch with one another, work together on group projects, and build strong friendships.

Organization

Many students struggle to stay organized. It can be hard to keep track of homework, schedules, assignments, exams, and so on.

Phones make organization easier. They come with calendar apps and other handy tools to help kids organize their lives and become more independent.

Saving Schools Money

Phones can also provide benefits for the school itself. Instead of having to spend lots of money on school devices like tablets or iPads, the school can simply ask students to use their phones.

eReader apps can remove the need for investment in books, and phones could therefore help schools with limited budgets or resources.

Helping Children from Lower-Income Homes

why students should have phones in school

Proshkin Aleksandr/Shutterstock.com

Another financial-related benefit of phones at school is that they might be able to help kids who come from lower-income homes.

Some kids don’t have internet access or computers at home. Being able to use a phone at school can give them the knowledge and tech skills they need to succeed later in life.

Teaching Kids Tech Skills

Technology is an integral part of today’s world. Kids will need to know how to use various technological tools like phones, computers, and the internet as they grow up.

Bringing phones to school will help to level the playing field and give all kids the chance to learn about how to their devices in the best ways to access knowledge and learn skills.

Teaching Digital Responsibility

If kids aren’t taught the rights and wrongs of using their phones, they may have to simply figure things out for themselves. This could lead to bad habits and serious mistakes being made in their future.

Bringing phones to school gives teachers the chance to teach children about digital responsibility. It can teach them when it’s allowed to use their phones and how to use them in a way that is respectful of others.

why cell phones should be allowed in school

As well as the pros listed above, there are also several cons to take into consideration regarding phones in schools. Here are a few of the big concerns:

A Distraction

One of the big issues that many people talk about with phones in schools is the risk of them becoming a distraction. Kids could start looking at their phones while the teacher is talking and miss out on valuable information, for example.

There’s also a risk of kids being less likely to interact and socialize together if they’re too distracted by their screens and devices.

However, this disadvantage can be easily dealt with. For example, you can install the Kids360 app and make a schedule for using the gadget—restrict access to games during school and before going to bed and monitor which applications and how long the child is using.

Mental Health Effects and Addiction

Some studies have shown that phones could have a negative effect on a child or teen’s mental health. It’s even possible for children of varying ages to develop addictions or dependencies on their devices.

This is why phone usage needs to be carefully monitored, controlled, and balanced. If a child is allowed to use their phone non-stop, they could easily become addicted to them.

Possible Cyberbullying

why should cell phones be allowed in school

Daisy Daisy/Shutterstock.com

Bullying has always been a big problem in schools across the globe. It has changed form over the years, with cyberbullying becoming more prevalent in modern times.

With cyberbullying, bullies can use the internet and technological devices, like phones, to send harmful messages or spread false rumors about their peers. This can be very damaging to the victims.

Read also Children and cyberbullying: what is it and how to stop it?

Risk of Cheating

Another possible downside to consider with allowing phones in schools is the risk of cheating. During an exam, for instance, a student could use their phone to look up the answer to a question.

This kind of behavior could damage the integrity of the examination process. It could also make children too dependent on their devices and cause them to get false grades that are not reflective of their true abilities.

Potential for Misuse

Of course, with any internet-connected device, there’s also a risk of phones being misused by children. Instead of using them for educational purposes, kids could simply play games or watch videos.

There’s also a chance of children being able to access unsuitable content on their phones via the internet. For this reason, any phone usage at school would need to be carefully monitored.

EZ-Stock Studio/Shutterstock.com

If, after weighing up the pros and cons of phones in schools, you feel that phones should be banned or strictly controlled, you might like to consider an alternative. So, are there any other devices out there that can provide similar benefits and uses?

In general, the only alternatives to phones are other devices that function in a similar way, like GPS and smartwatches, or laptops and tablets. These devices allow access to educational materials and apps, but also have many of the same risks and downsides as phones.

Choose a GPS watch for a child right now and be calm for the safety of your child wherever they are!

Everyone will have their opinion on whether or not phones should be allowed in schools. However, after weighing up the pros and cons, it’s arguable that the benefits of phones outweigh the risks and kids should be allowed the opportunity to use their phones in certain ways at school.

These technological tools are part of the world, and kids will use them throughout their lives. By bringing them into the school environment, it should be easier to teach children and teens the right ways to use their phones for educational purposes, rather than simply as distractions, giving them valuable knowledge and skills they can take into later life.

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Can Cell Phones Be Educational Tools?

Doug Curtin
April 4, 2022

Students standing in a circle on their phones.

Most students’ cell phones are constantly dinging and ringing with alerts from the most popular social media apps. Teachers and parents alike are at constant odds with students over their cell phone use.

But what if we started to look at the use of cellphones in school as a tool? Can cell phones be educational tools for good?

With so much power right at students’ fingertips, teachers are working on using students’ mobile devices as a learning tool rather than the typical distraction.

>>> Free E-Book: Effective Strategies for Using Technology in PE

How Can Phones Help Students In School?

There is no question that smartphones and technology can help and improve our everyday lives. With so much right at our fingertips, smartphones have empowered a generation to do everything from communicate with each other to solve some of the world’s biggest problems.

And while mobile phones have become an integral part of our everyday lives, we have struggled to find a place for them in the classroom. Teachers often have rules to keep student cell phones away and silent throughout the class period.

But phones can help students in school as much as phones help us in all other aspects of our lives. Student cell phones can become a resource and tool for educational purposes.

Phones Can Help Students:

Stay more organized

Access educational resources like videos, audio, and more

Receive personalized learning through educational applications

Collaborate and work with other students

And while the list of ways phones can help students could go on and on, we need to stop and address the elephant in the room!

Are the reasons why students should have phones in schools worth all the hassle?

Okay, so there are plenty of reasons why phones can help students in school. But do the reasons why students should have phones in school outweigh all the hassle?

With school-issued computers or laptops, teachers have control over technology in the classroom. However, personal student cell phones are a different story.

Student cell phone use in class can often interrupt the learning process. If students are sneaking under their desks, text messaging and scrolling through apps, they are not focused on class. But this battle occurs when phones are seen as the enemy.

Smart phones don’t have to be taboo in the classroom. If we encourage and support appropriate smartphone use, the constant battle with devices becomes a team effort. Students and teachers can get onto the same page on using cellphones in the classroom for good.

How Can You Leverage Tech?

Download our FREE E-Book to discover strategies to integrate technology while keeping the focus on education…not social media!

How Can Cell Phones Be Used As Educational Tools?

Like any other learning tool, cell phones can be an educational tool with the proper framework and support.

We don’t expect children to know how to use a pencil the first time we hand them one. Instead, we expect them to need practice and help to learn how to use it.

The same expectations should be applied when we allow mobile devices to be used in class. Teaching students to be ‘digital citizens’ requires an array of strategies to empower the proper use. But over time, smart phones, like any other educational tool, can become an asset for learning.

So, can cell phones be educational tools? Yes! With the right tips and tricks, any classroom can take student cell phones and use them for educational purposes.

Bonus Content! PE teacher Molly Collins describes how cellphones and technology have allowed more hands on instruction in her PE class.

3 Tips For Integrating Phones In A Classroom

Teachers can take simple steps to make sure student learning with mobile devices is helpful, not harmful. Our overall goal is to help students learn to be good ‘digital citizens’ and understand when and how to use their mobile phones.

Before applying any of these tips, the biggest thing is identifying what the goal is with using cellphones in the classroom. After defining your goals, you will likely identify an app or educational resource that will support your mission. Below are three tips for integrating phones in a classroom with specific examples for physical education included.

Tip # 1: Create a Cell Phone Use Contract With Your Students

Start by creating clear expectations with students on cell phone use. In the contract can be examples of what is considered appropriate and inappropriate technology use. In addition to examples, outline the potential consequences for students who do not use technology appropriately.

Example: If a student gets off task by going on social media, they will receive one warning before having to put their phone away for the rest of class.

Most importantly, create this contract WITH your students, not for your students. By having students take ownership of the contract, they will better understand the do’s and don’ts of phone use in class.

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girl lifting weights with devices around her

Tip # 2: Create an Educational Applications Scavenger Hunt

Whatever type of technology you plan to use in class, start students out with a scavenger hunt.

Because students are constantly on their phones, we assume they can figure out anything with them. But then, when we introduce school technology, many of them say they aren’t sure how to do it.

With a scavenger hunt, you can help students practice the skills and tasks you will expect them to do throughout the rest of the semester.

Example: In physical education class, many schools use technology in physical education with an educational app called PLT4M. Many teachers will have students find an instructional video, log a workout, and enter in a test result during a scavenger hunt because these are the main activities they will do with the technology during any class.

Tip # 3: Partner Students Up

There are plenty of reasons you might need to partner students up when using cell phones. For example, some students might not have a cell phone at all. Others might get them taken away at home. Or quite likely, you might not trust or want all your students ‘left to their own devices.’

Partnering students up when using smartphones can solve all of the potential problems. It also encourages collaboration and helps students to become accountable for each other when working with technology.

Example: With PLT4M, there is a featured called rackview. This feature allows up to 5 students to use one device simultaneously. And even with 5 students on one device, students can still access their personalized workouts and log any information they need to.

Key Takeaways: Can Cell Phones Be Educational Tools?

Yes, cellphones can be educational tools for students with the proper structure and support. Schools have already found ways to use computers and other technology and should look to find ways to incorporate smartphones as well.

While it feels like smartphones have been around forever, it has only been about a decade since educational applications have existed and become available to the world. Like many other aspects of our lives, we will likely look back and ask how we ever did it before smart phones.

As more students grow up in the smartphone era, we should find ways to make education better for all by using this powerful technology.

Is PLT4M just a mobile app?

No, PLT4M is both a web and mobile app.

If you are still unsure about allowing students to use phones in class or have access to other technology, you can use PLT4M with smartphones, tablets, computers, and laptops.

What if not every student has a phone?

Students can use rackview to partner up. Or you can use any other type of technology. With PLT4M, as long as you have access to technology, you can make PLT4M work in your school.

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PE Final Exam. PT and then graphing progress/data in the Athletic Training Facility. @BR_Schools @plt4m

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The Pros and Cons of Allowing Cell Phones in School

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M.Ed., Educational Administration, Northeastern State University
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One of the more controversial and most discussed issues that school administrators face on a daily basis is where they stand with students and cell phones. It seems that virtually every school takes a different stance on the issue of cell phones in school. No matter what your school’s policy is, there is no way to completely keep all students from bringing their phones unless you do student searches every day, which is simply not feasible. Administrators must evaluate the pros and cons of allowing cell phones in schools and make a decision based on their own student population.

The fact is that almost every household owns multiple cell phones. The age of students who own a cell phone has progressively been trending downward. It has become increasingly common for students as young as five to possess a cell phone. This generation of students are digital natives and thus experts when it comes to technology. Most of them can text with their eyes closed. They are often far more adept than most adults at using their cell phones for many purposes.

Should Cell Phones Be Banned or Embraced in Schools?

There are essentially three core stances most school districts have taken with their cell phone policies . One such policy basically bans their students from having their cell phones at all. If students are caught with their cell phones, then they can be confiscated or fined. In some cases, the student may be suspended. Another common cell phone policy allows students to bring their cell phones to school. Students are allowed to use them during non-instructional times such as time in between classes and lunch. If students are caught with them in class, then they are confiscated from the student. Another cell phone policy is leaning towards a shift in administrators thinking. Students are not only allowed to possess and use their cell phones, but they're also encouraged to use them in class as learning tools. Teachers incorporate the use of cell phones regularly into their lessons for purposes such as research.

Districts that ban their students from having their cell phones or limit their usage do this for a variety of reasons. Those include not wanting it to make it easy for students to cheat , being afraid that students are sending inappropriate content, playing games, or even setting up drug deals. Teachers also feel like they are distracting and disrespectful. All of these are valid concerns and are why this is such a hot issue among school administrators.

The movement towards embracing the use of cell phones by students begins with educating students on proper use of phones at school. Administrators who are shifting towards this policy often say that they are fighting an uphill battle with a policy that has a complete or partial ban on cell phone possession and use. Administrators who have transitioned to this type of policy say that their job has become much easier and that they have far fewer issues of cell phone abuse than they did under other policies.

This type of policy also clears the way for teachers to embrace cell phones as an instructional tool. Teachers who have elected to use cell phones in their daily lessons say that their students are actively engaged and more attentive than they typically are. A cell phone can be a powerful educational tool. Smartphones have the ability to provide students with so much information in an instant that teachers cannot deny that they can be powerful tools that enhance learning in the classroom.

Many teachers are using them for a variety of purposes such as small group projects with research races or text competitions for correct answers. The website polleverywhere.com allows teachers to pose a question to their students. The students then text their answers to a particular number that the teacher provides them. The website collects the data and puts it into a graph, where teachers can project their answers on a smart board and discuss the answer choices with the class. The results of these activities have been very positive. Teachers, administrators, and students have all provided positive feedback. Many teachers and students would argue that it is time to move into the 21st century and begin using the resources we have available to engage our students in the learning process more readily.

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How Can Cell Phones Be Used For Educational Purposes

Published: November 3, 2023

Modified: January 11, 2024

Benefits of Using Cell Phones in the Classroom

The integration of cell phones in the classroom has become a topic of discussion among educators and experts in recent years. While there are valid concerns about the distractions and misuse that cell phones can bring to the learning environment, when used properly, they offer a range of benefits to both students and teachers. Here are some of the key advantages of using cell phones in the classroom:

Improved Engagement: Cell phones can significantly enhance student engagement. By incorporating educational apps, interactive websites, and multimedia content, teachers can create a more immersive and interactive learning experience. This increased engagement can lead to improved student participation and enthusiasm for learning.
Instant Access to Information: With cell phones, students have access to a vast amount of information with just a few taps on their screens. They can quickly search for definitions, facts, and research papers, eliminating the need for bulky textbooks and making learning more efficient and streamlined.
Collaborative Learning Opportunities: Cell phones enable students to collaborate and communicate with their peers on group projects and assignments. Through messaging apps and online platforms, students can easily share ideas, coordinate tasks, and work together regardless of their physical locations. This fosters teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
Personalized Learning: Cell phones offer opportunities for personalized learning. With educational apps and software, teachers can tailor lessons and assignments to match students’ individual needs, learning styles, and pace. This customization promotes a more personalized and effective learning experience for each student.
Enriched Multimedia Learning: Cell phones facilitate the integration of multimedia elements in the classroom. Students can explore educational videos, podcasts, interactive simulations, and virtual reality experiences that enhance their understanding and retention of complex concepts. This multimedia approach makes learning more engaging and memorable.

These benefits indicate that cell phones can be valuable tools in the educational process. However, it is crucial for schools and teachers to establish clear guidelines and rules regarding cell phone usage in the classroom to ensure proper usage and minimize distractions.

Enhancing Learning with Educational Apps

One of the significant advantages of using cell phones in the classroom is the vast array of educational apps available. These apps can transform the learning experience by providing interactive and engaging content that caters to various subjects and learning styles. Here’s how educational apps can enhance learning:

Interactive Learning: Educational apps offer interactive features that allow students to actively engage in the learning process. They provide quizzes, games, and simulations that make learning more enjoyable and effective. Students can practice concepts, receive immediate feedback, and track their progress, fostering a sense of achievement and motivation.
Accessibility and Convenience: Educational apps enable students to access learning materials anytime and anywhere. With the convenience of cell phones, students can study at their own pace, whether they are at school, at home, or on the go. This accessibility promotes continuous learning and the ability to review concepts whenever needed.
Personalized Learning Opportunities: Educational apps can be customized to meet individual students’ needs. They offer features that adapt to students’ learning styles, allowing them to engage with content in a way that best suits them. Additionally, apps can provide personalized recommendations and challenges based on a student’s progress and performance.
Enhanced Engagement: Educational apps often incorporate gamification elements, which can increase student engagement and motivation. Through rewards, achievements, and leaderboards, students are encouraged to complete tasks, track their progress, and compete with their peers. This gamified approach makes learning more enjoyable and interactive.
Multimedia Resources: Educational apps offer access to a wide range of multimedia resources, including videos, audio files, and interactive visual aids. These resources can present complex concepts in a more engaging and easily understandable manner. Students can benefit from visual and auditory learning, helping them grasp and retain information more effectively.

Educational apps provide a wealth of opportunities to enhance the learning experience and cater to the diverse needs of students. However, it is essential for educators to select and recommend high-quality and curriculum-aligned apps to ensure their educational value and align with the learning objectives. Additionally, proper training and guidance on the effective use of educational apps can maximize their impact on student learning.

Collaborative Learning and Communication

The integration of cell phones in the classroom has opened up new avenues for collaborative learning and communication. Through various communication tools and platforms, cell phones enable students to connect, exchange ideas, and collaborate on assignments like never before. Here are some reasons why collaborative learning and communication are essential benefits of using cell phones in the classroom:

Improved Communication: Cell phones provide instant and convenient communication channels for students and teachers. Messaging apps, email, and discussion forums allow for quick and efficient communication, making it easier for students to seek clarification, ask questions, and receive feedback. This direct and timely communication fosters a supportive and interactive learning environment.
Enhanced Collaboration: Cell phones enable seamless collaboration among students. Through project management apps, shared document tools, and video conferencing platforms, students can work together on group projects, brainstorm ideas, and co-create content even when they are not physically present in the same location. This promotes teamwork, cooperation, and the development of essential collaborative skills.
Global Connections: With cell phones, students can connect and collaborate with peers from around the world. Through social media, online forums, and educational platforms, students can engage in cross-cultural discussions, gain diverse perspectives, and learn about different traditions and viewpoints. This global connectivity broadens their horizons and prepares them for a globalized world.
Peer Learning Opportunities: Cell phones facilitate peer-to-peer learning. Students can share resources, study materials, and notes with their peers, fostering a collaborative and supportive learning community. Peer learning encourages active engagement, boosts confidence, and deepens understanding as students learn from and teach each other.
Real-Time Feedback: Collaborative learning with cell phones enables students to receive real-time feedback from their peers. Through instant messaging, document commenting, and online discussions, students can provide constructive feedback to one another, enhancing their critical thinking skills and encouraging continuous improvement.

By leveraging the communication and collaboration features of cell phones, students can develop essential 21st-century skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. While it is important to establish guidelines and expectations for respectful and responsible online communication, the benefits of collaborative learning and communication outweigh the potential challenges, creating a more dynamic and interactive learning environment.

Accessing Online Resources and Research

The availability of cell phones in the classroom opens up a world of online resources and research opportunities for students. With internet access at their fingertips, students can easily search for information, access scholarly articles, and explore a wide range of educational resources. Here are some reasons why accessing online resources and research is a valuable benefit of using cell phones in the classroom:

Immediate and Extensive Information: Cell phones provide students with instant access to a vast amount of information. They can quickly search for specific topics, definitions, or facts, and retrieve accurate information in seconds. This eliminates the need to rely solely on textbooks or limited classroom resources, allowing students to explore a more extensive range of information.
Current and Up-to-Date Content: Online resources and research materials are often more current compared to traditional printed resources. Cell phones enable students to access the latest articles, research studies, and news updates in real-time. This access to up-to-date information enhances their understanding of current events, emerging trends, and evolving subject matter.
Diverse Perspectives and Global Learning: Online resources provide students with the opportunity to explore diverse perspectives and engage in global learning. Through online articles, blogs, and forums, students can access writings and research from experts and scholars around the world. This exposure to different viewpoints broadens their understanding of various cultures, opinions, and ideas.
Encourages Critical Evaluation and Digital Literacy: Accessing online resources and research requires students to critically evaluate the credibility and reliability of the information they find. This fosters digital literacy skills, including the ability to distinguish between reliable sources and misinformation. Students learn to identify bias, analyze data, and apply critical thinking to their research endeavors.
Varied Media Formats: Online resources often offer a diverse range of media formats, including videos, infographics, podcasts, and interactive simulations. Students can engage with content through different modalities, catering to different learning styles and preferences. This multimedia approach makes learning more engaging, dynamic, and enhances student comprehension and retention.

By harnessing the power of cell phones to access online resources and conduct research, students can become independent learners who actively seek knowledge beyond the confines of their classroom. However, teachers should guide students on responsible and ethical use of online resources, including proper citation, copyright awareness, and the importance of using reliable sources.

Personalized Learning with Mobile Devices

One of the significant benefits of using mobile devices, such as cell phones, in the classroom is the potential for personalized learning. With the right apps, software, and resources, teachers can customize learning experiences to meet individual students’ needs, interests, and learning styles. Here’s how mobile devices enable personalized learning:

Adaptive Learning: Mobile devices can support adaptive learning platforms that adjust content and activities based on students’ abilities and progress. These platforms use data and analytics to identify areas where students need additional support or challenging activities, ensuring that each student’s learning journey is personalized to their unique needs.
Individualized Pace: Mobile devices allow students to learn at their own pace, advancing or reviewing concepts based on their understanding. With access to educational apps and online resources, students can go beyond the standard curriculum and explore advanced topics or spend more time mastering difficult concepts before moving forward.
Customized Content: Mobile devices enable teachers to create or curate customized content tailored to individual students. This can include interactive lessons, multimedia resources, and practice exercises that align with their interests and learning preferences. Providing content that resonates with students can increase engagement and motivation.
Data-Driven Insights: Mobile devices and educational apps generate valuable data that helps teachers gain insights into students’ learning progress, strengths, and areas for improvement. Data analytics can identify patterns and trends, enabling teachers to make informed decisions about instructional strategies and interventions to support individual student growth.
Personal Learning Networks: Mobile devices offer connectivity and access to online communities, allowing students to create personal learning networks (PLNs). Through PLNs, students can connect with experts, collaborate with peers, and engage in discussions and debates centered around their interests, expanding their learning beyond the classroom.

Personalized learning with mobile devices empowers students to take ownership of their learning, promoting autonomy, self-directedness, and a positive attitude towards learning. However, it is essential for teachers to provide guidance and support in navigating the vast resources available, ensuring that students are accessing high-quality and relevant content while promoting responsible and ethical use of mobile devices.

Encouraging Active Learning through Multimedia

Cell phones and other mobile devices offer a wide range of multimedia capabilities that can greatly enhance active learning in the classroom. By incorporating multimedia elements into lessons, teachers can engage students in interactive and dynamic ways, promoting deeper understanding and retention of topics. Here’s how multimedia can encourage active learning:

Visual Representation: Multimedia, such as videos, images, and infographics, can visually represent complex concepts and information. Visual aids provide a concrete representation that helps students grasp abstract concepts more easily. They can observe processes, see real-life examples, and make connections between visual representations and the content being learned.
Audio Engagement: Audio elements, such as podcasts, recordings, and sound effects, can capture students’ attention and engage their auditory senses. Listening to explanations, interviews, or debates on a topic can enhance understanding and promote critical thinking. Additionally, audio elements can be used to deliver content in a more engaging and interactive manner, such as in storytelling or language learning applications.
Interactive Simulations: Mobile devices allow students to access interactive simulations and virtual experiments, bringing abstract concepts to life. Simulations enable students to manipulate variables, observe cause-and-effect relationships, and test hypotheses in a risk-free environment. This hands-on experience enhances their understanding of scientific principles, mathematical concepts, and complex systems.
Multimodal Learning: Multimedia supports multimodal learning, allowing students to engage with content using multiple senses. They can use touchscreens to interact with simulations, use gestures to navigate through interactive presentations, and engage in kinesthetic activities while learning. Multimodal learning enhances engagement, retention, and understanding by appealing to different learning preferences and providing a richer learning experience.
Creative Expression: Multimedia tools on mobile devices enable students to create their own content, such as videos, podcasts, and presentations. Through creative expression, students can demonstrate their understanding of concepts and showcase their knowledge in unique and personalized ways. This promotes higher-order thinking skills, creativity, and collaboration.

By integrating multimedia into the learning experience, teachers can transform passive learning into active engagement. However, it is important to strike a balance and ensure that multimedia use is purposeful, aligns with learning objectives, and is properly integrated into the curriculum. Teachers should also provide guidance on critically analyzing and evaluating multimedia sources for accuracy and relevance.

Developing Digital Literacy Skills

The use of cell phones in the classroom provides an opportunity for students to develop essential digital literacy skills. Digital literacy encompasses the ability to effectively and ethically use technology, evaluate digital resources, and navigate online platforms. Here’s how cell phones can contribute to the development of digital literacy skills:

Internet Navigation: Cell phones expose students to various online platforms, websites, and applications. Using cell phones, students learn how to navigate the internet, search for information effectively, and assess the credibility and reliability of online sources. These skills are crucial in the digital age, as the internet plays a significant role in accessing knowledge and resources.
Online Communication: Cell phones facilitate online communication through messaging apps, email, and social media platforms. Engaging in these platforms requires students to learn how to communicate responsibly, practice digital etiquette , and protect their privacy and personal information. These skills are fundamental to effective online communication and collaboration.
Media Literacy: Cell phones expose students to a multitude of media formats, including articles, videos, images, and social media posts. Through the use of cell phones, students can develop critical thinking skills to analyze and evaluate media content for bias, credibility, and accuracy. They learn to differentiate between fact and opinion, detect misinformation, and become savvy consumers of digital media.
Data Management: Cell phones enable students to manage and organize digital information. They learn about file management, cloud storage, and data backup, as well as how to protect their digital assets. Developing skills in data management ensures that students can effectively store and retrieve information, and safeguard their work from being lost or compromised.
Information Literacy: Cell phones provide access to a vast amount of information, requiring students to develop information literacy skills. They learn how to evaluate the relevance and credibility of sources, critically analyze information for bias or misinformation, and properly cite and attribute sources. These skills are vital in conducting effective research and avoiding plagiarism.

The integration of cell phones in the classroom provides a platform for students to develop digital literacy skills that are essential for their academic and professional lives. However, it is important for teachers to provide guidance and resources to help students navigate the digital world safely, responsibly, and ethically.

Overcoming Barriers and Challenges

While the use of cell phones in the classroom brings numerous benefits, it also presents challenges that need to be addressed for effective integration. By understanding and proactively addressing these barriers, educators can maximize the potential of cell phones for learning. Here are some common challenges and strategies for overcoming them:

Distractions and Misuse: One of the primary concerns about cell phone use in the classroom is the potential for distractions and misuse. To combat this, establish clear guidelines and expectations for cell phone use, such as designated device-free periods or restrictions on non-educational apps during class time. Encourage responsible usage and educate students about the proper etiquette of using cell phones for learning.
Equity and Accessibility: Access to cell phones may vary among students, leading to issues of equity and accessibility. To address this, consider implementing a device-sharing program or providing school-owned devices for students who do not have their own cell phones. Additionally, encourage collaboration and ensure that no student is excluded or disadvantaged based on their access to technology.
Technical Issues: Technical glitches or network connectivity issues can disrupt the seamless use of cell phones for learning. Having a backup plan or alternative activities that don’t rely solely on cell phones can help mitigate these issues. Ensure that necessary software, apps, and websites are properly tested and that technical support is available when needed.
Online Safety and Digital Citizenship: Using cell phones for learning requires educating students about online safety and digital citizenship. Teach them about cyberbullying, online privacy, and responsible digital behavior. Incorporate lessons on digital literacy and the importance of credible sources. Empower students to be responsible digital citizens who navigate the online world safely and ethically.
Teacher Training and Support: Educators may face challenges in effectively integrating cell phones into their teaching practices. Providing comprehensive training on the educational uses of cell phones, relevant apps, and digital teaching strategies can help teachers gain confidence in incorporating cell phones in the classroom. Encourage collaboration and sharing of best practices among teachers to learn from one another’s experiences.

By acknowledging and addressing these barriers and challenges proactively, educators can create an environment where the benefits of using cell phones for learning outweigh the potential drawbacks. It’s essential for schools and teachers to continually assess and adapt their strategies to ensure that cell phones are utilized effectively and in ways that promote student engagement, learning, and growth.

Ensuring Proper Usage and Etiquette

The integration of cell phones in the classroom comes with the responsibility of ensuring proper usage and etiquette. It is important for educators to establish guidelines and expectations to promote a respectful and productive learning environment. Here are some strategies for ensuring proper usage and etiquette when using cell phones in the classroom:

Set Clear Expectations: Clearly communicate the rules and expectations regarding cell phone use in the classroom. Include guidelines on when and how cell phones can be used, such as designated usage times or specific activities where cell phone use is allowed or encouraged. Make sure that students understand the purpose and importance of these guidelines in creating a focused and respectful learning environment.
Teach Digital Citizenship: Incorporate lessons on digital citizenship to help students understand their responsibilities when using cell phones and other digital devices. Teach them about proper online behavior, respect for others’ privacy and intellectual property, and the consequences of cyberbullying or inappropriate online interaction. Encourage thoughtful online communication and critical evaluation of online content.
Model and Reinforce Etiquette: Model proper cell phone usage and etiquette to students. Use cell phones in class to demonstrate appropriate ways to engage in learning activities or access educational resources. In addition, promote responsible behavior by addressing any misuse or distractions promptly and reminding students of the expected cell phone etiquette.
Address Digital Distractions: Implement strategies to minimize distractions caused by cell phones. This can include setting specific times for phone usage, implementing device-free zones or activities, or utilizing apps or tools that limit access to non-educational content during class time. Encourage students to focus on the learning objectives and help them develop self-regulation skills to manage their digital distractions.
Promote Active Engagement: Encourage students to actively engage with their cell phones for educational purposes. Design activities that require meaningful interaction with the device, such as research, collaboration, or content creation. Emphasize the educational value and potential learning benefits of using cell phones responsibly and productively.

By setting clear expectations, providing guidance on digital citizenship, and promoting responsible cell phone usage and etiquette, educators can create a positive and effective learning environment. It is important to cultivate a culture where cell phones are seen as learning tools and where students understand the responsibility and privilege of using them in the classroom.

Case Studies: Schools Implementing Cell Phone Use in Education

Several schools around the world have successfully implemented the use of cell phones in education, showcasing the benefits and effectiveness of this approach. Let’s explore a few case studies that highlight the positive impact of cell phone integration in the classroom:

Algonquin Middle School, New York: Algonquin Middle School implemented a “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) policy, allowing students to use their cell phones for educational purposes. This initiative has led to increased student engagement and collaboration. Teachers leverage educational apps, interactive websites, and multimedia content to create interactive learning experiences. Students use their cell phones for research, project-based learning, and accessing online resources, resulting in improved academic performance and a more personalized learning experience.
iSchool, Toronto: At iSchool in Toronto, cell phones are integrated into the curriculum to enhance learning and foster digital literacy. Students use their cell phones for research, data collection, blogging, and collaborative projects. Teachers provide guidance on responsible cell phone usage and engage students in discussions about online safety and ethical use of technology. This approach has empowered students to become active learners, developing critical thinking skills, digital literacy, and a deeper understanding of the subject matter.
Yongsan International School of Seoul: Yongsan International School implemented a cell phone policy that allows limited, purposeful usage of cell phones in the classroom. Teachers incorporate cell phones as tools for research, communication, and multimedia assignments. Students use their cell phones for real-time data collection, collaborating with peers on group projects, and accessing online resources. This approach has encouraged independent and personalized learning, promoted student-led inquiry, and strengthened digital citizenship skills.
Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles: Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles integrates cell phones into language learning by utilizing language-learning apps and online platforms. Students use their cell phones to practice listening comprehension, engage in interactive language exercises, and access language-learning resources outside of the classroom. This approach has increased student motivation, improved language proficiency, and provided students with greater flexibility in their language learning journey.
Kunskapsskolan International School, Sweden: Kunskapsskolan International School embraces cell phones as tools for personalized and self-directed learning. By using educational apps and online platforms, students have access to personalized learning plans, resources, and assignments tailored to their individual needs. They use their cell phones to track progress, receive personalized feedback, and communicate with teachers. This approach has empowered students to take ownership of their learning, fostered self-regulation skills, and shown positive impacts on academic achievement.

These case studies exemplify how the integration of cell phones in education can enhance student engagement, personalize learning, and develop essential digital literacy skills. By implementing thoughtful policies, providing training to teachers, and promoting responsible cell phone usage, schools can harness the potential of cell phones as valuable educational tools.

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Efforts to ban cellphones in classrooms try to reduce distraction

Efforts to ban cellphones in classrooms aim to reduce distractions for students who find many addictive aspects of the phones hard to take a break from.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she is considering supporting legislation that would ban smartphones in schools amid concerns about keeping children safe online, and reducing distraction from social media.

Gov. Hochul told the Guardian , "I have seen these addictive algorithms pull in young people, literally capture them and make them prisoners in a space where they are cut off from human connection, social interaction and normal classroom activity."

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New York State Sen. Andrew Gounardes told Scripps News that lawmakers in New York are pushing for legislation that would focus on how cellphones in the classroom affect students' ability to learn, pay attention and focus.

"We hear from teachers anecdotally about how it impedes on their ability to teach, but also from parents who both want their kids to not be distracted, but also want to be able to get in touch with them," said Sen. Gounardes.

This year lawmakers in New Zealand passed a ban on cellphones in schools which went into effect in late April.

New Zelaland's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said, "Phones have been banned in schools across the country. It's time we cut the distractions so kids can learn and achieve," Radio New Zealand reported .

Gov. Hochul said she would put up a bill later this year to be taken up by New York's next legislative session at the start of 2025.

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6 Ways Schools Are Managing Students’ Cellphone Use

A flurry of school districts across the country are tightening cellphone restrictions, because they believe students’ misuse of the devices has negatively affected their behavior and ability to learn.

In 2015, 66 percent of schools in the United States prohibited non-academic use of cellphones during school hours, according to the National Center for Education Statistics . By 2020, that percentage had jumped to 77 percent.

Many educators blame students’ cellphone use for being the top distraction in schools and classrooms . The constant use of the devices has also been linked to students’ worsening mental health .

The issue has caught the attention of federal and state policymakers, too. Some states—such as California, Florida, Indiana, and Tennessee—have passed laws allowing schools to restrict cellphone use. A handful of other states are considering passing similar laws. Congressional lawmakers have also introduced legislation that would require a federal study on the effects of cellphone use on students’ mental health and academic performance.

Liz Kolb, a clinical professor of education technologies and teacher education at the University of Michigan, said it’s unlikely that all 50 states will pass laws restricting students’ cellphone use, “but we’re seeing a lot more [movement] at the individual school level, where they’re trying to figure out policies that make sense [for their communities].”

At the district level, these restrictions vary widely. Some districts restrict student cellphone use anywhere and any time during the school day. Some allow use of the devices during lunch and in the hallways. And others haven’t placed any restrictions at all, often because of parent and student pushback.

Even in districts where there’s a ban, “there’s a lot of nuance” in how schools are addressing it, Kolb said. “In order for a full school ban to be effective, you really have to have strong leadership supporting the staff in enforcing it.”

Some of those nuances include exceptions for students who have a documented need to have their digital devices for health reasons, such as checking blood glucose levels if a student has diabetes. Teachers also have the flexibility to allow students to use their cellphones in class if they are needed for instructional purposes.

Here are six different policy approaches districts are putting in place to address concerns about student cellphone use:

1. Cellphones are restricted for all students, regardless of grade level

In Florida’s Orange County district , all students are prohibited from using their cellphones and other wireless communication devices, such as smartwatches, during school hours—meaning from the first bell to the dismissal bell, these devices must be silenced and put away in their bags. If a student is caught using a phone during the school day, the device will be confiscated and returned to the student at the end of the day. Depending on the circumstances of the violation, a student could also get detention or be suspended.

Flint schools in Michigan also prohibit all students, regardless of grade level, from using cellphones or other personal electronic devices. If a student is caught using a phone, it will be confiscated and returned to the student’s parent or caretaker.

Some districts provide technological solutions, such as pouches, to lock and store students’ phones during the school day. In other districts, educators have found creative ways to separate students from their phones, such as using over-the-door shoe holders where students place their phones during class.

2. Cellphones restricted only for elementary students, more flexible for middle and high school students

While restrictions on the use of cellphones and other two-way communication devices exist for all students in the Wauwatosa district in Wisconsin , there are more flexible rules for middle and high school students. Cellphones are prohibited all day for elementary students, but middle and high school students can use their phones before and after school, between class periods, during lunch, and in free periods. Teachers and principals have discretion for imposing consequences for misuse.

Close up of elementary or middle school white girl using a mobile phone in the classroom.

3. Cellphones are prohibited for elementary and middle school students, but more flexible for high school students

Elementary and middle school students in Virginia’s Rockingham district are prohibited from using personal electronic devices during the school day, while high school students may use their devices during lunch, study hall, advisory periods if permitted by a teacher and principal, and in between classes.

4. Cellphones are restricted only in classrooms, locker rooms, and bathrooms

Other districts, such as Richmond schools in Wisconsin, have restrictions on cellphone use only in certain areas of schools, such as classrooms, locker rooms, and bathrooms—to prevent bullying or sharing of inappropriate images, according to some district policies.

5. Cellphones restricted only in classrooms

Some restrictions are centered around classroom time only and allow students to use their phones outside of the classroom. In the Brush school district in Colorado , for instance, students aren’t allowed to have their phones out during instructional hours but can use them any other time. If a student is caught with a phone when they’re not allowed to have it, parents can either come to school to collect the phone or they can let the school keep the phone until the end of the day.

Students' cell phones are collected by school administration before the start of spring break at California City Middle School in California City, Calif., on March 11, 2022.

6. Cellphone restrictions are left up to each school

There are also districts, such as Meriden in Connecticut and Minnetonka in Minnesota, that don’t have districtwide restrictions, but instead have guidelines that schools can choose to follow.

For instance, in Meriden, the guidelines recommend elementary students keep their phones in their bags the whole school day; middle school students keep their phones in their lockers but can use them during lunch; and to let high school students have access to their phones all day but they must be turned off and out of sight during class time.

Other districts, such as Pawtucket in Rhode Island , allow principals or teachers to implement their own school or classroom rules around cellphones, as long as there’s a clear plan for allowing students to use them in case of emergencies.

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New student cell phone policy will be a challenge for school districts to enforce

T he Minnesota legislature passed an Education Bill in this year's session which contained a requirement that school districts create policy to address cell phone use in schools. Those policies have to be in place by March 15, 2025.

Minnesota students will have to get used new policies relating to using their phones in school.

"It's not an easy issue to tackle," says Scott Croonquist Executive Director of the Association of Metropolitan schools.

He says there's research that shows the negative impact that phones have on students.

"So there is growing support I think to try to limit or at least put parameters around the use of phones during school day," says Croonquist.

That it is likely to be a challenge he adds.

"You know, of course, enforcement gets to be an issue here," Croonquist says. "You know, how do you really enforce this when you have a high school, maybe of over 1,000 students?"

But in some districts that have already made changes, Croomquist explains that they've already seen positive results.

"They said, 'you know what, we are supportive of it, we actually found that now we actually talk to each other as students and carry on conversations that we didn't before."

Maple Grove Middle School has a no cell phone use policy for students during the school day.

“We instantly noticed that it was a game changer,” Maple Grove Middle School Principal Patrick Smith said during debate on the bill. “The culture and climate of our building, our students were happy, they weren’t looking at their phones during the hallway or at lunchtime. They were talking to each other.”

“The more we understand about cell phones in schools, the more it is clear that we need to be proactive, collaborative and thoughtful in how and when their use is permitted,” said Rep. Sandra Feist (DFL-New Brighton), the bill sponsor.

New student cell phone policy will be a challenge for school districts to enforce

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Dewine and husted announce model policy for cell phones in schools.

COLUMBUS — Gov. Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and Department of Education and Workforce Director Stephen D. Dackin announced the publication of a model policy designed to minimize student use of cell phones during school hours.

“By removing the distraction of cell phones from classrooms, our school children will be free to flourish and will see improved academic engagement and social interaction,” said Governor DeWine. “Schools that implement this model policy will quickly see positive results by giving children a break from the nonstop notifications that have proven to be harmful to student performance and mental health.”

The model policy prohibits students from using cell phones or similar electronic communications devices on school property during school hours. It also requires that students keep their cell phones in a secure place — such as their locker, a closed backpack, or a storage device provided by the district — at all times when cell phone use is prohibited.

Exceptions are included for students using a cell phone for a documented purpose as part of an Individualized Education Program or for monitoring a health concern.

“The feedback from school administrators, students, and parents that I have spoken with as I have toured the state hosting roundtables on this topic has been unanimous. You improve student academic performance and reduce bullying and disciplinary issues when you get phones out of the classroom,” said Lt. Governor Husted. “It’s important that students are focused on their lessons rather than ‘likes’ and giving them a few hours out of the day without their phones will minimize their time on social media apps and algorithms that are addicting and harming them. Hopefully, this model policy will provide valuable guidance for our school districts.”

DEW created the model cell phone policy as part of the requirements of House Bill 250.

Recently signed by Governor DeWine, HB 250 calls for every school district in the state to establish an official policy governing cell phone usage and emphasizes limiting cell phones to the greatest extent possible.

School districts can either adopt DEW’s model policy or create their own policy, provided that it adheres to all of the requirements within HB 250.

Along with the model policy, DEW has also published a toolkit with resources and tools for school administrators, teachers, parents, and students. Specifically, the toolkit includes guidance to support school engagement without cell phones, as well as strategies for families to promote healthy behavior, set expectations for screen time, and reduce cell phone use outside of school.

“The need for action when it comes to cell phone restrictions during the school day was made clear after months of meetings with Ohio district and school leaders. We listened to their experiences and feedback and used these insights to inform the model policy and additional resources that we are proud to make available,” said Director Dackin.

Governor DeWine called on the Ohio General Assembly to enact legislation limiting cell phone use in schools during his State of the State Address last month, during which he also recognized the longstanding work of Lt. Governor Husted to advocate for limited cell phone usage in schools and support of parental consent requirements for children to use social media.

All schools will be required to adopt cell phone policies no later than July 2025, ahead of the 2025-2026 school year.

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Hochul considers smartphone ban for New York schools, citing student mental health concerns

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Gov. Kathy Hochul is mulling how to get smartphones out of New York schools as city and state officials grapple with the potential harmful effects of social media and other online platforms on youth mental health.

This week, Hochul said smartphones should not be available to students during the school day, adding that she is exploring ways to make that happen next year. The governor and other city and state officials say social media platforms are designed to be addictive , harm young people’s mental health , and create avenues for bullying.

“They’re living in this dark place where there’s this FOMO — fear of missing out — that if they put down their device for one second, that someone might be saying something about them, or they’ve got to respond to something,” Hochul told reporters on Tuesday. “This is how addictive it is. We have to liberate them from this. We have to just draw a line now and say, ‘No. Enough is enough.’”

The governor has added she understands parent concerns over maintaining a line of communication with their children during the school day and indicated the state may consider action that solely affects the use of smartphones.

“I’m okay if you have a flip phone,” she said during a Thursday appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “But you don’t have to be in the world of social media throughout the day. So, let’s talk about that for New York.”

A spokesperson for Hochul confirmed she intends to engage with teachers, families, and others about potential legislative action for the next session, which begins in January 2025. But officials added there was currently no formal legislative proposal.

Julie Scelfo, founder of Mothers Against Media Addiction, said potential legislation by the governor would represent “an important step toward keeping addictive technology out of the classroom and ensuring school hours remain devoted to education and in-person social interaction.”

“Smartphones have no place in the classroom,” she said in an emailed statement. “Educators, social workers and parents understand that the presence of phones during the school day impedes students’ social, emotional and academic growth and further fuels the current youth mental health crisis.”

In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams has repeatedly blamed social media companies for the nation’s ongoing youth mental health crisis. Earlier this year, the city joined hundreds of other municipalities in filing a lawsuit against five leading social media companies .

Though the city’s schools have not adopted a system-wide policy on cellphones, schools Chancellor David Banks said officials are continuing to pay attention to the issue. While some public schools require students to turn in phones at the start of the school day, others employ more relaxed policies.

“These are all complicated issues, and we have not made any decision,” Banks said at a Thursday press briefing. “In light of what the governor just said, I think it’s incumbent upon us to absolutely start exploring these issues.

“The kids are on these phones 24 hours a day, and there’s all kinds of research that’s coming in and talking about all the negative impacts that it is having on them,” he added. “We can’t control what happens once they’re home … but maybe six to eight hours out of the day, we might have a little bit more control.”

Julian Shen-Berro is a reporter covering New York City. Contact him at [email protected] .

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IMAGES

Using Smartphones in the Classroom: A Guide for Teachers
Will more student access to smartphones in school improve learning?
Students using smart phones during lecture
Utilizing Smartphones in School
20 Reasons Why Cell Phones Should Be Allowed in School
3 Tips for Managing Phone Use in Class

COMMENTS

Using Smartphones as Learning Tools
The following year, schools in Brooklyn began distributing cell phones to students, and by 2010, there was a significant shift toward embracing cell phones as educational tools. From being used for text messaging to keep students connected with their schools, cell phones slowly found applications for broad educational purposes.
Experts see pros and cons to allowing cellphones in class
Bans may help protect classroom focus, but districts need to stay mindful of students' sense of connection, experts say. Students around the world are being separated from their phones. In 2020, the National Center for Education Statistics reported that 77 percent of U.S. schools had moved to prohibit cellphones for nonacademic purposes.
Cellphones in Schools: A Huge Nuisance and a Powerful Teaching Tool
Cellphones are both a powerful learning tool and huge distractions for kids. Figuring out how to make the most of them is "really tricky," said Taylor, a fan of technology in the classroom who ...
Weighing the Costs and Benefits of Cellphones in Schools
Typically, the discussion around cellphones in school — whether they are learning tools or distractions — has revolved around their impact on measures of academic success like test scores or grades. But in his research, Ed School alum Dylan Lukes looks at other outcomes policymakers should be considering. "I'm hoping to move beyond thinking about test scores and consider the potential ...
Cellphone Policies in Schools, Explained
A cellphone sits on a student's desk during a 9th grade honors English class at Bel Air High School in Bel Air, Md., on Jan. 25, 2024. The policies that districts and schools use to manage the use ...
Why Cell Phones Should Be Allowed in Schools
In conclusion, embracing the capabilities of cell phones in the academic realm presents a win-win scenario. It offers students the convenience and immediacy of digital access while allowing educational institutions to optimize resources, reduce costs, and promote sustainability. 6. Good for the Environment.
PDF Mobile phones in the classroom: Policies and potential pedagogy
In contrast to current educators, 45% supported the use of mobile phones in the classroom (while 25% did not), compared to earlier research that found only one-fourth of the preservice teachers supported their use. More than half of the preservice teachers (58%) indicated that mobile phones support student learning, whereas far fewer (21% ...
Cellphones in School: What to Know
Answering that question often depends on the school, or even the specific teacher. Over 90% of principals in a 2020 study supported restrictions on cellphone use for students in middle and high ...
Do smartphones belong in classrooms? Four scholars weigh in
A new report from UNESCO, the education arm of the United Nations, raises questions about the practice. Though smartphones can be used for educational purposes, the report says the devices also ...
Do smartphones belong in classrooms? Four scholars weigh in
Though smartphones can be used for educational purposes, the report says the devices also disrupt classroom learning, expose students to cyberbullying and can compromise students' privacy. About 1 in 7 countries globally, such as the Netherlands and France , have banned the use of smartphones in school - and academic performance improved as ...
Using Smartphones in the Classroom
And now it's all smartphones.". According to data compiled by the research firm Nielsen, 58 percent of American children from 13- to 17-years-old owned a smartphone as of July 2012—an increase of more than 60 percent over the previous year. And with over 50 percent of mobile phone users in America now using smartphones, the numbers only ...
Smartphones and Other Devices in Schools: Results of a ...
They also delved into issues related to student discipline, including devices' impact on student distraction, disruption, off-task behavior, and cheating. Finally, the survey asked educators ...
Smartphones in school? Only when they clearly support learning
Only when they clearly support learning. 26 July 2023. Last update:27 July 2023. The 2023 Global Education Monitoring Report has just released a call for technology only to be used in class when it supports learning outcomes, and this includes the use of smartphones. The digital revolution holds immeasurable potential but, just as warnings have ...
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain. Smartphones can improve academic performance, when used appropriately, according to new research by the School of Business. The study, conducted by Ms. Yanqing ...
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The case for allowing phones in class. Those who say cellphones should be permitted in schools often cite educational benefits. For example, kids might be making movies or studying photography ...
Do Smartphones Belong in Schools? A Look at Different Approaches
In a recent Speak Up survey, 80% of teachers think phones are a distraction for students. Just over 70% of administrators say it is difficult for students to manage their smartphones responsibly. Regarding schoolwide policies, only 28% of respondents said students were not allowed to use or have phones on campus at any time, whereas 11% said ...
Why Schools Should Ban Cell Phones in the Classroom—and Why Parents
Education Why Schools Should Ban Cell Phones in the Classroom—and Why Parents Have to Help New study shows it takes a young brain 20 minutes to refocus after using a cell phone in a classroom ... There are 28 comments on Why Schools Should Ban Cell Phones in the Classroom—and Why Parents Have to Help. saydi. February 26, 2024 at 1:34 pm i ...
Cell Phones as Educational Tools
Cell phones are gaining acceptance inside US schools because they can be positive for students in a variety of ways. A study by World Scientific News concluded that as the technology available for cell phones continues to evolve, smartphones can be capable of positively contributing to student learning, curricula, and academic effort as a whole ...
Cell Phones in School: Pros and Cons
A Powerful Learning Tool. One of the best benefits of allowing cell phones in school is their incredible potential for educational benefits and stronger learning. As shown above, there are lots of ways that phones can be used for learning. They give access to eReaders, educational apps, online encyclopedias, and more.
Can Cell Phones Be Educational Tools?
But phones can help students in school as much as phones help us in all other aspects of our lives. Student cell phones can become a resource and tool for educational purposes. Phones Can Help Students: Stay more organized. Access educational resources like videos, audio, and more. Receive personalized learning through educational applications
The Pros and Cons of Allowing Cell Phones in School
There are essentially three core stances most school districts have taken with their cell phone policies. One such policy basically bans their students from having their cell phones at all. If students are caught with their cell phones, then they can be confiscated or fined. In some cases, the student may be suspended.
Cell Phones in Ohio Schools
In the United States, 95% of teens (children ages 13 to 17) have access to smart cell phones. Students, on average, receive 192 alerts per day from their cell phones, about 11 notifications per waking hour, one every five minutes.Cell phones and their applications are designed to catch the attention of students, which is disruptive to both learning and relationships.
State leaders announce model policy for cell phones in schools
State leaders announce model policy for cell phones in schools. 6/3/2024. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and Department of Education and Workforce Director Stephen D. Dackin recently announced the publication of a model policy designed to minimize student use of cell phones during school hours.. The model policy prohibits students from using cell phones or similar ...
How Can Cell Phones Be Used For Educational Purposes
Personalized Learning: Cell phones offer opportunities for personalized learning. With educational apps and software, teachers can tailor lessons and assignments to match students' individual needs, learning styles, and pace. This customization promotes a more personalized and effective learning experience for each student.
Efforts to ban cellphones in classrooms try to reduce distraction
In New York an effort has begun to ban smartphones in schools. (Scripps News) Efforts to ban cellphones in classrooms aim to reduce distractions for students who find many addictive aspects of the ...
6 Ways Schools Are Managing Students' Cellphone Use
Teachers also have the flexibility to allow students to use their cellphones in class if they are needed for instructional purposes. Here are six different policy approaches districts are putting ...
New student cell phone policy will be a challenge for school ...
The Minnesota legislature passed an Education Bill in this year's session which contained a requirement that school districts create policy to address cell phone use in schools. Those policies ...
Governor DeWine, Lt. Governor Husted Announce Model Policy for Cell
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) Director Stephen D. Dackin today announced the publication of a model policy designed to minimize student use of cell phones during school hours. "By removing the distraction of cell phones from classrooms, our school children will be free to flourish and will see improved ...
DeWine and Husted announce model policy for cell phones in schools
DEW created the model cell phone policy as part of the requirements of House Bill 250. Recently signed by Governor DeWine, HB 250 calls for every school district in the state to establish an ...
Why Hochul wants smartphones banned in New York schools
Gov. Kathy Hochul said this week that smartphones should not be available to students during the school day, adding that she is exploring ways to make that happen next year. Here, Hochul speaks ...