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Do phones belong in schools.
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Harvard Staff Writer
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. In September 2018, French lawmakers outlawed cellphone use for schoolchildren under the age of 15. In China, phones were banned country-wide for schoolchildren last year.
Supporters of these initiatives have cited links between smartphone use and bullying and social isolation and the need to keep students focused on schoolwork.
77% Of U.S. schools moved to ban cellphones for nonacademic purposes as of 2020, according to the National Center for Education Statistics
But some Harvard experts say instructors and administrators should consider learning how to teach with tech instead of against it, in part because so many students are still coping with academic and social disruptions caused by the pandemic. At home, many young people were free to choose how and when to use their phones during learning hours. Now, they face a school environment seeking to take away their main source of connection.
“Returning back to in-person, I think it was hard to break the habit,” said Victor Pereira, a lecturer on education and co-chair of the Teaching and Teaching Leadership Program at the Graduate School of Education.
Through their students, he and others with experience both in the classroom and in clinical settings have seen interactions with technology blossom into important social connections that defy a one-size-fits-all mindset. “Schools have been coming back, trying to figure out, how do we readjust our expectations?” Pereira added.
It’s a hard question, especially in the face of research suggesting that the mere presence of a smartphone can undercut learning .
Michael Rich , an associate professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and an associate professor of social and behavioral sciences at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, says that phones and school don’t mix: Students can’t meaningfully absorb information while also texting, scrolling, or watching YouTube videos.
“The human brain is incapable of thinking more than one thing at a time,” he said. “And so what we think of as multitasking is actually rapid-switch-tasking. And the problem with that is that switch-tasking may cover a lot of ground in terms of different subjects, but it doesn’t go deeply into any of them.”
Pereira’s approach is to step back — and to ask whether a student who can’t resist the phone is a signal that the teacher needs to work harder on making a connection. “Two things I try to share with my new teachers are, one, why is that student on the phone? What’s triggering getting on your cell phone versus jumping into our class discussion, or whatever it may be? And then that leads to the second part, which is essentially classroom management.
“Design better learning activities, design learning activities where you consider how all of your students might want to engage and what their interests are,” he said. He added that allowing phones to be accessible can enrich lessons and provide opportunities to use technology for school-related purposes.
Mesfin Awoke Bekalu, a research scientist in the Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness at the Chan School, argues that more flexible classroom policies can create opportunities for teaching tech-literacy and self-regulation.
“There is a huge, growing body of literature showing that social media platforms are particularly helpful for people who need resources or who need support of some kind, beyond their proximate environment,” he said. A study he co-authored by Rachel McCloud and Vish Viswanath for the Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness shows that this is especially true for marginalized groups such as students of color and LGBTQ students. But the findings do not support a free-rein policy, Bekalu stressed.
In the end, Rich, who noted the particular challenges faced by his patients with attention-deficit disorders and other neurological conditions, favors a classroom-by-classroom strategy. “It can be managed in a very local way,” he said, adding: “It’s important for parents, teachers, and the kids to remember what they are doing at any point in time and focus on that. It’s really only in mono-tasking that we do very well at things.”
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Home Essay Samples Information Science and Technology Cell Phones
Cell Phones in School: An Argumentative Perspective
Table of contents, benefits of cell phones in school, drawbacks of cell phones in school, balancing benefits and drawbacks.
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Essay on Use of Mobile Phones in Education
Students are often asked to write an essay on Use of Mobile Phones in Education in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.
Let’s take a look…
100 Words Essay on Use of Mobile Phones in Education
Introduction.
Mobile phones, once considered a distraction, are now a valuable tool in education. They provide a wealth of resources and opportunities for learning.
Learning Tools
Mobile phones offer various educational apps, like dictionaries, encyclopedias, and learning games, which aid in understanding complex topics.
Easy Access to Information
With internet connectivity, mobile phones provide instant access to vast amounts of information, making learning more dynamic and interactive.
Communication and Collaboration
Mobile phones facilitate communication between students and teachers, promoting collaboration and the sharing of ideas.
250 Words Essay on Use of Mobile Phones in Education
Mobile phones, once viewed as distractions, are now recognized as powerful tools in the realm of education. Their role in enhancing learning experiences and outcomes cannot be understated.
Transforming Learning Experiences
The ubiquity of mobile phones has revolutionized the learning landscape. They serve as portable knowledge hubs, bringing a wealth of information to students’ fingertips. With educational apps, e-books, and online courses, mobiles facilitate self-paced learning, allowing students to explore topics beyond the classroom curriculum.
Collaborative Learning
Mobile phones foster a collaborative learning environment. They enable students to engage in group discussions, share resources, and work on projects remotely, thereby promoting teamwork and enhancing communication skills.
Real-time Feedback
Mobile phones also provide platforms for real-time feedback. Teachers can monitor students’ progress, address doubts, and provide personalized guidance. This immediate feedback mechanism helps in identifying and rectifying learning gaps promptly.
Challenges and Conclusion
Despite the advantages, the use of mobile phones in education is not without challenges. Issues like digital distraction, cyberbullying, and data privacy require careful management. Moreover, the digital divide can exacerbate educational inequalities. Therefore, while leveraging mobile phones for education, it is crucial to establish a balanced and responsible approach to their use. In conclusion, when used effectively, mobile phones can significantly enrich the educational journey, transforming it into an engaging, collaborative, and personalized experience.
500 Words Essay on Use of Mobile Phones in Education
The role of mobile phones in education.
Mobile phones, with their ubiquitous presence, have become a gateway to a wealth of knowledge. The internet connectivity they provide allows students to access a plethora of educational resources and platforms. From e-books to educational apps, online courses, and interactive learning tools, mobile phones have made it possible for students to learn anytime, anywhere.
Enhancing Learning Experience
Mobile phones also enhance the learning experience by making it interactive and engaging. They support multimedia learning, enabling students to learn through videos, animations, and interactive quizzes. This multimedia approach caters to different learning styles, making education more inclusive. Mobile phones also facilitate collaborative learning. Through various apps, students can work on projects together, share notes, and engage in peer-to-peer learning.
Personalized Learning
Challenges and solutions.
Despite the benefits, the use of mobile phones in education also presents challenges. The most significant one is the digital divide. Not all students have access to smartphones or a stable internet connection, which can lead to inequalities in educational opportunities. It is crucial for educational institutions and policymakers to work towards bridging this digital divide.
Another challenge is the potential for distraction. However, with proper guidelines and digital literacy education, students can be taught to use mobile phones responsibly for educational purposes.
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