I’ve been shocked during the summer holiday at how long my son spends on his mobile phone. It turns out that four in 10 children aged five to 15 own a mobile phone. Three quarters of those own smartphones. These phones must be a classroom disruption.
Technology has its place in education. It is important for the workforce to “upskill” in this regard, and incorporating computer marking, virtual learning environments and visualisation software will enrich children’s understanding of their subjects as well as expanding their technological skillset.
Likewise, phones have their place in the pockets of the young. It is to the benefit of parents that schoolchildren are now contactable during their journeys to and from school or during breaks, so that pick-ups, violin lessons and sports matches can be arranged with minimal fuss.
In practice, however, the overuse and abuse of technology in the classroom is bad for pupils’ development.
According to reports in the UK, headteachers who have taken a hard line on smartphones have seen significant improvements in results.
A study conducted earlier this year by researchers at the London School of Economics found that test scores increased by more than six per cent in schools which banned the devices. This is no surprise.
Mobile phones not only distract pupils from the substance of their work. They also erode concentration and good manners.
Half of those aged 18 to 24 fail to get through the first five minutes of the day without checking their phone. For pupils to go several hours a day without feeding this addiction would be of great psychological, as well as educational, benefit.
A number of different approaches are possible. Some schools demand that pupils hand in phones at the gates, inviting them to reclaim them at breaktime or at the end of the day. For schools with the resources to store the phones and run the reclaim operation, this is a sensible approach.
Others impose zero-tolerance rules on phone use in the classroom.
Pupils will, no doubt, be angry at a crackdown. They will, however, be grateful when their results come in.
PV
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