Updated: May 8, 2024 - looking at recent media attention and further positives and challenges that support the ultimate goal of learning to be great digital citizens.
The mobile phone and student wellness has been on my mind more because in the last few years I have witnessed the growing complexity of how my colleagues, fantastic educators, are trying to navigate student wellbeing issues and academic integrity. In the majority of cases the mobile phone is part of the problems equation. My thoughts about I know are not unique, it is being experienced everywhere.
Research and experts in health and education are increasingly concerned about the detrimental effects of mobile devices on young people (To grow up healthy, children need to sit less and play more, 2019; Youth, smartphones and social media use, 2024). Constant notifications disrupt critical thinking, and the fixation on these screens has hindered healthy social interactions (Teens in a Digital World, 2023). We all have become less present, absorbed in posts and short videos. Teachers witness this firsthand the negative impact on learning and social development. In classrooms, students are easily distracted, and in hallways, they congregate silently around their phones. Then there is AI. With AI's emergence, it raises additional concerns about students relying on their phones for answers and essays.
The mobile phone and student wellness has been on my mind more because in the last few years I have witnessed the growing complexity of how my colleagues, fantastic educators, are trying to navigate student wellbeing issues and academic integrity. In the majority of cases the mobile phone is part of the problems equation. My thoughts about I know are not unique, it is being experienced everywhere.
Research and experts in health and education are increasingly concerned about the detrimental effects of mobile devices on young people (To grow up healthy, children need to sit less and play more, 2019; Youth, smartphones and social media use, 2024). Constant notifications disrupt critical thinking, and the fixation on these screens has hindered healthy social interactions (Teens in a Digital World, 2023). We all have become less present, absorbed in posts and short videos. Teachers witness this firsthand the negative impact on learning and social development. In classrooms, students are easily distracted, and in hallways, they congregate silently around their phones. Then there is AI. With AI's emergence, it raises additional concerns about students relying on their phones for answers and essays.
As leaders, we must support educators in addressing this challenge. Teaching students responsible and effective phone use is imperative. Yet, knowing how ubiquitous the phone is I wonder: how do we teach distracted students? And how do learners focus when tempted by social media or games (Screen Time in School: Finding the Right Balance for Your Classroom, 2023)? Schools need intentional structures to help students navigate these challenges and curb the behavioral and academic consequences of unchecked phone use.
These concerns extend beyond schools. Artists and performers observe distracted audiences more interested in capturing the perfect social media moment than being present. Some, like Alicia Keys, John Mayer, and Jack White, are using products like Yondr to encourage focused concert experiences (Artists to Fans: Put Your Phones Away!, 2018). Yondr's secure pouches temporarily lock away phones, and this approach is gaining traction in some schools.
Purposeful implementation of such a system could reduce distractions and promote healthy learning habits. It would also limit opportunities for academic dishonesty (Does Gen Z's emotional intelligence promote iCheating, 2018). Moreover, removing phones could make student interactions more genuine and transparent, fostering essential life skills. We all have to learn to walk before we can run, right?
My vision as a leader is to ultimately empower students to use technology effectively and responsibly. Using a secure pouch is a temporary tool to help students build the necessary skills and habits for successful engagement with powerful tools like smart phones. Once students have established these skills, students will have the better skills and outside experiences to use their devices in ways that enhance, rather than hinder, their learning and well-being. This approach is a stepping stone towards developing the self-regulation and critical thinking essential for becoming responsible digital citizens.
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