Should Cell Phones be Allowed in the Classroom?
By: Ashley Weng
Photo by LincB - stock.adobe.com
Introduction
In today’s society, cell phones have become an important part of everyday life, especially for younger generations. Students are becoming inseparable from their phones, always being distracted by constant notifications and calls that draw their attention to their devices. It is clear that phones are becoming increasingly important in modern society, but many debate over whether or not they should be allowed in the educational environment. There are several benefits and drawbacks of having cell phones integrated in education, and all of them depend on what the student’s utmost priorities are. Many find themselves asking the question: Should cell phones be allowed in the classroom?
Pros
Educational Tools
When used appropriately, phones can be extremely helpful in a student's learning process. Many classrooms use apps on students' phones for quizzes, note-taking, language translation, and more interactive activities that grab someone’s attention. For students with learning disabilities or those who struggle to speak English, phones can provide the support necessary for them, like translation tools or dictionaries. However, this will only prove useful under heavy teacher supervision, to make sure that the students are doing what they are supposed to. By using phones in the classroom, teachers can help students transform their phones into a learning tool rather than a mindless toy. By making students invest in positive learning games such as Kahoot and Blooket, these kids will be more excited to learn outside of the school building as well. At that point, school work wouldn’t just be a chore, it would be something fun for everyone to enjoy.
Fun, educational learning games that can be used in class, such as Kahoot, are constantly being used in classrooms to engage students. Photo from Kahoot!
Emergency Communication
One of the most important factors that families value in today’s world is safety. Many parents, especially with middle schoolers or high schoolers, want to provide phones to their children to ensure that they are safe at all times. Phones make it easy to connect with the people you want to, so parents are able to reach out to their kids in case of an emergency. This is important for students with health conditions, like asthma or severe allergies. According to a study conducted by the National Parents Union, 78% of parents think that cell phones should be allowed in school so that they can use them in case of an emergency. Having a phone during the school day can become essential in dangerous instances, and work to connect families through the hardest of times. In life-threatening emergencies like natural disasters or security issues, many parents have no idea whether their child is safe, and having personal contact with them can become life-saving.
Cons
Distraction
On the other hand, cell phones can also prove to be a distraction. In a student’s education, focus is essential. Cell phones are filled with distractions that demand users' attention every second of the day. Although some would argue that there are ways to silence notifications and calls, the mere presence of a phone tempts students to interact with it. This disrupts their concentration on the course material and disrupts their ability to absorb important information. According to a Rutgers University-New Brunswick study, “when students are allowed to use phones, tablets or other devices for non-academic purposes during classroom lectures, they perform worse in end-of-term exams…”(Buccino 1). Not only could this affect the student's performance in the class, but also the performance of those around them. When fewer students are participating in class due to the constant distraction of their cell phones, it can cause others to become less engaged in the material.
When students are supposed to be doing their work or listening to the material, they may be tempted to pull out their phones due to notifications or calls they may get during class. This disrupts class participation and behavior. Picture by Getty Images
Fewer Social Interactions
To many people, one of the most important aspects of school is not just the learning facet, but the development of essential social skills. Talking and discussing ideas with their peers, even if it doesn’t have anything to do with the course material, helps the child build important social skills and connections that will get them through life. However, when students spend their time at school on their phones rather than actively engaging with one another, they aren’t able to nourish these interpersonal skills. When students don’t interact with one another, this can lead to decreased participation and focus in class, creating a disruptive environment that is hard to learn in. Claire Chuter, a PhD student at Johns Hopkins University, writes that, “... social connection is fundamental to human happiness, and when we are unhappy, our critical thinking skills are highly depressed”(Chuter 6). This means that with less collaboration, students’ minds won’t be as active or ready to process new information. In this aspect, having cell phones at school actively works to destroy human connections rather than nourish them, meaning their presence in the classroom is extremely harmful.
Conclusion
Ultimately, there is no right or wrong answer to whether or not phones should be allowed in the classroom. Those who argue that cell phones should be used in education say that phones can improve learning by making classwork more engaging and exciting. These devices also serve as important communication tools during emergencies. On the other hand, phones can be a major source of distraction and limit social interactions between students. In the end, it all comes down to proper balance and supervision. If phones are integrated into the classrooms with boundaries and are monitored correctly, these devices can prove essential in improving education worldwide. Teachers, parents, and most importantly, students, must work together to make sure that our cell phones improve learning instead of hindering it.
Pollenz, S. (2024, September 9). In case of emergency: New survey finds why parents say children should have their cell phone at school - National Parents Union. National Parents Union. https://nationalparentsunion.org/2024/09/06/in-case-of-emergency-new-survey-finds-why-parents-parents-say-children-should-have-their-cell-phone-at-school/
Rutgers University. (2018, July 27). Cellphone distraction in the classroom can lead to lower grades, Rutgers study finds. https://www.rutgers.edu/news/cellphone-distraction-classroom-can-lead-lower-grades-rutgers-study-finds
Howley-Rouse, A. (2020, February 10). The importance of social connection in schools. THE EDUCATION HUB. https://theeducationhub.org.nz/social-connection/
