Strict bans on mobile phones in schools have “close to zero” impact on student learning and show no evidence of improvements in attendance or online bullying, a study has found.
Researchers at US universities including Stanford and Duke looked at nearly 1,800 US schools where students’ phones were kept in locked pouches and found little or no differences in outcomes compared with similar schools without strict bans.
The report concluded that among schools instituting a ban: “For academic achievement, average effects on test scores are consistently close to zero.”
The results will come as a disappointment to teaching unions and campaigners in England who backed the government’s recent move to restrict the use of mobile phones in schools. A ban is likely to come into force next year.
Um, ya sure about that?
Yes, phones are distracting, but distraction is entirely about competing levels of interest, and phones are more interesting than most people’s work or commute, and certainly than modern classrooms.
im 100% sure because people are doing it no matter what they are otherwise doing it. So its either they are on their phones because they hate life or smartphones or at least certain apps on them are addictive. its plain to see they are addictive although I will grant that life sucks especially now. Still. the phones be an addiction.
Addiction usually forms around something that is used for escaping one’s problems. True here as well.
And yes, most people are unhappy in life, right now especially.