Changing the Classroom Experience

Recently, we wrote about the the new policy schools across Canada introduced with cellphone bans, attempting to reduce distractions and create a more focused learning environment.

This approach was an attempt to restrict students from using their phones during educational hours and has a noticeable impact in classrooms already. Students are instructed to keep their devices off or silent, and in some cases, they aren’t allowed to use them during lunch either.

This article goes over how it’s been going so far with the first month of the school year beginning.

Improving Focus and Productivity

The key purpose of this banning system is to increase engagement and concentration in the classroom. According to a recent Globe and Mail article, educators like Kelsey LeForte, a teacher in Surrey, B.C., have already seen the benefits of this initiative. Without the constant temptation to check their phones, students complete assignments much faster and participate more in discussions. LeForte noted that her students can finish a writing assignment in two days, a process that typically took over a week due to distractions from electronic devices.

Positive Changes at Home

Parents are also feeling the positive effects of the ban at home. With fewer exchanges of texts during school hours, families are having more meaningful conversations outside of school. Elizabeth Hayes, a parent from Comox Valley, B.C., mentioned that instead of receiving constant messages from her daughter during school time, they now enjoy more engaging conversations at home. This reduction in screen time is helping children connect more with their families and share moments about their day-to-day experiences.

The Student Experience

For students, this shift is leading toward a more productive learning environment. Without the distraction of notifications, students focus better on tasks and stay occupied with their work. Students like Lauren McGuire, a Grade 12 student from Oakville, Ont., have noticed an improvement in group work and class participation. She further observed that her classmates are more attentive and involved in discussions, resulting in a more collaborative class setting.

A Break from Digital Overload

The move to limit cellphone use is part of a growing awareness about the negative impacts of excessive screen time on mental health and learning. By encouraging a more "analog" environment, schools are allowing students to interact more with their lessons and classmates. This shift toward less digital reliance is creating a healthier, more focused learning classroom, helping students build stronger attention spans and improve communication skills. This new approach to limiting cellphones in class might be exactly what students need to thrive academically and socially.

The Analog Advantage

This move towards a more analog approach in education is clearly a beneficial approach in certain areas of education. It’s clear that limiting screen time can lead to better focus, lower stress levels, and improved cognitive function among students.

Stock Shock, the investment literacy board game, is an analog approach in which students learn about financial and investment topics through gaming in a tabletop, physical version.  It’s proven to empower the next generation of players to invest through tangible, hands-on learning experience through the board game.

By promoting an analog environment, schools can create a more conducive atmosphere for learning, where students are less distracted and more engaged in their educational activities.

For more insights on how cellphone bans are impacting schools across Canada, check out this article from The Globe and Mail, or to learn about how excessive screen time affects child development, check out this study from the National Center for Biotechnology Information.