Students throughout the day are often on their phones for whatever reason that might be. Phones may have numerous benefits, however students using phones in the classroom is often debated among teachers, parents, and students themselves. The issue of cellphone usage in class raises questions about its impact on learning, classroom management, and student behavior.
The current phone policy at AHS states that phones must be put away during class, are allowed to be used if instructed by a teacher while in a study hall, and permitted to be used during passing periods and lunch.
Cell phones offer opportunities and challenges in the classroom. Students are able to use their phones as calculators, to play Kahoots, and maybe even to take pictures of notes.
Depending on the teacher and their cell phone policy, the rules pertaining to cellphone usage will look different.
English teacher Elizabeth Englund believes that students that are constantly using their phones and need to be reminded to put it away should have more consequences but because they don’t it’s still very much an issue.
“I think 90% of the time in class, phones shouldn’t be used. The other 10% of the time, they might be used to play review games like Kahoot, to listen to music while creative writing, or using an app for a project,” Englund said.
There are times when students are allowed to use their phones and some teachers do allow them to do so but under certain circumstances.
Health and PE teacher Xiomara Hernandez thinks it’s disrespectful when students are on their phones and that phones should be away during class activities, teacher-led lessons/instructions and summatives.
“If a student is done with their work they should be okay using their phone as long as they are not distracting others,” Hernandez said.
A lot of teachers are okay with students going on their phone when all of their work is done. Teachers see phones as distractions but if all their work is done and they are being productive they are fine with it.
Teachers can have a hard time managing their class when it comes to students using their phones. Students will get distracted while a teacher is giving a lesson and will end up not knowing what is going on, affecting their grade.
“It’s demoralizing as a teacher to be starting a lesson and looking out at the students and over half of them are looking down at their phones,” Englund said.
Not only can it be hard for the teachers to see their students on their phones but it can later impact their own learning.
“I don’t allow phones to be out during class time, I find that the students who do keep bringing their phones out will have it reflected on their grade,” Math teacher Khalida Hassan said.
When students are on their phones it can impact their own learning. Students could lose focus, disengagement from the lesson, and have an overall lower academic performance.
Science teacher Riley Holt believes that phones can be used as a great tool just as long as it’s used for educational purposes and that they’re used responsibly and at the right time.
“I believe it is more beneficial to have a one-on-one conversation to help the student understand the importance of staying engaged and keeping distractions like the cell phone away,” Holt said.
The overall presence of cell phones makes it harder for teachers to teach their students and when students are not engaged in the lesson it can be very frustrating for the teachers. Not only is it affecting the teachers but also the students and not for the better.