Tech Rules: Dr Catherine Conlon looks at the evidence and arguments for and against an outright ban of smartphones in schools...
A NEW UN report recently called for a global ban on smartphones in school. The 2023 Global Education Monitoring Report from the UN’s education, science and culture agency UNESCO released a call for technology only to be used in class when it supports learning outcomes, and this includes the use of smartphones. UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay said that the digital revolution holds immeasurable potential.
Rachel Harper, Principal of St Patrick’s Primary School, Greystones, Co Wicklow appeared to be right on the button when she banned smartphone use in her school earlier this year. Bans are more common in Asia. Both Bangladesh and Singapore ban smartphone use in class, but not in school. France bans smartphone use unless strictly for teaching purposes or for support to children with disabilities. Advertisement
Mental breaks A systematic review of the impact of mobile digital devices in schools in New South Wales, Australia summarised the concerns including cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate material including ‘sexting’, use of mobile phones limiting social interactions among students, particularly during breaks and lunchtime, impacts on mental health and physical activity, and distractions from school work.
Another study suggested that instead of teachers and school boards being ‘afraid’ of mobile phones, and their potential use for texting, cheating, cyberbullying and sexting, teachers and administrators should support the ‘moral and ethical’ use of mobile phones while harnessing the ability of digital devices to enhance teaching and learning.
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