This year, the only talking in class will be done face to face at New Germany Rural High School.
Cell phone use has become a distraction in classes.
Principal Jen McMullen says it’s a hot topic in the school community.
She says teachers, parents and students have been discussing how to eliminate the distraction created by the devices and staff hit upon the idea of placing cell phones in a holder as soon as students enter a classroom.
“All cell phone notifications need to be turned off; the cell phone is basically turned around and faces the wall. So the focus is to keep classrooms for instructional purposes only.”
But McMullen is quick to point out that doesn’t mean they’re banned.
“Technology is not the devil, we love technology but we need it to be purposeful. We need it to be used for teaching and learning and not for distraction.”
McMullen says research shows when phones are put down, student achievement goes up.
She says students can still access their devices during breaks and, so far, everyone is adapting well to the change.
https://twitter.com/edwardhalverson/status/1174405350419812357
Reported by: Ed Halverson
Twitter: @edwardhalverson
E-mail: halverson.ed@radioabl.ca
