The UN’s education, Science, and Culture agency, UNESCO, has said that smartphones should be banned from schools. The UN body’s statement hints to tackle classroom disruption and change the growing acceptance of digital education as a replacement for face to face teaching-learning process
The 2023 Global Education Monitoring Report has just released a call for technology only to be used in class when it supports learning outcomes, and this includes the use of smartphones.
The digital revolution holds immense potential but, just as the warnings is voiced for how it should be regulated in society, more attention must be paid to the way it is used in education.
The report shows that some technology can support some learning in some contexts, but not when it is over-used or inappropriately used. In particular, the use of smartphones can disrupt learning in classrooms. One study conducted at pre-primary through to higher education in 14 countries found that it distracted students from learning. A mobile phone nearby with notifications coming through is enough to result in losing attention from the task. The study found that it can take students up to 20 minutes to refocus again.
Almost one in four countries introducing bans on smartphones use in schools. In countries like Belgium, Spain and the United Kingdom was found to improve learning outcomes. Bangladesh and Singapore have also banned smartphone use in class.
The new 2023 GEM Report, entitled ‘Technology in education: A tool on whose terms?’, calls for decisions about technology in education to prioritize the needs of the learner, making sure that any uses of technology are appropriate, equitable, scalable and sustainable.
-Dr Siddhivinayak Barve
Editor, ScienceNow Digital
