Category: Cell Phones

Introduction

In this essay, I am going to discuss why cell phones should not be allowed in schools, and how banning cell phones in schools will benefit us in many ways.

Students, according to this new rule, will be required to switch off their phones and store them securely in lockers from the start of the school day until the final bell. When emergencies occur, parents or guardians can reach their child by calling the school. Cell phones will be banned for all students at Victorian state primary and secondary schools from Term 1 2020, to help reduce distraction, tackle cyber bullying and improve learning outcomes for students.

One reason for the restrictions is due to the fact that cell phones are often a major source of cyberbullying. This problem is serious to the point that Headspace estimates that at least 53% of teens have been cyberbullied at some point during their school years. In addition, to address this problem, which infects so many young people, the Labor Party has invested $51.2 million to ensure that every public high school has a medical practitioner to help address any mental health issues students experience during their school years, and also another $65.5 million in student health and well-being.

With cell phones being less distracting during school hours, it will also allow students to focus more on their studies and improve their grades. The Minister of Education said: “This will remove a major distraction from classrooms, so that the teachers are able to teach, and students are able to learn in a more focused, supportive and positive environment”. Students have shown to increase their test results by 6% since they have been more concentrated in class without their phones.

Also, I think that the government, by making this change in Australian secondary schools, is also helping children in terms of reducing the amount of time they spend in front of a screen per day. If children spend a lot of time in front of a screen a day, it may cause them to develop diseases caused by the blue light filter over time, which may also affect students’ sleep. Since the maximum amount of screen time for teens these days should be at least 2 hours, introducing this new rule will be very beneficial and will obviously reduce screen time.

Conclusion

Overall, I believe that there are more advantages than disadvantages in banning cell phones in schools, so it will be better for children and the entire educational process if cell phones are not allowed in schools.

Introduction

A cell phone is an electronic device. The device has many uses including social networking, gaming, productivity and entertainment. Cell phones should not be banned for students, especially in 10th, 11th and 12th grades, because they can be used for school work and are a cheaper alternative for laptops. Banning cell phones for students will not stop them using them.

One of the many reasons why cell phones should not be banned for students is because they can be used for school work. Cell phones have the ability to download apps that can be used in everyday schooling such as a calculator, dictionary, maps, novels, etc. By the time students are in 10th, 11th and 12th grades, they would have their futures to think about and would gain a sense of maturity that they did not have in their younger years. With this sense of maturity, they are most likely to stay on task and do their work. A cell phone has many utilities that would help students with their work as well as make it is easier for them. Cell phones are also a cheaper alternative for laptops. In the modern society, students will often need an electronic device. Many schools in Australia provide laptops. However, some children go to schools that can’t afford this luxury. Cell phones would be a great alternative as they are cheaper than laptops. Students in 10th, 11th and 12th grades need to have some sort of electrical device to assist with their studies and not being to afford a laptop should not be a barrier. Instead of paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars students would be able to pay the minimum for the same uses as a laptop.

Moreover, banning cell phones will not stop students from students from using them. Banning cell phones will only cause the students to rebel. If students are not allowed to have their phones with them it may cause them to use them without the teacher’s consent. This may include the use of their phone under the table. This will not help with the work but it is most likely going to distract not only the student using the phone but others around. Whereas if students are allowed to have their phones it will decrease the chance of the students rebelling and their cell phones will be used for productive school work.

Some may argue, if cell phones were allowed in class they would be distracted. This may be true, but cell phones are just as distracting as laptops would be. Many laptops have the same features as a cell phone, so there wouldn’t be any reason why laptops are a better solution in the sense of distraction.

Conclusion

In conclusion, cell phones should be allowed in school, especially for students in grades 10, 11 and 12, because they can be used for school work and are a cheaper alternative for laptops. Banning cell phones for students will not stop them using them.

Technology is everywhere nowadays and the most common type is in a phone. They are one of the things that people rely on a daily basis. Sometimes, you see young kids, elementary kids holding a phone in their hand, even a kid that doesn’t even know how to walk. Young kids are using a phone not to pay attention to their daily life or school work, but rather using them for distraction. Many believe that this is helping young kids, by teaching them, and helping them with their homework, but I believe this is distracting them, not being prepared for exams, and causing them to be antisocial.

Cell phones are everywhere, even with elementary kids, who use phones as a toy than using them as a tool. Cell phones are a really big distraction for elementary students and only focusing them on their phone rather than schoolwork. “But for all the technological advancement and accessibility of cell phones, these devices can also cause numerous distractions to learning that could be just as detrimental to elementary school students (if not more) than to middle- and high-school students” (Kajeet). According to the article, these devices are causing many distractions to student’s learning abilities, and them not being able to learn right. When elementary students have a cell phone, it makes everything else, such as school not important, but they make their phone their priority. Phones are one of the biggest factors that are affecting elementary students wanting to pay attention during class. Phones affect not only their ability to learn, but also the results of tests and exams.

Exams are a very important element in school, and it requires you to study and pay attention during class. To be prepared for exams, you need to know how to do the lesson that is being taught, but may be distracted by a phone. This results in children failing to pay attention in class, missing out on important lessons, and consequently, being clueless about studies and examinations (Mahak Arora). According to the article, many students are being distracted, and many not knowing the exam dates. When students enter the classroom, they think there is no exam, nor prepared for one, but end up having to take an exam they were not prepared for. This is caused by the use of phones, and causing them to miss out on important lessons, that are on the exams. Cell phones are not only distracting students from exams, and them not being able to do well, but they are also causing students to be antisocial.

Others may argue that elementary students with phones are necessary to have. However, phones are helpful in some ways, but also a huge distraction to students and are failing them in school. Phone are causing students to not pay attention, always stuck to their phone, and them being unprepared for exams. “This erratic activity can cause changes in mood patterns and behavioral tendencies, and children may have trouble learning new things or focusing properly” (Mahak). This is an example of how primary school students’ use of the phone affects them in different ways. Cell phones are a dangerous tool for elementary students and changing their moods, their thinking, or having them focus on what is actually more important. Students with phones aren’t allowing them to get the full experience of schooling and allowing them to do good. Phones are a huge distraction to students schooling experience, and making them antisocial.

Elementary students having phones is a big step into letting them see everything on the Internet, and much more. Cell phones are creating people to think less on their own and instead relying on a phone much more. Phone are sometimes helpful, but also cause students to be distracted, not being prepared for exams, and them being antisocial. These devices are only making it worse for elementary kids, not helping them. Students need to rather focus on important factors, such as schoolwork, rather than a plastic filled tech that is distracting them.

A mobile phone is a portable device that is used as a tool of communication between people over a long distance. It allows people to make calls and send text messages. Nowadays, mobile phones are being used not only by adults but even the kids now are most likely having them. This leads some of the kids are heading off to the school while bringing their mobile phones along which creates an issue whether should or should not the kids bring along their mobile phones during school hours. As for my opinion, I do not think that the kids needed to bring along their mobile phones to the school.

The first reason for my opinion is mainly because the class hour may be disrupted. Not only the students who bring their mobile phones, but the other students might also be distracted when the phone going off during the class hour. Furthermore, when the teachers who are giving lectures noticed some students playing with the mobile phones, he or she might be losing their focus because they have to stop the lecture for a while to stop them doing that.

The second reason is when the students bring along their mobile phones to the school, their performances in class might be going down and they will be getting bad grades in the upcoming test. This is because they did not pay much attention to the teacher in the class during the class hour. Most of them keep being tempted to playing with their phones and slowly losing their focus on what has been said by the teacher. So, they cannot give their full performances during the tests.

The last reason is the students might spread bad behavior among the students. This is because some of the students are being disrespectful towards their teachers. After all, they keep texting or may also take a call during class hours. It is so rude not only towards the teachers but also the others student who are giving their full attention towards lectures. Furthermore, the students might also get into a fight because of the mobile phones. For example, if there is a case when a student losing their mobile phone, he or she might accuse other students of stealing theirs and get into a fight among them. This might lead the school and also their parents into a difficult situation.

From all of these reasons, it is proved that students should not bring along their mobile phones to the schools. Despite some of the students using an excuse which is their difficulty to contact their parents, they can also use another alternative by asking the teacher to use their mobile phones or the school’s phone to contact their parents. There are more negative influences than positive towards the students when bringing their mobile phones to the school.

Learning can be done in several different ways, methods, and procedures. As what Marvin Minsky, an American computer scientist concerned with research of artificial intelligence, “You don’t understand anything until you learn in more than one way”.

We are now in the 21st century a modern world full of vast technologies to provide wider platforms, and tools. Moreover, what is mobile phones? It is a cellular radio system without any physical connection or wiring that can be used to connect to other people far away from them in just a tap. Cell phones are now developing, the old models are re-invented to create more opportunity, and quicker ways. However, what is the connection of cell phones in learning?

People often see mobile phones as an entertainment, but not a formal usage for educational purposes because it can only lead to distraction. But this statement is so old from the modern situation.

Here are the reasons of this statement, according to 2019 Oxford Learning Research and Studies:

1) Educational learning apps, can help the students be more responsible and at the same time interested that can help them to be on top of their school works, improve study habits, and organizational skills.

2) Digital platforms in lessons, by using this technique students will be hook and give more opportunities to the students who are not comfortable speaking in front of the class, and to do a better and quicker ways to do interaction with tons of class works.

3) Easy access for more information, mobile phones can open up hundreds of information that a student needs to understand and gain more knowledge about a certain lesson or topic without bombarding the teacher with loads of questions repeatedly.

In addition, as seen in these studies, and as stated by Becton Loveless, cell phones will help students complete different tasks at the same time without creating much noise and movement because they are focused on their tasks.

Teachers can benefit from using cell phones as teaching tools, which can help them interact more effectively with their students, especially those students who pay more attention to their mobile phone. For example, by providing a presentation, video, and photos to capture the attention of students.

It can be said that cell phones are harmful and will have a negative impact, however it is a fact that cell phones help students in more ways than just the same traditional ways. People need to change or improve their thinking, especially when it comes to education and learning. We need to accept more changes so that mobile phones are used as learning tools. Teaching should cover more than one method and it is a flexible effort to gain knowledge and explore what students have to give and challenge.

Cell phones have become an integral part of our lives. With the development of technology and the advent of new social networking sites, people have been increasing attached to these tiny gizmos. It’s as if a part of them/ their extension that cannot be neglected and that has to be looked at every now and then. Actually, to say, there’s no fault in cell phones. They are just superbly created, excellently designed and perhaps the most extensively used gadget today. The average usage of cell phone per adult per day is about 4 hours in 2017. With about 1/6th of the day spent in using smartphones, it surely makes an impact when it comes to the workplace policy – to ban or to allow the employees to carry their cell phones.

A few of the companies around the world have banned completely the usage of cell phones and few others have allowed their employees to carry cell phones at workplace without a qualm. What makes a company follow different policies for the same ‘cell phone menace’ at workplace? Let’s dig deeper into the possible reasons for the companies to take such a stand on cell phone usage during work. The major reasoning that goes on in banning the cell phones at work station is the distraction that the cell phone causes. As per the research and the article published on Harvard Business Review, the buzz of the notification is sufficient enough to distract us even though we don’t look over to see the notification. And it takes a while for us to refocus once we look over those notifications and are back to work. Needless to say, it does affect the productivity.

Another popular reason for companies to ban cell phones is the additional risk that it poses to the sensitive and confidential company data. While it has nothing to do with the productivity of the employee, it says a lot about how the management perceives the employees and how does it place its trust on them. A few other companies exercise the ban on the grounds that cell phone would act as potential harmful device from the point of view of safety. Refineries, fertilizer and chemical productions units use a lot of flammable and high static production solvents, cell phone usage in such industries is banned on the premises that they have the potential to induce a spark which can be detrimental.

While the reasons for banning the cell phones makes complete sense, there are benefits of cell phone usage at workplace. Going on delineating the benefits, the first one that pops up is the use of cell phones for multiple tasks. They can be used to set the remainders to attend important meetings, to make quick notes, to make/ receive an urgent call, to make a quick estimate using the calculator etc. As per the article published on Forbes Leadership, taking breaks during working hours can increase productivity, improve mental well-being and can boost creativity. These breaks can be utilized to attend to necessary notifications, messages and calls helping the employees to de stress and recharge themselves.

The reason for me to dwell on this topic is the two organizations which I worked for had a different policy – one allowed to use cell phone, and one didn’t allow the usage. As a future manager, cell phone ban at workplace would make me reply heavily on the office telephone for the urgent calls. A quick official message to the external vendor/supplier would take time as I have to draft the mail and send it or reach the nearest official telephone. It will surely improve my working hours compared to when I carry the cell phone. Without cell phone, it would be cumbersome contacting my subordinates, peers and cross functional team members to get the critical, ‘to-do-now’ job status. For the first few initial days, my mind would hover over the thoughts as in what important message or personal call would I have received in the absence of cell phone during work.

In my view, it would be effective move by the management is they allow the usage of cell phones at workplace with certain limitations. Limitations such as asking the employees to set the mobile phones in silent mode, emphasizing more on the employee performance rather than focusing on cell phone usage duration, guidelines to avoid the breach in data security and confidentiality, etc.

By these measures, management can make sure the employee productivity isn’t harmed by usage of cell phone at workplace occasionally.