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France bans smartphone use in schools

theverge.com

11–20 of 164 posts

Re: France bans smartphone use in schools

#11
post #6

> The measure prohibits the use of tablets, computers, and other internet-connected devices as well. Ban phones, sure, but no computers? Bring back the typewriter?

The ban only concerns "students under the age of 15", who typically take notes on paper. The teacher can also make an exception for pedagogical purpose.

> There are exceptions in place for students with disabilities and for the educational use of devices in the classroom and in extra-curricular activities

Re: France bans smartphone use in schools

#13
post #9

Typical prohibitionist mindset. Lots of people use X, we don't like X, we ban X instead of understanding how to properly and moderately integrate X into our lives. Smartphones and tablets are GREAT learning devices. If we keep blaming the ineptitude of teachers on devices the quality of education will never progress. EDIT: part of the education process is to teach kids how to use and not abuse these devices and when…

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Re: France bans smartphone use in schools

#16
post #3

Surprised they weren't banned already. How can a teacher droning about valence levels possibly compete with instagram feeds, and much more so for younger kids. Possibly even, aspects of smartphone use should be treated as a potential health risk, in the same ways as alcohol, tobacco, sugar, etc. (though not all of those are treated appropriately yet)

There was no law about this but school staff sometimes enforced it anyway.

Re: France bans smartphone use in schools

#17
post #9

Typical prohibitionist mindset. Lots of people use X, we don't like X, we ban X instead of understanding how to properly and moderately integrate X into our lives. Smartphones and tablets are GREAT learning devices. If we keep blaming the ineptitude of teachers on devices the quality of education will never progress. EDIT: part of the education process is to teach kids how to use and not abuse these devices and when…

Smartphones and tablets are GREAT learning devices.

My experience is certainly the opposite. I do all my best learning without smartphones and without tablets.

Re: France bans smartphone use in schools

#18
post #9

Typical prohibitionist mindset. Lots of people use X, we don't like X, we ban X instead of understanding how to properly and moderately integrate X into our lives. Smartphones and tablets are GREAT learning devices. If we keep blaming the ineptitude of teachers on devices the quality of education will never progress. EDIT: part of the education process is to teach kids how to use and not abuse these devices and when…

Kind of funny that you say this when smartphones and tablets are fundamentally designed to consume whereas a laptop is designed to create - but somehow a laptop is not included as a "great learning device" - what kind of "learning" are we even talking about?

Re: France bans smartphone use in schools

#20
post #3

Surprised they weren't banned already. How can a teacher droning about valence levels possibly compete with instagram feeds, and much more so for younger kids. Possibly even, aspects of smartphone use should be treated as a potential health risk, in the same ways as alcohol, tobacco, sugar, etc. (though not all of those are treated appropriately yet)

To me, banning smartphones at school is an urgent measure taken to face a fundamental, but misunderstood, change in society. Why not use smartphones to improve education rather than seeing it like a threat?

My guess is that 1) most teachers have no idea how to teach using smartphones, and 2) the new digital economy is threatening the job of teachers.

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