I don't see a more elegant solution than this, but it's a bummer. Smartphones are so useful; the world's information AND a computer in your pocket! The ideal would be to give students and parents an avenue to remove/combat the addictive elements of their smartphones, but most students (and parents) don't see those elements as a problem, but a feature.
Unesco calls for global ban on smartphones in schools
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Re: Unesco calls for global ban on smartphones in schools
#12Re: Unesco calls for global ban on smartphones in schools
#13How about teaching kids self control and concentration?
ok, how?
Re: Unesco calls for global ban on smartphones in schools
#14We've come full circle. When I was in high school (2013), smartphones had just started to become the default (i had a galaxy s2) and cell phones had been banned in-class since they became common for every teenager to have one (as early as 2007 for me, probably earlier than that for older millennials) I guess at some point teachers gave up trying to enforce the rules. Or the idea of being away from your phone for hour…
When I was in school, we broke a teacher's curriculum by me having a digital camera (Agfa CL20)
The teacher's process was to put a slide on the projector and have everyone write it down. Repeat until class is over, maybe with minimal discussion.
I just snapped a picture of a slide and told the teacher to move to the next one, I already sent it to everyone in class =)
Re: Unesco calls for global ban on smartphones in schools
#15Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yeah, that fits. Leave the phone at home, or in a locker and go to class. How is that not also helping with self control?
That's eliminating the temptation forcefully, not training to ignore it.
You enforce discipline from an extrinsic source until the expectations are understood and self discipline takes over. Works with dogs, soldiers and kids the same. Doesn't work with cats sadly.
And the best thing you can do is model the behavior of putting your phone away and out of sight for things like meals and family time.
Re: Unesco calls for global ban on smartphones in schools
#16Not sure about you guys, but I plan to not give my kids a phone until they reach at least the age of 14 (7 and 3 atm) Is this realistic? Any experiences?
I have had coworkers who wanted to stick with a dumb phone. It sounds great to give junior a dumb phone until they're "old enough", but not much communication happens via sms. It's all done in other apps.
Your kids will be excluded from a lot of conversations and events. They will feel ostricized socially and will inevitably be frustrated at you because of it.
Having no phone versus a dumb phone would make the resentment worse. No idea what the best answer is beyond all of society collectively realizing it's a bad idea to give smartphones to young kids.
Re: Unesco calls for global ban on smartphones in schools
#17Not sure about you guys, but I plan to not give my kids a phone until they reach at least the age of 14 (7 and 3 atm) Is this realistic? Any experiences?
Mostly no. As said by others, now instead of being on a device that you can track, their usage will be on friends devices that you cannot. When every other child has a cellphone that's the way it works.
Re: Unesco calls for global ban on smartphones in schools
#18[dead]
Re: Unesco calls for global ban on smartphones in schools
#19How about teaching kids self control and concentration?
Such a thing is easier said than done. While self control and concentration can be taught, it is probably the case that schoolchildren just aren't up to the challenge of resisting smartphones at such a young age. Especially when it seems like most adults aren't capable of exercising restraint when it comes to smartphone usage.
Re: Unesco calls for global ban on smartphones in schools
#20I don't see a more elegant solution than this, but it's a bummer. Smartphones are so useful; the world's information AND a computer in your pocket! The ideal would be to give students and parents an avenue to remove/combat the addictive elements of their smartphones, but most students (and parents) don't see those elements as a problem, but a feature.
We did just fine in schools before smartphones. Perhaps even better.