SOURCE: '이것' 멀리하면 성적 올랐다…3월부터 한국 교실서 금지되는 것
Starting this March, a ban on using cell phones in elementary, middle, and high school classroom will become official. Meanwhile, many studies from overseas report that limiting phone use has a positive impact on learning outcomes.
Last October, the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) in the U.S analyzed the academic records of tens of thousands of public school students in Florida. The study found that students' test scores rose slightly over two years after the implementation of phone ban policy. On average, a student who ranked 50th out of 100 improved to 49th. The rate of unexcused absences also dropped by 5% to 10%. The researchers noted, "While the increase in scores is not large, the change is statistically significant. This is the result of an improved learning environment."
Florida: "Restricting phone use reduce the rate of absences by up to 10%"
Florida became the first state in the U.S to legally restrict or ban phone use in schools in 2023. Researchers evaluated that the ban had a positive effect on improving students' learning attitudes and focus in class. The effect was especially notable among male students and those in middle and high school. However, there was some confusion in the early stages of the implementation, including a temporary increase in suspensions for breaking the rules. Regarding this, the researchers explained, "Resistance and confusion are inevitable when there's a change of rule at first. However, the policy seems to have settled into schools over time."
India: "Restricting phone use increase students' academic engagement"
There are also studies that proved the effects of this policy through an experiment. Last July, a joint research team from the University of Pennsylvania, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and the University of Copenhagen shared results of a randomized controlled trial involving 17,000 college students in Odisha, India.
During the experiment, students were required to put their phones in a wooden box before class and retrieve them after class for one semester. The results showed that students who handed in their phones had statistically significant improvements in standardized test scores. Researchers noted the result was significant because it was consistent across a large sample. The improvement was most noticeable among students with lower grades, first-year students, and non-science majors.
The researchers analyzed in their paper, saying, "Restricting phone use reduced distractions and noise in class, which helped students to focus and improved academic achievement." They also noted that it helped close the gap between high and low-achieving students. In fact, student satisfaction increased among those whose phone use was restricted, and there were no negative effects on their mental health were observed.
Expansion of restricting phone use in classroom across U.S. and Europe
The movement to restrict phone use in class is spreading around the world. In the U.S., after Florida started the ban, other states are also considering similar rules. The UK government suggested a plan to restrict phone use throughout the school day, including breaks and lunchtime. French also passed a law to restrict phones in high schools and to restrict social media use for those under the age of 15. This trend is also expanding to other countries. The Netherlands and Finland are restricting phone use in classrooms, and parts of Greece and China are controlling phone use or even bringing them to school premises.
In South Korea, the legal basis for restricting phone use in classrooms was created last August when an amendment passed the National Assembly. Starting this March, cell phone use in classrooms will be banned. However, discussions regarding the specific implementation methods are still on going. A teacher at an elementary school in Seoul said, "Since details such as how to collect the phones are up to each school, we will have to wait and see how it actually takes hold."
1. [+260][-9] Ah, please just give them basic 2G phones. Phone addiction among kids is getting serious in every household.
2. [+248][-7] Both smartphones and tablets should be banned in schools. They're supposed to use their tablets to study, but they end up using them to play games instead.
3. [+202][-6] This is a good move. For teenagers whose sense of self isn't fully developed, social media is like an unfiltered sewer.
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