August 26th, 2024

Schools are competing with cell phones

Schools are addressing student engagement issues caused by cell phone addiction and COVID-19 effects by enforcing bans, enhancing extracurricular activities, and promoting outdoor learning to foster connections and focus.

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Schools are competing with cell phones

Schools are increasingly challenged by student engagement issues, largely attributed to cell phone addiction and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many educators report that traditional teaching methods are insufficient to captivate students, leading to a decline in attendance and academic performance. In response, schools are implementing various strategies to combat this trend. Some are enforcing cell phone bans using locking pouches, while others are enhancing extracurricular activities to provide students with engaging alternatives to screen time. For instance, Spokane, Washington, has launched the "Engage IRL" initiative, encouraging students to participate in sports, arts, and clubs after school. Additionally, outdoor activities have been promoted in some districts, allowing students to bond and learn away from screens. Teachers are also urging parents to limit cell phone use at home to foster a healthier relationship with technology. The current educational climate reflects a need for creativity in lesson planning and a supportive environment where students feel safe to express themselves without fear of social repercussions. Overall, schools are striving to create a more engaging and interactive atmosphere to counteract the negative impacts of cell phone dependency.

- Schools are facing challenges in student engagement due to cell phone addiction and post-COVID isolation.

- Strategies include enforcing cell phone bans and enhancing extracurricular activities.

- Initiatives like "Engage IRL" aim to provide students with engaging after-school options.

- Outdoor learning experiences are being adopted to foster connections among students.

- Educators are encouraging parents to limit cell phone use at home to improve student focus.

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Link Icon 2 comments
By @jcpst - 3 months
> Educators say their tried and true lesson plans are no longer enough to keep students engaged at a time of struggling mental health, shortened attention spans, reduced attendance and worsening academic performance. At the crux of these challenges? Addiction to cell phones.

Yes, cell phones are a problem. But what keeps getting ignored, by practically everyone, is the detrimental effect of letting covid spread unchecked.

Kids get long covid, we know this now. It represents differently in kids than adults. This can have a direct affect on their performance at school, including the symptoms described above.

Getting multiple covid infections increases your risk of long covid. We are failing to take even the simplest of precautions to protect our children. This will impact their everyday life, including academic performance.

I fully expect people will downvote this due to the mass denial that the pandemic is not over. That's fine. But I know there are people reading that actually pay attention to what Epidemiologists are saying, rather than relying on hearsay or institutions motivated to keep the economy propped up in the short term.