Balancing Technology and Learning: Regulating Cellphone Use in Schools
In today's world, the use of gadgets is very common, especially among students. Cellphones are used for personal and school purposes. Because of this, cellphone use in the classroom should not be completely banned but regulated so students can benefit from it.
Cellphones play an essential role inside the classroom. First, they can be used for research, allowing students to quickly access information that supports the lesson being discussed. According to Shonola and Joy (2016), mobile devices help students access learning materials and educational resources anytime and anywhere. Second, cellphones help students take pictures of notes or presentations when the discussion is fast and time is limited. This support to the study of Ferriter and Garry (2010) stated that smartphones can support students’ study habits by allowing them to store notes. Lastly, cellphones can serve as a tool for communication, especially during emergencies. According to Van Campenhout (2025), mobile phones are also important for communication, especially in urgent situations or emergencies where students may need to contact.
However, using cellphones inside the classroom can negatively affect students’ learning, especially when they rely too much on them. Students may become distracted by social media, games, or messaging instead of paying attention to the lesson. This can reduce their focus and participation during class discussions. Because of this, some people believe that cellphones should be banned inside the classroom.
In conclusion, cellphones should be used inside the classroom because they provide many benefits to students. They can help in research, taking notes, and communication during emergencies. However, students should be responsible enough when they use cellphones in class, and they should not depend too much on them. Therefore, schools and teachers should set clear rules and proper regulations for cellphone use in the classroom so that students can use them wisely and responsibly while still maintaining a good learning environment.
References:
Oyelere, S. S., Suhonen, J., Shonola, S. A., & Joy, M. S. (2016, October). Discovering students mobile learning experiences in higher education in Nigeria. In 2016 IEEE frontiers in education conference (FIE) (pp. 1-7). IEEE.
https://tinyurl.com/mwv78ry5
Ferriter, W. M., & Garry, A. (2010). Teaching the iGeneration: Five easy ways to introduce essential skills with web 2.0 tools. Solution Tree Press.
https://tinyurl.com/4y29abj9A
Van Campenhout, L. D. E., Frens, J., Hummels, C., Standaert, A., & Peremans, H. (2025). Touching the dematerialized. Personal and Ubiquitous Computing, 20(1), 147-164.
https://tinyurl.com/235sacu3