by Alberta’s education minister is considering whether the province’s schools need consistent rules on cellphones and other smart devices in classrooms.
Ontario and Quebec are imposing provincial bans on students using cellphones during class, except when teachers say they need the devices for schoolwork.
Alberta Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides says a sample of 16 school authorities across the province found that more than half lacked any smartphone use policy.
“I hear a lot from teachers and parents about distractions. About concerns about bullying, online harassment. So it’s something we have to address,” Nicolaides said in an interview earlier this month.
Nicolaides said he hasn’t decided whether Alberta should have an overarching policy, or whether he doesn’t want each school authority to set its own rules.
In April and early May, Alberta Education conducted a public online survey about smartphone use in schools. More than 68,000 people responded, 70 percent of whom were parents.
The government has not yet compiled the results. Nicolaides said this was part of gauging Albertans’ feelings on the issue.
In January, the government of British Columbia announced that BC school divisions must develop a phone use policy to take effect for the 2024-25 school year.
The Ontario government, which has had a phone ban policy since 2019, announced last month that the rules will tighten in September.
Primary school pupils will not be able to use their phones during the school day. Junior and senior students will not be allowed to use their phones during breaks, or in classrooms with the permission of the teacher.
Alberta teachers want opinions on smartphone use
Supporters of the limits point out that children and teenagers who spend more time glued to their phones suffer from worse mental health and feelings of isolation, as well as being disengaged from learning.
But there are caveats to consider, such as students using their phones for medical reasons, possible exemptions for students with disabilities who use adaptive technologies on their own devices, and children who suffer from relentless bullying using phones to communicate do with their parents.
Alberta Teachers’ Association President Jason Schilling says many teachers are exhausted trying to manage student smartphone use in class. (Sam Martin/CBC)
Alberta Teachers’ Association president Jason Schilling said many teachers are becoming increasingly frustrated with students bringing phones, smart watches or tablets to class.
Even when the devices are face down on their desks, the sound of a handful and the sight of screens lighting up is distracting.
Educators worry about being liable for lost and stolen phones if they collect the devices during classes, he said.
On the flip side, Schilling said phones are powerful tools, and students need to learn how to use them to function in a digital world.
And when schools can’t afford modern computer equipment or fast internet, teachers could rely on students’ phones for digital activities in class.
Earlier this month, ATA members at a meeting in Calgary voted 99 percent in favor of the association taking the position that smart devices should be banned during instructional time “to create a focused, engaging and safe learning environment advanced,” but only when teachers approve them for digital. lessons.
Grade 12 student Chelsea Kwon says she felt tempted to check her messages when she looked at her phone in class.
Kwon, a student trustee with Edmonton Public Schools, says teachers at her high school, Dr. Anne Anderson, make their own rules about phone use.
She said schools should place more emphasis on teaching smart digital citizenship.
“Teenagers need to be aware that we need to take accountability for our actions, and that we need to be responsible for the technology we use,” she said.
Kwon said she likes consistent phone rules, because students will feel they are being treated equally no matter what school they attend.
Parents divided on the need for phones
Calgary parent Wolly Barabash was unhappy to hear that blanket policies on school phone use were being considered.
His son Michael, 15, is in Grade 10 at Bishop Carroll High School, which uses a self-directed learning model.
Michael is not using his phone during seminars, but prefers to do assigned readings and submit assignments on his phone. He also stays in touch with his parents via text during the school day.
Calgary parent Wolly Barabash says students like his son Michael, 15, should have access to smart devices throughout the day because it’s the most efficient way for them to complete their work. (Submitted by Wolly Barabash)
High school students are mature enough to learn how to use devices responsibly and productively, Barabash said. Teachers need the flexibility to decide which classes can handle the responsibility, he said.
“A blanket policy would be really bad and, frankly, it would be a nightmare for teachers to enforce,” Barabash said.
Edmonton parent Barbara Gutziet sees it differently. She is frustrated by the sight of teenagers staring at their phones instead of socializing and going outside.
Her son Jason, 14, is in Grade 9 at a K-9 school that only allows phone access at lunch and after the dismissal bell rings.
Gutziet worries that cell phone policies will become more liberal when Jason goes to high school. She doesn’t see why students would need phones in class when most schools have carts full of Chromebooks.
Barbara Gutziet says she wants schools to limit cell phone access for students, like her 14-year-old son, Jason. (Submitted by Barbara Gutziet)
“It’s hard to keep students’ attention and keep them engaged in the classroom,” Gutziet said. “Digital devices are just really, really hard to control.”
Nicolaides said there is no timeline for deciding the future of smart devices in Alberta classrooms.
He said that looking into this issue is part of the province’s work to renew outdated provincial policy on technology in schools.
