HomeMy WebLinkAboutTackling tech: How some Ontario teachers are attempting to limit students' cellphone use - Globe & Mail - 09/03/2018 - Globe & Mail - 09/03/20189/4/2018 Tackling tech: How some Ontario teachers are attempting to limit students' cellphone use - The Globe and Mail
Tackling tech: How some Ontario teachers are
attempting to limit students' cellphone use
NADINE YOUSIF
IIS U IIS 11 I .SII NII : II) I[:: Ifs If:: II: If: IIS 3, 2018
UWU l:1 l) A'T' 1F.: l) 14 HOURS AGED
When students arrive in Matthew Acheson's high-school classroom this week, they'll
be allowed to take their phones to their desks, but only once they've tucked them
inside a specialized pouch that then locks, blocking any access to WiFi and social
media apps. Similar to an ink tag to prevent shoplifting, the cases can only be
opened at an unlocking device controlled by their teacher. It's just another attempt
at the seemingly impossible: separating teens from their smartphones.
"This has been the one thing that has actually worked," said Mr. Acheson, who
teaches Grade 11 and 12 at St. Mary's High School in Kitchener, Ont. Over the past
few years, Mr. Acheson said he has been struggling with students' distracting phone
use in the classroom.
While teachers have embraced handheld devices as a powerful teaching tool in the
classroom, they have nonetheless struggled to offset the negative distractions they
come with. Some, such as Ontario Premier Doug Ford, have suggested an outright
ban of cellphones in schools to "maximize learning time." France's government has
already banned the use of mobile phones on school grounds starting in September,
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-tackling-tech-how-some-ontario-teachers-are-attempting-to-limit/ 1/6
9/4/2018 Tackling tech: How some Ontario teachers are attempting to limit students' cellphone use - The Globe and Mail
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-tackling-tech-how-some-ontario-teachers-are-attempting-to-limit/ 2/6
9/4/2018 Tackling tech: How some Ontario teachers are attempting to limit students' cellphone use - The Globe and Mail
IManircoll o" oirimain, d1hrector of Cirlificall IMedia II....a b and Ipirofossoir of IFrnghish at the Univeirsily of Watedloo,
Iposos in t1hrlo Grifiic ll IMe&a II...a b, iiia IOtch e noir, oin Aug 1II..„ 20'.11..&
11 r: IN IN 11 o W s O IVT. 1...w If:: G11 o 113 r:: IM r.3 IM A II IL..
For Mr. Acheson, the effectiveness of the pouches he's used in his classrooms, called
Yondr cases, can be measured by the success of his students. In the semesters he's
utilized the cases, he said the class average was eight percentage points higher than
normal, and the students "got more done."
Marcel O'Gorman, who runs the Critical Media Lab at the University of Waterloo
that studies the effects technology has on society, created a pouch-like device of his
own — the Resistor Case, using vinyl, Velcro and duct tape. Much like the Yondr case,
the Resistor Case is designed to hold the students' devices at their desk for the
duration of the class. The difference, however, is the case doesn't lock. Instead, the
loud sound of Velcro is designed to make students think twice about reaching for
their phones. "The whole point is to teach self-regulation instead of [enforcing] a
top-down imposition of digital abstinence on these students," Mr. O'Gorman said.
Sean Zister, a Grade 9 geography and religion teacher at Kitchener's St. Mary's High
School, said teachers there have tried various methods of trying to separate students
from their devices — some more traditional, such as having students place their
cellphones in clear plastic boxes at the beginning of the class, or placing them in
designated pocket holders at the front of the room. Mr. Zister has opted to use the
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-tackling-tech-how-some-ontario-teachers-are-attempting-to-limit/ 3/6
9/4/2018 Tackling tech: How some Ontario teachers are attempting to limit students' cellphone use - The Globe and Mail
e
themselves."
Mr. Acheson said solutions such as Yondr and the Resistor Case have proved to be
more effective at curbing cellphone use than outright bans.
"A lot of teachers have just given up," he said. "They're fighting a losing battle."
...r 0 FRY C 0 IV ...r l N U f::: y IFF IE::: IL... 0 W AID V IE::: IR 11 l S E::: IM IE::: IN ...1..
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-tackling-tech-how-some-ontario-teachers-are-attempting-to-limit/ 4/6
9/4/2018 Tackling tech: How some Ontario teachers are attempting to limit students' cellphone use - The Globe and Mail
V pe cuts 30 jobs amid shifting digital -media landscape
Apple expected to introduce new iPhones at Sept. 12 event
Short bets on world's biggest tech stocks surge
GII...01BIF, AND 1114 1111.. GUIDE
Back to school.- Get the kids - and yourself - ready
for September
We've rounded up the best of our back -to -school stories to help you ease into the
transition
READ IN O
TRENDING
1 Delving into the health data shows that Canadian kids aren't all right
2 Vertical forest: tree -clad tower would be a first in Canada
3 Toronto police identify victim of shooting near CNE
4 Poll finds 17 per cent of Canadians are open to supporting Maxime Bernier -led party
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-tackling-tech-how-some-ontario-teachers-are-attempting-to-limit/ 5/6
9/4/2018 Tackling tech: How some Ontario teachers are attempting to limit students' cellphone use - The Globe and Mail
�RIMUIIIMWN=
C 0 `4, "'r A C "( I � 5
Z, A R
Z 5 V S
""�,i(,J /ad rv,,, A H msc,vcd,
ro rr o 0J, C',,) i""i," d,), Al A I
......................................................................
Dowirdoad cairn theGIET IT OIN
A�Ijap Staire > Goog�ie 1:::1by
. ..................................................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................................................
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-tackling-tech-how-some-ontario-teachers-are-attempting-to-limitl 6/6