Questão de Inglês — Tipos de Discurso (Direct e Reported Speech) — VUNESP 2023

Does the smartphone belong in classrooms?

“Should schools ban smartphones?” A new report from UNESCO, the education arm of the United Nations, raises questions about the practice. Though smartphones can be used for educational purposes, the report says the devices also disrupt classroom learning, expose students to cyberbullying and can compromise students’ privacy. As about 1 in 7 countries globally banned the use of smartphones in school, The Conversation has invited scholars to weigh in on the issue. Below, two of these views.

1. Daniel G. Krutka. Technology scholars have long argued that the key to living well with technology is in finding limits. However, in banning smartphones in their classrooms, educators might be missing opportunities to use smartphones to encourage what has been referred to as technoskeptical thinking, that is, questioning our relationship with technology. For example, students might be encouraged to consider the benefits and drawbacks of using navigational apps to travel from one place to another, as opposed to old-fashioned paper maps. Or, students might explore their social media feeds to critique how notifications get their attention.

In my research, I have looked at how teachers can encourage students to go on techno-fasts, – that is, abstaining from the use of technology for a certain period of time. This, I argue, will give students time to reflect on the time they spend away from their devices.

Policy debates often focus on whether or not to put smartphones out of reach during the school day. But I believe educators might find it more beneficial to make the phones an object of inquiry.

2. Louis-Philippe Beland. Numerous studies indicate that low-achieving students stand to benefit the most from the implementation of mobile phone bans in schools.

In a 2015 study, I examined high schools, using data from England. It was found that banning mobile phones significantly increased test scores among 16-year-old students. Low-achieving students benefited more, while high-achieving students remained unaffected. Similar studies in Spain and Norway using a similar approach demonstrated compelling evidence supporting the benefits of banning mobile phones. In Spain, grades improved and bullying incidents decreased. In Norway, the ban raised middle school students’ grade-point averages while reducing bullying.

Psychological research sheds light on potential mechanisms behind the impact of mobile phones and technology on student performance. Multitasking, common with mobile phone use, has been found to hinder learning and task execution. Taking notes by hand has been shown to enhance memory retention compared to typing on a computer.

In sum, banning mobile phones in schools can yield positive effects and improve academic performance. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that mobile phones and technology can also be valuable educational tools when used appropriately.

(Louis-Philippe Beland et al. https://theconversation.com, 26.072023. Adaptado)