SEPT-DEC 2023 ISSUE - Flipbook - Page 34
Why educating, not
banning, is key to
online safety in schools
Justin Reilly, chief executive officer, Impero Software
Should we ban smartphones in
schools? The debate is certainly
complex, often conflicting.
A new report from UNESCO, the
education, science, and culture arm of
the United Nations, asserts that
smartphones disrupt classroom learning,
compromise student privacy, and expose
students to cyberbullying. At the same
time, evidence shows that classroom
phone usage can promote student
engagement and learning.
Perhaps there is no clear answer – and
instead, we need to change the question:
How do we manage smartphone usage
in schools to improve online safety?
A balanced understanding
Implementing a ban on mobile phones
in schools does carry some weight.
It’s a policy that finds its rationale in
countering the escalating levels of
cyberbullying, addressing concerns
about distractions, and tackling
disciplinary issues arising from the
improper use of phones.
In some instances, banning phones at
schools might help students focus on
learning by eliminating distractions
and messages. However, a blanket ban
on phones across all schools does not
address these challenges, because many
safeguarding incidents involving mobile
devices occur outside of school.
There are other reasons not to do it: it
might not be practically enforceable and
could limit the positive use of mobile
technology to support learning. In some
cases, it could even further expose
children to potential online harms. Such
a ban could prompt students to use
devices secretly, with students hesitant
to report cyberbullying due to the fear of
getting in trouble for using their phones
or having them confiscated.
Teachers should be empowered to
apply their professional judgment in
determining how to effectively integrate
devices into lessons for educational
purposes. Indeed, many are already
doing just that. For example, students
often use phones to conduct online
research, capture images, or create
videos. Evidence strongly suggests that
incorporating phones into the classroom
can boost student engagement.
However, it is imperative that we address
the wider issue at hand: protecting
children from online harms.
Tackling the real issue: online safety
Protecting students from potential online
harms, especially those involving mobile
phone use, means educating them about
the dangers of the internet and creating
an open and safe space for discussion.
Schools must emphasise the importance
of digital citizenship and digital skills,
as they are useful for learning and are
also imperative for later on in students’
personal lives and careers.
At the heart of this must be close
collaboration between schools and
parents to provide mutual support and
implement effective, consistent policies.
Parents, for example, have more direct
control over their children’s internet
access, which includes measures like
screen time limitations and conversations
about potential risks and consequences.
Although possessing less direct control,
schools also play a significant role in
safeguarding and educating students on
both responsible mobile phone use and
online behaviour.