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Digital-literacy expert opposes B.C.-wide policy to cellphones in schools

The White Hatter香蕉视频直播檚 Darren Laur says most schools already have appropriate policies in place
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A social media and digital literacy expert warns against a B.C.-wide approach when it comes to regulating non-instructional use of cellphones. (Photo: Pixabay)

A social media and digital literacy expert warns against a B.C.-wide approach on the non-instructional use of cellphones because most B.C. schools already have policies in place that work for them.

Instead of imposing a blanket ban, Darren Laur, co-founder and instructor at The White Hatter, argues for what he calls an 香蕉视频直播渆ducational approach香蕉视频直播, pointing to the policies of Belmont Secondary School in Greater Victoria as a positive example.

香蕉视频直播淭he issue of cellphones in classrooms is far from black-and-white,香蕉视频直播 he said in an article published on the company香蕉视频直播檚 website. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 crucial to recognize that mobile devices are neither a plague nor a panacea for student learning. While they can be distracting and potentially harmful, they also offer opportunities for engagement and learning.香蕉视频直播

Laur said in an interview he understands why the question of banning cellphones has popped up again after Quebec gave school districts until Dec. 31 to implement a new directive banning use of cellphones at public elementary and secondary schools except for specific educational purposes. Quebec becomes the second province after Ontario to issue a provincial mandate around cellphone use in classrooms.

But Laur said that a lot of the headlines surrounding developments in Quebec and Ontario are 香蕉视频直播渘ot necessarily the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.香蕉视频直播

Quebec still allows cellphone use in schools but 香蕉视频直播渙nly at the discretion of the teacher and for香蕉视频直播ducational purposes.香蕉视频直播

Laur said he 香蕉视频直播渢otally agrees香蕉视频直播 with that position and most but not all schools in B.C. already have similar policies.

香蕉视频直播淪o why push that as province when most schools are already doing that?香蕉视频直播 he said. 香蕉视频直播淒o I think that the (province) should be adopting a policy to put in place at the provincial level? No, I don香蕉视频直播檛! I think that should be left up to the school districts and schools to make that decision based upon their needs.香蕉视频直播

So why is this question generating so much attention?

香蕉视频直播淚 think there is a political angle to this,香蕉视频直播 he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 think there are some parents, who are pushing for this and some of the parents, who are pushing may not understand the good academic, peer-reviewed research associated with what is going on.香蕉视频直播

While Laur acknowledged the inappropriate use of cellphones by some students that can be 香蕉视频直播渟omewhat distracting to learning,香蕉视频直播 a complete ban would actually be counter-productive, given the all-present nature of technology and need to navigate, especially in the professional world.

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香蕉视频直播淚f the goal is to teach kids how to mediate their use of technology in a positive way, what better place to do it than in a school? And allowing schools the ability to do that themselves rather than pushing it a provincial level is important. Why? Because香蕉视频直播chools will differ from province to province, from district to district, from school to school.香蕉视频直播

In other words, local knows best.

香蕉视频直播淒oes the province have a part of play? Sure they can,香蕉视频直播 he added. 香蕉视频直播淭he province can shepherd the issue, but I think setting the policy should be left more to the schools and the school districts.香蕉视频直播

With this position, Laur is essentially arguing for the status quo, and a statement from the Ministry of Education and Child Care suggests that won香蕉视频直播檛 change anytime soon.

The statement points to instances 香蕉视频直播渨here having access to technology is used as a learning tool and for some students, it is important for accessibility.香蕉视频直播 It states that, overall, the ministry will continue 香蕉视频直播(its) work to monitor and evaluate the issue, as student health and well-being is of the utmost importance to support their continued success.香蕉视频直播

Not all voices are content with the status quo. BC United has promised that it would enforce a K-12 classroom ban on non-instructional smartphone use to enhance student engagement as part of larger reforms.

The party would include the re-instatement of letter grades, stronger measures to protect youth against vaping and an 香蕉视频直播渙n-time and within-budget school construction program.香蕉视频直播



wolfgang.depner@blackpress.ca

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Wolf Depner

About the Author: Wolf Depner

I joined the national team with Black Press Media in 2023 from the Peninsula News Review, where I had reported on Vancouver Island's Saanich Peninsula since 2019.
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