Disconnecting from our devices is easier said than done. Between the lure of our social media feeds and the push notifications alerting us to the latest news or sales on our favorite brands, many of us are spending too much time scrolling when we should be focusing on more important things.
These digital distractions aren’t just pervasive, they’re also harmful. As adults, digital distractibility can adversely impact our productivity, our relationships, and more. And we’re not the only ones feeling the negative side effects of an unhealthy obsession with our devices.
The 2022 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), a worldwide survey of students’ scholastic performance in math, reading, and science, reveals that 65% of 15-year-olds say they’re distracted on their digital devices during some, most, or all of their math classes. More importantly, these digital distractions are hurting their math scores.
Read on to understand the negative impact of device distractions on students’ performance and how you can help teachers keep students focused and engaged during class.
Student Device Distractions Aren’t Just Disruptive, They’re Hurting Learning Outcomes
Among the many insights that can be gleaned from the 2022 PISA report is the correlation between students’ digital distractibility and their academic performance. The study found that students who report being digitally distracted during class scored 15 points lower on PISA math tests than those who say they rarely experience distractions.
The number of hours students spend on devices during school hours also has an impact. The PISA questionnaire found that the optimal amount of time for students to spend learning on their digital devices during school hours is between three to five hours. Additionally, students who spend more than one hour engaging in digital leisure activities while at school show marked declines in performance.
It turns out that what many teachers already suspected has been proven true: students who are digitally distracted perform worse than those who aren’t. In fact, the importance of limiting student distractions on digital devices is so significant that it’s highlighted as one of the 10 key recommendations coming out of the 458-page PISA report.
7 Ways Schools Can Minimize Student Device Distractions
While there’s no denying that technology use in the classroom presents the potential for distractions, experts still agree that educational technology presents more positives than negatives. The challenge is to make technology work for teachers and their students instead of against them. Here are 7 strategies schools can use to defeat digital distractions.
1 | Teach Digital Citizenship
Implementing programs that teach digital citizenship can help students understand the importance of responsible technology use. This includes lessons on internet safety, ethical digital behavior, and the impacts of digital distractions on learning and wellbeing.
2 | Establish Clear Technology Policies
Schools should establish and enforce clear policies regarding the use of technology and digital devices in the classroom. Technology policies should outline acceptable and unacceptable uses during class time and the consequences for misuse.
3 | Create Tech-Free Zones
Designating certain areas of the school as tech-free zones encourages students to engage in face-to-face interactions and take breaks from screen time. Many school districts are also implementing no cell phone policies to improve both student engagement and their wellbeing.
4 | Promote Active Learning
Incorporating interactive and engaging teaching methods such as project-based learning, group discussions, and hands-on activities can make lessons more engaging and reduce the likelihood of students becoming distracted by their devices.
5 | Have Students Handwrite Notes
Encouraging or requiring students to take notes by hand instead of on digital devices can reduce the temptation to switch to non-educational tasks. Research suggests that handwriting notes can also improve retention and understanding of the material.
6 | Involve Families
Schools can provide resources and workshops for parents and guardians on managing their children’s screen time and digital distractions at home. Family engagement and involvement plays a crucial role in reinforcing healthy digital habits, as well as yielding a host of additional benefits.
7 | Use Classroom Management Software
Classroom management software like Securly Classroom helps teachers keep their students engaged during class. Teachers can see students’ screens, close tabs, lock screens to a specific website, communicate classwide or individually, and more to minimize digital distractions and keep the focus on learning.
Help Teachers Defeat Digital Distractions with Securly Classroom
Securly Classroom gives teachers the ability to monitor and control students’ device usage during class. With a teacher-friendly interface and powerful tools to keep students focused, engaged, and connected, Securly Classroom helps teachers defeat student device distractions so they can do what they do best.
To learn more about classroom management software and Securly Classroom, read the blog.
