I think it was really interesting how Joanna started this week’s class by taking our phones and putting them in a “phone jail.” This definitely spiked my interest for the class discussion about social media, and intrigued me to dive deeper into the idea of taking student’s phones away. Personally, I have fairly mixed feelings about a “phone jail.” Although it definitely limits distractions and allows many students to focus better in class, this is not always the case. 

Thinking back on my high school experiences with phones, only a few of my high school teachers incorporated a “phone jail” system. My English 12 class was one of them. My teacher was quite “old fashioned” and encouraged us to do lots of reading, writing, and use physical resources to help us, rather than our phones. I remember being given a number, and each day I had to place my phone in my number slot for the duration of the class. For me, I felt that this system really helped to eliminate distractions and maximize learning. I knew that I was not allowed my phone in this specific class, and made sure to communicate to any friends or family that I would be unavailable during this block. 

However, for many of my peers this was a struggle. Growing up in a “tech world” we are all familiar with having our phones accessible at all times. Whether we want to send our friend a quick text message, look something up on the internet, or engage in our favorite gaming app, we cannot deny our connection to technology in the modern world. For some people, as soon as this technological resource is stripped away from them, they feel anxious. “What if someone important wants to get a hold of me?” For other people, their phone may be a tool they use to help them focus.

Ultimately, I hold an ambivalent view on “phone jails” as I see both the positives and negatives of incorporating them into the classroom. As a future educator, I strongly believe that students should at least have a chance to demonstrate that they can use their phones responsibly and at appropriate times. This helps to develop an equal, and trusting relationship between the students and their teacher. If the students prove that they can NOT use their phones responsibly, a “phone jail” system should potentially be implemented. The idea of “phone jails” is something that I hope to continue to explore on my journey to becoming a teacher.

Photo by Sara Kurfeß on Unsplash