Teens say cellphones distracting in class
February 24, 2011
Comments on this story
(24)
Kristin Rushowy
EDUCATION REPORTER
They love them for talking and texting — but cellphones are already such a distraction that they should not be used as educational tools, says a new survey of Ontario high school students.
The surprising result is part of the first-ever survey of teens by the Ontario Student Trustees’ Association, to be officially released Thursday.
“Students use (cellphones) to text or communicate with friends. It’s a great communication tool, not necessarily an educational tool,” said Zane Schwartz, a student trustee with the Toronto District School Board who is in Grade 12 at Leaside High School.
The survey, conducted in partnership with Student Vote and Scholarships Canada, found that 72 per cent of students don’t want cellphones to be part of their classroom learning.
“That one was kind of shocking,” added Natalie Rizzo, a Grade 12 student at Toronto’s Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts. “All the student trustees were taken aback.”
Rizzo, student trustee for the Toronto Catholic District School Board, believes phones with Internet access can be great for classroom research and uses hers all the time for school work.
However, she added, “at the end of the day, nothing is better than face-to-face learning and I guess it would be a distraction or something students don’t think is necessary.”
The students’ opinion counters that of Premier Dalton McGuinty, who last fall said the use of mobile phones in classrooms “is something that we should be looking at” provided they’re used to help kids learn.
Of the 2,656 students who took part in the online survey, almost 82 per cent said they want information about “all sexualities” in high school sex education classes.
The strongest response came from students within the Toronto Catholic District School Board, with 90 per cent in support.
“Maybe students don’t feel like they learn enough,” said Rizzo. “From my experience in high school, I really only learned about sex ed in Grade 9.
“Maybe students are feeling like they don’t have a lot of information about different sexualities, maybe because it’s a Catholic board some things are not taught as opposed to the public system.”
While not necessarily linked to sex ed, she said Toronto Catholic student leaders have said they want to learn more about anti-homophobia measures.
Student trustees across the province will present the survey results to their boards in the hopes that decision-makers will incorporate students’ opinions when making decisions.
Schwartz said representatives hope to meet with the education minister as well as other educational groups.
The survey was created and conducted in partnership with Student Vote and Scholarships Canada.
Student Vote — best known for its education program that holds mock elections for students under the voting age during actual election periods — also used its network of teachers to promote the survey. In some cases, entire classes took part.
The survey, part of a Facebook application, consisted of 10 questions, the last asking for input on future surveys.
Seventy-one per cent of the respondents were female, and 85 per cent were in Grade 12. Students from 69 of the province’s 72 boards took part.
The survey also found that students were split on a late start to the school day, currently a pilot project in the Toronto District School Board. Schwartz said many respondents made comments about a later end of day that could interfere with part-time jobs and extracurricular activities.
What students say
• Do you feel you would benefit academically from a daily start time of 10 a.m. or later?
Yes 50.23%
No 49.77%
• Should physical education be mandatory until the end of high school?
Yes 46.46%
No 53.54%
• Should students be allowed to view their marked provincial standardized tests?
Yes 92.06%
No 7.94%
• Do you think cellphones have a place in the classroom as an educational tool?
Yes 27.97%
No 72.03%
• Would you be achieving better if you chose your culminating project (a major project at the end of most high school courses) with your teacher?
Yes 74.47%
No 25.53%
• Does the guidance system offer enough support to students?
Yes 56.89%
No 43.11%
• Have you ever been bullied in school?
Yes 45.63%
No 54.37%
• Should information about all sexualities be taught during sex ed classes?
Yes 81.59%
No 18.41%
• Should every high school and middle school (Grades 7 to 12) have a student council?
Yes 88.97%
No 11.03%
Source: Ontario Student Survey