Interesting Links for 20-02-2024

[andrewducker]

1. Tory ban on phones in schools is a non-policy for a non-problem.

(tags:phones school conservatives politics )

2. AI Generated Videos Just Changed Forever

(tags:ai video impressive )

3. Are you anxious? Do you sleep badly? Then if you drink coffee or tea you should stop it.

(tags:anxiety coffee tea caffeine )

Comments

Re: Bans on Phones in Schools

[bens_dad]

> I can't see a good argument for allowing them during class.

What is a phone ?

Can I use a calculator in Maths ?
Can I use a camera in Art or Design ?
Can I use a dictionary in English or a foreign language ?
Can I use a timer/stop-watch in Cookery or Physics or Athletics ?

I hope that schools are teaching students how to use all these things.
Oh they have one in their school bag (since school rules say they cannot have it in their pocket).

Ah. But they need to learn to use the equipment that will be allowed in the exam ?
... but industry wants them to be ready for the world of work, where they *will* have access to a phone (or be at a serious disadvantage) ?

But the most important skill they need to learn is how to leave it in a pocket and *not* doom-scroll, or play games, when bored.

Re: Bans on Phones in Schools

[andrewducker]

I think that the advantages of those things are outweighed by the distraction that they cause.

In specific cases you may want to allow access for specific purposes. But children are *not* good at avoiding distraction, and asking them to do so at age 11, with distraction machines in front of them, is not going to work at all.

I haven't used a phone for work, well, ever. I have a computer. I think I had a work phone when I was in India for a couple of weeks. Other than that, I do my work with my computer. Not sure what I'd use a phone for!

Re: Bans on Phones in Schools

[anef]

I am required to have a phone for a secure login ID. It is annoying. I mean, I have a mobile phone anyway, but it is annoying to have to find it when I want to start work.

Re: Bans on Phones in Schools

[magedragonfire]

A way some of the proposed bans in Canada would work is that phones would be allowed at the discretion of the teacher. If their teacher was having them do photography or look up word definitions/translations, sure, they could have their phones for that.

Of course, for the kids who don't have or can't afford a phone-like device, that might prove a difficulty.

I can't imagine a teacher who'd let their students have their phones out in math, though. Most kids I know would much rather be looking at memes or videos than working out combinatorics questions. :P Basic calculators are cheap and ubiquitous. (Graphing ones are not, admittedly, and I don't know if we've started covering them for grade 11s/12s who are in the classes that use them.)