“So, we’ve always had a policy about not having your phones out in class, but it’s really a challenge in regards to taking process and making it reality.”
Northview High School Principal Mark Thomas said school officials found common ground between students and teachers with the implementation of faraday bags.
“When you put the phone or if you had a computer or something else into one of the bags, it completely blocks the RFD signal, and it kind of renders it useless.”
When students enter a classroom, they are given a moment to check their phones one last time before slipping the device into the phone-sized bag and closing it. The bag is placed on their desk in case of an emergency. While in the bags, devices cannot receive phone calls or notifications, nor can they pair with smart watches or wireless headphones.
“The feedback we’re getting from our staff and also from our students is that they’re not only more engaged with the lesson, but they’re also more engaged in a socially emotional way in talking with their classmates and having conversations as opposed to being distracted by their phones.”
Thomas says he hopes their solution serves as a guide for other schools to help them find common ground between students, staff, and parents when it comes to cell phones in the classroom.
