Phones have become an everyday part of student life, but for some, staying connected can make it harder to concentrate while in the classroom.
“If the professor is speaking and I’m on my phone, I can’t hear my professor,” said Fanshawe College student Ryann May Hunter.
Hunter said she often finds herself thinking about going on her phone during class, even when it is put away.
“I always put my phone away in my bag, but my bag is a purse so I can see directly in it. So once I put my phone away, I still have the temptation that I’m looking at it and want to reach for it.”
Ryann May Hunter, multimedia journalism, year 1. (Torey Joseph Legarrie)
Hunter said checking messages and social media is the biggest reason why she reaches for her phone during class.
“Honestly, If I text someone before class, which is like a lot of people because social media is always running, I just check it to see if they answered me.”
“So it is very distracting for me personally.”
Hunter believes phones do affect students differently. While some may be able to multitask, she said she struggles.
“For me personally, if I’m on my phone, I’m probably checking social media and I cannot multitask.”
Hunter believes students could benefit from putting their phones away, but does not agree with professors taking them. Instead, she thinks students should take limit their phone use during class and respect their professors time.
“I don’t agree with them taking our phones because we are adults now. We’re not in high school anymore.”
“I think students should be more willing to power off their phones for classes because that is also our professors time.”
