Earlier this year, the Alberta Government sent out a survey to parents, teachers and school staff to answer questions on the following:
- Whether students should be allowed to use phones in class;
- The different approaches to cellphone use that might be applied for students in different grades; and
- How potential restrictions might be implemented.
The government announced, effective fall 2024/2025, students will no longer be permitted to use mobile cellphones during classrooms and there will be a social media restrictions within schools. This includes:
- Cell Phones
- Smart Phones
- Smart Watches
- Headphones
Demetrios Nicolaides believes the changes will help students with their mental health, improve learning, and limit cyber bullying. Nicolaides recognizes the evergrowing tech industry is here to stay, but believes there are compromises to be made with the students.
Michael Boyes is a developmental psychologist with the University of Calgary and mentions the gap being created between low level and high level students in schools that allow the use of cellphones.
With the new changes, the personal devices must be turned off and stored out of sight, the individual schoolboard can decide how to enforce the new rules and how to punish the rules.
In May, Vimy Ridge Academy High School in Edmonton has introduced a new policy that bans students from using phones during school hours. Phones must be kept in lockers throughout the day. They are reportedly the first Highschool in the city to implement such a rule.