This semester, PVHS students had their first experience with the phone policies that were passed by Governor Kim Reynolds on April 30. While this was a sharp change for many, the implementation of the policy depended largely on the actions taken by specific classes and teachers.
Some teachers noted that while this is the first time phone bans have been backed by state law, PVHS had some version of the phone policy in past years. Math teacher Jason Landa, for example, has used phone parking as a method of taking attendance for the past few years. The constant routine has become a staple in his class and is an easily met expectation. “The first week of school was a lot of reminding; after that, it was automatic,” said Landa. Additionally, he said that the policy has not created any change in his own classes since he has always implemented his own phone policy during his time at PVHS.
Many teachers, unlike Landa, are implementing policies for the first time and are noticing real changes in the learning environment. Students use their downtime in classes to engage themselves in non-phone activities. “On the whole, I have noticed a positive change with students in class. They are more attentive in general. Students converse with each other more in my class than they have in several years,” said social studies teacher Brent Keemle.
Students also have the opportunity to use downtime effectively for other classwork. “I feel like they are more focused on getting things done, and a lot of kids are usually doing things like Spanish practice, Kahoots, Physics modules or English annotations when they have free time to work,” said sociology teacher Trever Zahn.
Additionally, the loss of phones is rarely felt. While in the past, phones may have been used for in-class Kahoots or Blookets, PVHS is also a 1:1 district where all students have access to personal chromebooks. This eliminates the need for phones and personal devices.
In fact, one issue that many teachers are pointing to right now are Chromebooks. “Chromebooks now present their own challenges. I am seeing the increased need to use LanSchool to get students off games or other distracting websites.” said Keemle. While there are few distractions, Chromebook activity is also something that teachers need to pay attention to.
Lastly, the policy is only strengthened by the strict enforcement of the ban. Across teachers, the consensus is that no specific amends need to be made to the policy itself, but if some teachers choose not to be strict about it, it makes it harder for the school as a whole to enforce the ban. “It takes a little more effort in the beginning to instill proper behavior, and then it pays off in the long haul with less issues,” said Landa.
Overall, PVHS’s first semester under the new phone policy shows that consistent enforcement is key to its success. Teachers report better focus, more interaction and fewer distractions. With Chromebooks meeting most classroom needs, the policy has helped create a more engaged learning environment that hopefully will continue to strengthen.
