Having Cellphones and Laptops out during class leads to less learning, lower scores

What is more or less common sense, a new study shows significant drops in learning when students are allowed to have cellphones and laptops out during class. And this happens not only to those students using personal devices, it also affects students who do not have their devices out.

This matches numerous personal anecdotes, and seems to match common sense. Many teens and college students believe they are able to multi-task, and state that personal devices do not affect how effective they are as they split attention, but this study shows pretty conclusively this belief is incorrect.

Now in my classes, I want cellphones and Chromebooks away most of the time. There IS a time and place for devices, depending on the nature of the activity we are doing. Also, do not forget there are studies that show significant decreases in scores and learning comprehension for those students who take notes on a laptop compared to those who write out notes by hand.

Tech is wonderful in so many ways, but we are finding out 'old school' methods should NOT all be thrown out quite yet!