Rocky View Schools (RVS) is encouraging students to leave personal mobile devices at home when classes resume next week.
In a new release today, RVS announced students cannot use their personal mobile device in school during instructional time, unless specially authorized by their school’s administrator or their teacher for educational purposes.
The division has outlined highlights of a new administrative procedure (AP) on personal mobile devices and social media to align with new provincial government standards. The AP comes into effect Sept. 3, the first day of classes in the school division.
RVS officials explain the procedures are designed to have teachers and administrators work with students and parents/guardians toward the common goal of limiting distractions and staying focused on learning.
“We recognize this will be an adjustment as these changes become part of school life and we appreciate the cooperation of all students, staff and families to support focused student learning,” states Greg Luterbach, RVS superintendent of schools, in the new release. “Our teachers and administration teams will work with students to help them understand the expectations of personal mobile devices and social media at school.”
Highlights of the AP include:
• The safest place for students’ devices is at home. Should they choose to bring them to school, they must be out of sight and turned off or silent. Parents/guardians and students assume full responsibility if their device is lost, stolen or damaged.
• Students cannot use their personal mobile device in school during instructional time, unless specially authorized by their school’s administrator or their teacher for educational purposes. This includes any personal electronic device that can be used to communicate with or access the internet. Examples include cell phones, smart watches, laptops and tablets.
• Students with health or medical reasons or special learning needs may be granted permission to use personal mobile devices during instructional time, upon completion of Form AF148A or as indicated in the student’s Individualized Program Plan.
• Students will not have access to social media platforms at school over the school’s Wi-Fi network and are not permitted to access it at school using their own data plans to ensure students remain focused on educational tasks.
On June 17, Alberta Education announced new standards for personal mobile devices and social media would come into Sept. 1 in K to 12 classrooms.
Exceptions were made for students using mobile devices for health and medical needs, to support specialized learning needs, and for educational purposes.
Prior to that, Alberta Education conducted a survey that received over 68,000 responses from parents and school stakeholders. The survey indicated 90 per cent of respondents shared concern over student cellphone use at school.
In that same survey, 85 per cent of respondents indicated they believe that cellphones have a negative impact on student achievement, and 81 per cent believe cellphones in schools increase the number of bullying incidents.
A lesser number of parents--58 per cent--believe that having a cellphone negatively impacts their child’s mental health.
Alberta Education says scientific research has found that cellphones and social media distract students from learning, have adverse effects on mental health, and increase cyberbullying incidents.
