Should The Use of Phones Be Allowed by Students?

Digitalisation has significantly improved and advanced the world today. Technology, especially mobile phones and AI tools has become an important part of our daily lives. This doesn't exclude schools and colleges, as students and teachers alike rely on these tools for effective teaching and communication, thereby leading to productivity. However, as much as these devices come with undeniable benefits, the question arises: should students be allowed to use phones during tests or exams, even with AI capabilities within their reach? Will this make things easier for students in the future or hinder their development in the long run?

During my college years, the use of phones was prohibited anywhere in class, though students have their ways of using them secretly; once caught, they are either sent out of the classroom or the phone is seized. This is because it's a distraction. The use of a phone while the lecture is going on is an insult to any teacher or lecturer. No one is stopped from bringing in phones to school but not into the class when teaching or a lecture is going on. In fact, you would see most lecturers in universities or teachers in colleges without their phones or they'd put in silence just to make lectures effective and easily communicated.

There are lots of benefits derived from the use of phones in the education system by students, such as enhancing learning opportunities. Instead of students waiting for teachers to explain a concept further, they can easily search online for answers which may complement their learning process. With phones, students can easily research topics discussed in class to their best understanding, and if used correctly, it helps them develop critical thinking skills.

While the use of phones cannot be stopped by students because we are in the era of such development, it is still the right of every school to disallow the use of phones in the classroom, especially during tests or exams, because it leads to different disadvantages.

The first is a lack of concentration in the classroom. When students aren't paying attention to the teacher/lecturer, it causes a lack of focus and derails academics.

The second is a lack of knowledge and understanding. Why should a student be allowed to use the phone during a test or exam in the first place? Today, a lot of students now depend on AI to complete their assignments which leads to improper research of their work. This makes them lose interest in their academics and then leads to poor performance. By allowing such, students won't understand anything being taught to them or want to make use of their brains to think creatively.

This is what causes low intelligence when they rely on a bot or machine to help them complete a task. When they graduate, it's difficult to prove their knowledge out there. They only have good results but nothing to show for it.

Another disadvantage of this is that it makes the efforts of the teacher or lecturer wasted. It would be like just coming to class to pour knowledge into a basket that drains away quickly. This is because the students won't pay attention since they have a means of getting their questions answered without putting effort into becoming the best.

When students are allowed to use phones during tests or exams, it increases the chances of them cheating. With access to the internet, AI tools, and messaging apps, students may focus only on getting answers rather than learning and understanding the concept.

There is the possibility of students losing the ability to think critically or solve problems independently when they are over-reliant on phones and AI tools.

In conclusion:

While it is impossible to deny the importance of phones in today's world, the education system must carefully consider their place in teaching and learning. The best thing is to teach students how to use technology as a supportive tool rather than a dependency. While education is more about acquiring knowledge, schools must ensure total responsibility and discipline in students and help them develop their creativity and critical thinking skills, which are necessary for personal and professional achievements.

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_{Both images were imagined with Meta AI}