Put the phone down!

There’s been a growing trend to keep mobile phones out of classrooms to avoid distractions like social media and messaging. However, a new study suggests there might be a more balanced approach to manage phones without having students leave them behind. The solution? One-minute “phone breaks” during class.

In a study conducted with college students, those allowed to use their phones briefly during class showed improved focus, reduced overall phone use, and higher test scores. In contrast, students who had unrestricted access to their phones used them for non-academic purposes up to 10 times a day.

The Results: By permitting short, structured breaks for phone use, students were less likely to engage in frequent distractions and could better concentrate on the lesson.

(Sounds like a win for students and teachers—although my kids would probably hit their 10-text limit before the first bell rings!)