Round Rock ISD Campus Bans Cell Phones From Classroom

ROUND ROCK, TEXAS — It's hard for even grownups to focus when distracted by their cell phones — a problem also seen among students who are supposed to be concentrating on their studies. Knowing this, one Round Rock ISD campus has banned use of the communications devices from the classroom.

Students at Success High School, 500 Gattis School Rd., now have to place their cell phones to cloth pockets affixed to a wall before taking their desks, KXAN reported. The tactic is an offshoot of a conversation district officials have had for years, but hadn't seen fruition for fear that students wouldn't be exposed the technology — even during the brief time they spend in the classroom.

But a Success High, technology abounds. This made Success High an ideal incubator of sorts to try out a cell phone ban over the summer. Assistant Principal Jerrod Gertsema told the news station the pilot program yielded dramatic results.

"We saw a great increase in the number of courses that were completed in summer learning," Gertsema told KXAN. In-class productivity spiked 50 percent, prompting implementation of the new policy nationwide.

The classroom cell phone ban has had the desired effect of promoting dialogue among students as well, one teacher said. A high school senior interviewed by the news station said she's getting more done without the distraction of a cell phone, a weaning off being experienced by the more than 300 students at the school.

But alas, the district isn't implementing cell-phone-free zones at all of its campuses anytime soon. According to the report, district officials are hesitant to deny students their access to technology at other campuses not having the luxury to the level of Success High.

A recent University of Texas at Austin study found that cognitive ability is significantly reduced when your smartphone is within reach — even if it’s off. The study from the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin found that brain power is reduced exponentially when distracted by cell phones.

McCombs Assistant Professor Adrian Ward and co-authors conducted experiments with nearly 800 smartphone users in an attempt to measure, for the first time, how well people can complete tasks when they have their smartphones nearby even when they’re not using them, officials explained.

The results weren't pretty. Read more about that report by clicking here.

>>> Read the full story at KXAN

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