University in China Prevents Distractions By Telling Students and Teachers to Check-in Their Phones Before Class

In today’s technological world, smartphones have become an integral part of our day-to-day life. People of all ages are using these phones both for communication and entertainment.

But a lot of people would agree that smartphones should only be used in appropriate places, except for classrooms. Teachers, parents, and students should understand the detrimental effects of using cell phones at schools.

Although smartphones are useful especially during harmful and emergency situations and are considered as great equipment in improving knowledge, there are still more disadvantages in using it during class.

Smartphones can be used for cheating on tests. Since mobile phones are capable of more than just calling and texting, students can easily gain Internet access using their phones during exams. Students can also use their phones to embarrass their peers and teachers and resorting to bullying. They can also lack focus on the lesson when they are busy sending messages or browsing their social media pages.

This is one of the problems that a lot of schools have all over the world. However, a university in Northwest China devised a quirky solution to prevent students, including teachers, to avoid using their phones during class.

Quirky Yet Effective Solution

A university in Northwest China’s Gansu Province is asking their students and professors to check-in their phones once they step in their classrooms.

The school is using large curtains with numbered cloth pockets hang near the entrance of the classrooms at the Lanzhou Jiaotong University. This is the school’s solution to keep the students’ eyes off their phone, on the day’s materials and focus in class.

Before the class begins, students and teachers are expected to place their smartphones inside the assigned pockets.

Is It Effective?

Piloted in March 2017, the idea is already adapted to six different buildings of the university. According to Gong Li, an official from the university’s student’s office, this system helped students in cutting down on playing with their phones during class.

The system also helped students in developing better concentration skills. Without their phones in their hands, they can stay more focus, follow their teachers, and participate more in class.

Not only that, the numbered pockets also show how many are in class and who is absent.

Do you think this system would be effective in other countries? If not, which do you think is the best way to prevent students from using their phones during class?