An assistant professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill helped coauthor a study that was published in a medical journal. The study tracked the behavior of middle and high school students. It found that teens spent one-third of the school day on their phones; ultimately, students check their phones dozens of times for social media or entertainment purposes.
The professor, Kaitlyn Burnell, presented the results of the study to the committee.
"What surprised us most was the sheer amount of time teens are on their phones during school," Burnell said. "Students were on their phones every hour during school, spending one-third of the school day on their phones, with social media and entertainment accounting for over 70% of their time."
The study showed that frequent checking was linked to weaker attention span and self-control, which leaders said they believe is data that can be used to shape future policies.
Researchers said the findings showed that frequent phone-checking undermined skills that students need to succeed in the classroom.
A new state law, passed last year, requires all school districts to have cellphone policies in place. In Wake County and other districts, students must silence and store their phones in their backpacks or lockers during designated times.
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The changes to math standards would emphasize real-world application of math that would replace Math 3 and Math 4 with various classes that students can choose from.
The changes are part of a national movement to revise standards similarly.
Educators want more students to remain interested and connected in math.
These revisions position North Carolina to deliver a rigorous, responsive, and student-centered mathematics instructional system," a Department of Public Instruction official told the committee in a presentation. "... The strategic plan, the Internal Procedures Manual, which step by step walks through every content areas. Revision, every content area follows the same process, our listservs, and then our website, in which we provide updates on where we are in the standards revision process."
Researchers said this is objective, evidence-based information that state lawmakers and education leaders can use to help craft policies and digital literacy programs moving forward.