Impacts of School Policy on Teen Smartphone Usage: A Tale of Two Schools

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 3:20 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 2-3
  In Roundtable Session: Perspectives on Policy and Practice With Technology and AI Tools (Table 5)

Abstract

As smartphones become increasingly integral in teenage life, school administrators and policy makers are debating policies on student smartphone use at school. Understanding teens’ relationships with their smartphones is essential in determining smartphone policies that effectively support learning engagement, but few studies have investigated teen usage habits. This study explores teen smartphone usage in two schools: one that bans student smartphones, and another that encourages smartphone use. We ask: How do school policies on allowing student smartphones in classrooms impact teens’ smartphone usage? Thirty-eight middle school students completed the Smartphone Usage Introspection Survey and shared records of their smartphone usage. Findings provide insights into teen smartphone usage patterns and can inform development of policies on student smartphone usage at school.

Authors

• Deborah Cockerham, University of North Texas

• Lin Lin Lipsmeyer, Southern Methodist University

• Tandra L. Tyler-Wood, University of North Texas