In an article for Inside Higher Ed, Moira Lynch (University of Wisconsin–River Falls) discusses how students benefitted from a classroom phone and laptop ban she has implemented in her classes since 2024. Through student surveys, the author found that students viewed the ban positively: About two-thirds were “very satisfied” or “satisfied,” and felt that the policy “significantly improved” or “improved” their focus. The majority (85%) said they would be open to taking another course with a device ban. Their written feedback showed that students supported the device ban because it increased engagement on both an individual and collective level, gave them a break from distractions, and improved their focus and learning. “As instructors, we can help students by creating lower-distraction learning environments,” concludes Lynch.
