Parenting Book: 17 18 19 Redshirting Education

Phone Obsession, Test Scores, and the Cheating Revolution

• John Chavez

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Speaker 1:

Okay, so you're here with us because you want to really get a handle on these big, complicated topics right, Like get to the heart of the matter without getting lost in the weeds. Well, today we're going deep on something I bet you use every single day your smartphone. We're going to look at the impact it might be having on something that feels pretty crucial Academic honesty and how well students are doing, especially on those standardized tests everybody stresses about, like the ACT.

Speaker 2:

You know those tests that can feel like they have so much writing on them.

Speaker 1:

Exactly. We've got some really fascinating research articles and reports lined up for this, and what we really want to do today is help you connect the dots between how much we use these devices, the temptation to maybe bend the rules a bit, how that all affects grades in general and then, yeah, those all important test scores. We're going to cut through the noise together.

Speaker 2:

It's pretty amazing. Stop and think about it. This one little device that puts like literally the entire world of information in our pockets and keeps us connected 24-7 also seems to have this ripple effect on something as basic as how we learn and how we measure what we've learned.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, it's almost like we don't always stop to think about the unintended consequences, you know. But let's get right into it. Let's start with something that probably isn't going to totally shock you, but the scale of it might, and that's the link between smartphones and well, cheating in school. It seems like these things have really changed the game when it comes to academic honesty, wouldn't you say?

Speaker 2:

Oh, absolutely, they really have and the data really backs that up. Like, for instance, there was this common sense media survey we looked at and they found that over a third of teens we're talking, 35 percent actually admitted to using their phone to cheat. Wow, yeah, and get this. A whopping 65 percent said they'd seen other students doing it. So this isn't just you know, a handful of kids trying to get away with something. This suggests like a much bigger shift in how students are approaching doing their schoolwork and tests.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and it makes sense, right, I mean, think about it. It's so easy to just like instinctively grab your phone for almost everything. Does the research give us any insight into how much of this is deliberate cheating versus maybe like a spur of the moment thing?

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

Or, like students, don't even realize it's really cheating.

Speaker 2:

Right.

Speaker 1:

Because it's not hard to imagine quickly jotting down notes on your phone or, you know, sending a quick text to a friend during a test.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

I mean that McAfee study really drove that point home. You know, one out of three students admitting to looking up answers right there on their phone and almost a quarter texting for help during an exam. That's pretty bold.

Speaker 2:

It is, and what's interesting, too, is how the cheating methods themselves are evolving. We're not just talking about save notes or a quick text anymore. Think about all those apps specifically designed to solve problems, like those complicated math equations, for example. Boom instant answers.

Speaker 1:

Right.

Speaker 2:

And that basically just sidesteps the whole point of figuring things out and the learning process that teachers are trying to encourage.

Speaker 1:

Totally. And then, of course, there's the big one that everyone's talking about AI those chatbots that can whip up an entire essay in seconds or summarize a super dense academic article. It feels like this is presenting like a whole new level of challenge for educators, trying to assess whether a student actually understands the material.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it really raises this fundamental question, doesn't it about what we even consider original work, or even, you know, understanding, when these incredibly powerful tools are so readily available? Right, you know, and this is pushing schools and universities to rethink their whole approach. I mean you're seeing stricter policies being put into place, Like some schools are going as far as banning phones outright Wow, and there's a big push for better plagiarism detection software too, and a move towards more closely monitored online testing.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, it's like this constant game of cat and mouse, almost. Like as soon as a new technology pops up, there's this urge to use it in ways that maybe undermine the whole foundation of learning, and then educators are scrambling to keep up with new rules and ways to catch people. It makes you think that maybe just focusing on the technology itself isn't enough, like there's a bigger need to really instill a sense of ethics in students and maybe even find new and innovative ways to figure out what they really know and can do.

Speaker 2:

Exactly. I think you hit the nail on the head there. So if we take a step back from the whole cheating thing for a second, let's think about the broader impact smartphones might be having on academic performance overall, and this is where we start to see how these devices can affect things, even when students aren't intentionally trying to cheat.

Speaker 1:

Right, it's not just about the deliberate dishonesty, it's about whether these things might be affecting our ability to focus and engage with learning in the first place. I mean, remember that study from the Journal of Educational Psychology. That one was pretty eye opening the students who are using their phones a lot during class. Their scores were significantly lower, like 17% lower on average.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, A huge difference. And when you look at the science of how our brains learn and remember things, it starts to make a lot of sense. You're constantly bombarded with notifications, that little buzz, that urge to just quickly check social media. It all breaks our attention up into these tiny little pieces. And you know that American Psychological Association's study that linked multitasking on your phone while you're studying to lower GPAs like potentially a whole half a point lower. That really highlights the price students are paying for that divided attention.

Speaker 1:

It's like trying to learn something while constantly getting interrupted. You might be putting in the time of study, but you're not fully absorbing the material, because a big chunk of your mental energy is being pulled away by these digital distractions, and it's not just during study time either. Think about sleep. Scrolling through social media late at night can really mess with your sleep patterns, and we all know how important sleep is for learning and memory. And then you add in the procrastination and the stress that can come with spending too much time on social media. It creates this vicious cycle that ultimately impacts how well you do in school.

Speaker 2:

And here's something really interesting the research also shows that when people make an effort to cut back on screen time and set some boundaries for themselves, we often see improvements in focus and grades. So it's not that the technology itself is inherently bad. It's more about how we use it.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, like anything else, moderation is key, right? Okay, it's more about how we use it. Yeah, like anything else, moderation is key, right? Okay, so we're seeing how smartphones can lead to more cheating and can kind of get in the way of overall academic performance. Now let's focus on something I know a lot of you are thinking about those high-stakes tests like the ACT. What have you found in the research about the connection there?

Speaker 2:

That's a great question and it's an area where we're still waiting for more definitive research that directly links smartphone use to lower ACT scores. But if we look at all the trends we've talked about so far, we can start to see some pretty strong connections, like that CNN report from 2023. They pointed to declining scores on both the ACT and the NAEP and specifically linked it to what they call the smartphone era. That definitely suggests a connection there.

Speaker 1:

And when you look at the ACT's own data, it shows this steady decline in average scores. They even hit a 30-year low recently.

Speaker 2:

Wow.

Speaker 1:

It's hard to ignore that, especially when it's happening at the same time that smartphone use and social media have just exploded among young people.

Speaker 2:

Right.

Speaker 1:

It feels like there has to be more to it than just coincidence.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it's hard to imagine those things aren't related in some way. Yeah, and there's this other study, a 2022 one in the Journal of Educational Psychology that found a connection between spending more time on entertainment apps and lower scores on academic tests. That's another piece of the puzzle. Makes sense. You know tests like the ACT they require you to really focus and dig deep into complex reading passages and math problems. Yeah, if students are used to spending most of their time scrolling through those quick, stimulating videos and posts on their phones, it could definitely be impacting their ability to concentrate for the longer stretches those tests demand.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, it's almost like our brains are getting wired for constant quick bursts of information and then we expect them to suddenly switch gears and stay laser focused for three hours straight on a really tough exam. I mean that Common Sense Media report said teens are spending over eight hours a day on screens. That's a lot of time, and when you add in all that task switching constantly jumping between apps and notifications while you're trying to study, it's no wonder that deep concentration, the kind you need for things like ACT, math and reading becomes a real struggle.

Speaker 2:

Right. So while smartphones can be helpful in some ways, like for accessing study guides or educational apps, it seems like the overall impact on academic performance is negative, especially when it comes to standardized tests. It really highlights the importance of healthy study habits, like setting limits on screen time and finding quiet spaces to study where you can really focus. Those things can make a big difference if students want to improve their test scores.

Speaker 1:

So, given all these challenges, what are some potential solutions? We can't just go back to a time before smartphones, right?

Speaker 2:

Right. We have to find ways to work with them and there are a lot of different approaches being tried out right now. Some schools are banning phones altogether, like you mentioned, those bans in Scotland. Even the government's on board with that. That's one approach, but there's also research from the University of Birmingham that suggests maybe simply banning phones isn't the complete answer, especially when you consider the impact on mental health and academics overall, it seems like a more well-rounded approach might be needed.

Speaker 1:

Okay, so what would a more well-rounded approach look like? What should educators, parents and even students themselves be thinking about?

Speaker 2:

Well, there seem to be a few key areas to focus on. First, how can we manage smartphone use in schools themselves? We're seeing things like clear rules about when and where phones can be used in the classroom. Some schools are using those lockable pouches, yonder to physically remove the temptation during class time and designated tech free zones for studying.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, creating spaces where it's easier to focus makes sense. What about dealing with the problem of academic dishonesty? How do we make sure students are doing their own work?

Speaker 2:

That's really important too. Schools need clear and strict policies about cheating, and they need to make sure those policies are enforced consistently. We're also seeing more and more proctored online testing, with AI being used to spot any suspicious behavior, and some educators are moving back to more traditional assessment methods things like oral exams, in-depth projects, well-researched essays. Those are much harder to cheat on using technology.

Speaker 1:

So, moving away from those multiple-choice tests that are easy to look up online, got it? What about giving students the tools to develop better habits and a healthier relationship with their devices? What can we do there?

Speaker 2:

That's where teaching digital discipline comes in. Educators and parents can help students learn to set healthy limits on their screen time and avoid multitasking when they need to focus. Things like the Pomodoro technique that can help students structure their study time more effectively, and there's growing evidence that going back to basics you know, like reading physical books and taking notes by hand, can actually help students remember information better compared to only using screens.

Speaker 1:

Interesting. So it's like a blend of old school and new school techniques. What about parents? How can they support all of this at home?

Speaker 2:

Parents play a huge role in this. They can use monitoring apps to help manage their kids' screen time when they're not at school. They can encourage tech-free periods at home, especially during study time, and they can help their kids establish good sleep habits by limiting phone use late at night. All those things can make a big difference.

Speaker 1:

And finally, what about standardized tests? Any changes there?

Speaker 2:

The ACT and other testing organizations already have pretty strict rules about phone use during the actual test, but it's important to make sure those rules are being followed at every testing center. And, maybe even more importantly, students should practice for the test in an environment that's as close as possible to the real thing. That means no phone, no internet. Practice like you play right.

Speaker 1:

So it sounds like there's no single easy answer to this. It's going to take a combined effort from schools, students, parents, everyone involved in education.

Speaker 2:

Exactly. The relationship between smartphones, academic honesty and how well students do on standardized tests is complicated. It's not a simple cause and effect. It's going to take everyone working together to find the best solutions.

Speaker 1:

So, to sum it all up for you, we've seen how smartphones have created some real challenges in education. They make it easier to cheat, they can distract us and make it harder to focus, and there's a growing body of research that suggests a link between using smartphones too much and lower academic performance, and that can definitely have an impact on those big, important standardized tests like the ACT.

Speaker 2:

And the key takeaway here is that we're not trying to demonize technology. We just want to highlight the potential downsides of being constantly connected if we're not careful about how we use these devices, especially in the context of learning.

Speaker 1:

So here's a final thought for you After hearing all of this what's one small change you could make today to create a more focused learning environment for yourself or maybe someone you know? Maybe it's setting a specific time for no phone study sessions, or trying out an app that helps you limit screen time, or even just leaving your phone in another room when you're working on something challenging. Think about that balance the benefits of being connected versus the potential downsides when it comes to really learning and understanding new things.

Speaker 2:

Some really great food for thought there. Thanks for joining us for this deep dive.

Speaker 1:

Thanks everyone for listening.

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John Chavez

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