Ban on smartphones in class turned out to be the simplest way to improve grades

Researchers from the University of Toronto, together with Indian colleagues, found that banning smartphones during classes significantly improves academic performance. A large-scale experiment involving more than 16,000 students proved the effectiveness of such restrictions. The results were published in the journal Science.

A team led by Alp Sungu conducted a randomized controlled study across ten higher education institutions in the Indian state of Odisha, where more than 70% of young people own smartphones. Throughout the experiment, the researchers tracked not only students' academic performance but also their motivation levels, psycho-emotional well-being, digital behavior patterns, and instances of cyberbullying among the 16,683 participants. It turned out that eliminating gadgets from classrooms helped struggling students and freshmen the most, while the ban had almost no effect on high-achieving students and graduate students. As a result, the restrictions helped narrow the grade gap, bringing weaker students closer to stronger ones.

An important observation was that the number of class absences remained unchanged. Consequently, grades improved not because of forced attendance but thanks to better concentration and more productive interaction with instructors. During classroom observations, the researchers also recorded a decrease in off-topic conversations and serious disciplinary violations. "Students who faced the restrictions began to support the gadget ban themselves and noted its benefits for the learning process," said Alp Sungu.

The impact of smartphones on cognitive abilities, mental health, and social skills of young people is a matter of serious concern among specialists worldwide. Creating a focused, screen-free environment allows the brain to better absorb complex information, increases engagement in the learning process, and fosters healthy study habits.