One month smartphone-free: what actually changed in the classroom

One month after the stricter smartphone approach, the first effects are visible: livelier common rooms, more conversations and less stress. And exactly one practical problem remained.

When schools started enforcing smartphone rules more strictly, there were also worries. Would it actually work? Wouldn't students rebel? And would parents accept that their child is unreachable during the day? One month later, the first results are in - and they're strikingly positive.

The numbers: nearly half go beyond the classroom

The national guideline is that smartphones are not allowed in the classroom. But many schools deliberately chose to go further:

48% of schools extended the ban to the entire school day - including breaks and the common room.

42% implemented the policy exactly as advised: classroom only.

The fact that nearly half of schools voluntarily go further than required says something. Schools that take the step apparently see enough reason to push through.

What teachers and students see

The stories from practice paint a clear picture. Where students used to sit side by side on their screens in the common room, something else is happening now. One observation that stays with you: "There used to be ten boys in a row, nine on their phones. Now they're running around each other" - foosball, sports, simply moving again.

Students say it themselves too: "We talk a lot more with each other now." The common rooms haven't gone quieter - they've become livelier. And a small but telling detail: in the canteen people pay with their bank card again more often instead of their phone - a sign the device is less reflexively in hand.

"Less stress" - the surprising effect

Perhaps the most striking effect is something you might not immediately expect. One student said he experiences less stress now that his phone sits in a locker rather than within reach. No more constant stream of notifications demanding attention. No reflex to check whether something new has come in.

That matches what research has long shown: simply having a phone within reach costs concentration. By literally putting the device away, calm emerges - in the mind and in the classroom.

The fear that didn't come true

Beforehand, the biggest concern of some parents was that their child would become "socially isolated" without a phone. That fear proved unfounded. In fact, schools see the opposite happening. As one school leader put it - students are actually much more social without a smartphone.

The feared parental resistance also turned out to be limited. A few parents were initially worried, but in practice their concerns eased once the positive effects became visible.

The last obstacle: how does your child stay informed?

One thing remains. Because if the phone sits in a locker all day - or stays home entirely - how does your child know tomorrow's schedule? When the next test is? Whether the homework needs to be finished?

The schedule, homework and tests live in Somtoday or Magister, and those are only accessible via an app or website. For schools that want to keep the smartphone out of the building all day, that's the last obstacle. And for parents who want to extend the same approach at home, it's the reason the phone comes back into the house "for the schedule" - with social media just one swipe away.

Loek: the last reason to grab your phone disappears

This is where Loek comes in. It's a small e-ink screen that shows the schedule, homework and tests - and nothing else. No apps, no notifications, no social media. That removes precisely the last reason a student would need to "just quickly" grab their phone.

Always the right overview - Loek automatically syncs with Somtoday, so the schedule is always correct.

No smartphone needed - Works fully independently via WiFi.

Less stress, at home too - No notifications, but the overview is there: your child calmly sees what's on tomorrow's schedule, without the anxiety of missing something.

Parents can see along - The display sits visibly in the home, and via the dashboard you see exactly what your child sees.

3 months battery - Thanks to the e-ink display.

The effects of a month smartphone-free are clear: more focus, more contact, less stress. Loek makes it possible for schools and families to take that step fully - through breaks, all the way home - without the schedule problem coming back.

What now?

A comprehensive evaluation is scheduled for mid-year to determine whether stronger measures - up to and including legislation - are warranted. The direction is clear: from "not in class" to "smartphone-free all day." And the further schools extend that line, the greater the need for a way to show school info without a phone.

Want your child to get that focus and calm too, with the overview of school within reach?

Discover Loek - School info without a smartphone.

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Source: Onderwijs van Morgen. Loek helps students focus on learning by displaying school information without smartphone distractions.