OXNARD, Calif. — In an age where young people rarely go anywhere without their phones, some experts say being plugged in requires powering down. For the Manno twins, cell phones are a gateway into play and learning. “I use my phone for Duolingo to learn German and Russian, said Mikko Manno, the 13-year-old home school student.
But many educators see it as an unnecessary distraction. “It changes a child’s way of concentrating and focusing, especially in school,” said Andrea Massion, who lives in Port Hueneme
On Monday, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law requiring school districts in California to create rules restricting student smartphone use. This legislation aims to minimize classroom distractions and address the negative mental health impact of social media. But technology expert says it’s important to identify exactly what student behaviors inhibit learning. “Is texting the big thing? And then if it is, we have to look not just at smartphones, but smartwatches and all of these other type of devices— I mean, even our iPads and our Chromebooks, they all have messaging features,” said Instructional Technology Teacher Bonnie Sides…