Cell Phones in the Classroom

Teacher Writes on Chalkboard while Student Texts on their Cell Phone

How Teachers Handle Cell Phones in Class

Educators have struggled with mobile phone use in the classroom for years, and with the constant growth of the tech industry, those struggles will most likely continue to plague schools across the country into the foreseeable future. According to a 2018 study by the Pew Research Center, “95% of teens…have or have access to a smartphone….”1 With that many mobile devices, teachers have been running into obstacles considering student distractions and dropping grade scores.

How do cell phones affect our students’ learning capabilities?

Student Cell Phone Statistics

Pencils, Pens, and a Cell Phone on a Composition Notebook

Research tends to present a correlation between cell phone use and declining academic performance. A 2015 study in England showed an over 6% increase in performance across four schools that banned mobile phone usage.2 Additionally, another study showed that students not using phones “…scored a full letter grade and a half higher on a multiple choice test than those students who were actively using their mobile phones.”3

Research is continually ongoing as widespread cell phone use is still relatively new. With this information, how are educators approaching the issues?

Adapting to the Times

Tablet Resting on Book on a Table Desk

Some teachers see cell phones as a learning opportunity and use them as teaching tools. Mobile phones have evolved into small, handheld computers, so information is almost immediately available for students wanting to look up the definition of a word or concept they don’t understand. Some educators, such as Ken Halla, have altered their approach to their classroom by allowing open use of phones in class so long as the students use them for their education.4

There are also a number of applications and resources available for educators to enhance their lessons. Programs like PollEverywhere.com and Remind.com help students, teachers, and parents in gauging comprehension and improving organization.

Other teachers, like Stephanie Jones of Biscayne Elementary, haven’t had issues concerning cell phones in their classroom. “Cell phone use has been a non-issue in my teaching career,” says Jones.

Despite the move with technology, many institutions choose to restrict mobile devices on campus.

School Mobile Phone Bans & Restrictions

Classroom with No Cell Phones Sign by Door

No Cell Phones Sign on a Chain Link Fence
“No Cell Phones” Signs

While some educators are resorting to adapting their curriculum around mobile devices, many schools take to removing cell phones as an obstacle all together, posting “No Cell Phone” signs or requiring students to drop off their devices at the office. Blanket bans like these have shown to improve test scores. However, many schools find it difficult or impossible to enforce zero tolerance bans on mobile devices.

Amy Eardley of Creekside High School takes a middle approach; not outright banning phones but not allowing the use of mobile devices in her class. However, even that proves more difficult in practice.

“For my own sanity, I had to give up on policing phones. Most of the kids will put them away when I walk by and give them a ‘what are you doing look’. Some will stay in them all year and will have a grade that matches their effort. I do occasionally have reminder chats with the whole group that the effort we put in isn’t forgotten when report card time comes around and that students who don’t spend the whole time on their phone will be looked upon more favorably when it comes to grades right on the border of lettergrades.”

Some institutions resort to signal jammers, devices that interfere with the radio wavelengths of mobile devices. However, the use of such items is illegal, as according to the FCC, “…it is a violation of federal law to use a cell jammer or similar devices that intentionally block, jam, or interfere with authorized radio communications such as cell phones, police radar, GPS, and Wi-Fi.”5

 

Library with Quiet Please Sign
“Quiet Please – Important Work in Progress” Sign

As our technology advances and becomes more and more mobile, schools and other institutions may face further difficulty in controlling the use of phones and other devices.

What are your thoughts on cell phones in our schools? How would/do you handle mobile devices in the classroom? Leave a comment below to share your thoughts, and for all of your signage needs, visit CustomSigns.com.

 

Related Posts

References

5 Summer Safety Reminders for HOAs

Neighborhood Street Lined With Blooming Cherry Trees

Summer Safety in Your Community

Summer is finally here, so now is the perfect time for summer safety reminders for your Home Owner’s Association community. Your residents are responsible for following your HOA’s rules and regulations, but posting memos or holding community meetings are helpful for everyone. Additionally, your organization is responsible for maintaining communal grounds and amenities, so here are some summer safety reminders.

Heat Hazards

Small Dog in an Orange Car

According to Heat Kills, the interior temperature of a car can increase by 34 degrees in as little as 30 minutes.1 Even if the temperature outside is a comfortable 70 degrees Fahrenheit, that increases to 104 degrees in half-an-hour, so remind your residents to NEVER leave children or animals in their vehicles. Post custom signs around your community as a reminder of the dangers of the summer heat as a way to prevent unnecessary tragedies.

Common Area Consciousness

Exercise Equipment in Front of Window

If your HOA has communal areas such as pools or clubhouses, then you’ll want to make sure they’re in good working order. Providing clean and functional community amenities will keep residents happy and appreciative. Here are a few reminders for common community areas for the summer.

Playgrounds

After a long winter of un-Colorful playground and sunrise on yard in the parkuse, your community’s playgrounds should be inspected before summer takes full effect. Ensure all children’s playground equipment is free of potential hazards and replace bolts and other structural pieces as needed. Watch out for any other hazards such as glass or insect infestations to remove as well. Post children at play signs near playground amenities to prevent accidents along roads.

Clubhouses

Providing a clean and well-maintained lounge or clubhouse for your residents shows your HOA’s professionalism and instills confidence in your community. Ensure HVAC units are well-maintained and in working order. Additionally, check to make sure any lounges or other communal buildings are clean and presentable. Inspect any equipment, such as lights or televisions, to make sure they function properly.

Pools

Swimming is a favorite Pool Area Set Against Forest & Sky Backgroundsummer activity for many, so ensuring your pool is well-kept is imperative for the coming months. Remove any debris that may have collected over the winter and spring months from in and around your pool area. Update any pool signage to reflect new or revised safety rules. Inspect and repair pool filters and lighting fixtures as needed.

Gyms

Summer means more free time to exercise, so ensure that all equipment is in proper working condition for the safety of your residents. Wipe down and disinfect all equipment to prevent sickness. Ensure that all HVAC or other cooling units are working adequately.

Outdoor Areas

Your outdoor community Tennis player holding racket preparing for playing game on outdoor court during summer.areas will probably see more use thanks to warmer weather. Clean all outdoor recreation areas such as gazebos, tennis courts, dog parks, etc. Ensure that gazebos are structurally sound and repair any equipment as necessary. Fences and other sectional walls should be inspected for integrity.

Night Nuisances

Close-up of a street lamp glowing in retro colors

Remind your residents to stay safe at night. With summer comes an increase in criminal activity, so marking monitored areas with video surveillance signs can help prevent potential robberies or violent crimes. Whether lights deter crime or not is still up for debate, but maintaining street lights helps your residents see once night falls, so ensure your community’s light sources are properly maintained.

Secure Street Safety

25 Miles Per Hour Speed Limit Sign Set Against Blue Sky

With school out for the year, many children will be home or using your pools or playgrounds. Keep your community safer by posting speed limit signs along heavy foot traffic areas near communal amenities. Additionally, inspect roads for damage such as pot holes or large cracks and contact your local city or county maintenance department for repairs to prevent damage to vehicles.

Vacation Ventures

Kids playing throwing inflatable ball

Remind your residents to keep their homes safe if they will be leaving for a summer vacation. Warn them not to advertise their vacations as this could alert potential criminals that their home will be vacant for a time.


Get 20% Off No Soliciting Signs at CustomSigns.com with Code CSIGN20, Absolutely No Soliciting Sign

Ensuring your community’s health and happiness is important for every Home Owner’s Association. With these safety tips and signs from CustomSigns.com, you can keep this summer fun and safe for you and your residents.

References:

  1. HeatKills.org
  2. DigitalJournal.com

Water Conservation for Businesses

Running Water Faucet

Earth Over North & South America
Over 97% of Earth’s water is salt water

Of all the water on the planet, roughly 97 percent of it is unusable, or difficult to desalinate salt water. This leaves us with about 3 percent of the total as fresh water, more than 98 percent of which is inaccessible due to being located in ice caps, glaciers, and deep groundwater.1 We are left with a little over 1 percent of fresh water that is usable coming from lakes, rivers, and ground ice. As such, fresh water is considered a limited resource simply because, by comparison, there is so little of it, and when consumption outpaces the natural water cycle, the usable amount decreases, affecting the environment and local populace.

So, what is water conservation?

Water conservation is the process of reducing the amount of excess water used for daily activities domestically, commercially, and industrially through the planning and execution of management practices.

Why is it important?

Maintaining a steady, available supply of usable water affects many aspects of daily activities. Restrooms, laundry facilities, kitchens, and other modern amenities rely on water to function. The wanton and excessive use of water damages the environment. Contaminated water can re-enter the ecosystem and the overuse of a water supply can dry out an entire region.

White & Yellow Sign with Black Lettering that Reads "SEVERE DROUGHT, Please Conserve Water"
Raise drought awareness

Making a plan for conserving water and reducing use can help prevent long-lasting repercussions. The importance of lessening water use in the United States can be inferred from concerns of state water managers who expect water shortages in 40 states by 2023, according to a 2014 Government Accountability Office study.2  Simply and economically speaking, reducing excessive water use means less money that your business has to pay for water. It just also happens to help the environment.

Water Use in Businesses

Publicly supplied water is “water delivered to users for domestic, commercial, and industrial purposes”3 and makes up approximately 12 percent of fresh water usage in the United States.4 According to the EPA, commercial and industrial businesses account for 17 percent of the use of public water supplies. This includes usage in laundry and cleaning facilities, maintenance of medical equipment, kitchen and restroom use, landscaping, and others. Roughly 40 percent of a company’s water use comes from bathrooms and laundry facilities.5 Water use in these sectors is often required, so taking steps towards reducing this utilization would help in decreasing environmental and economical impact.

Steps to Lessen Water Usage

There are a myriad of ways to reduce our water consumption at home, such as:

  • Turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth

    Navy Background with White Icons Reading "Please Help Save Water, Make sure all taps are securely shut"
    Reminder to save water
  • Only washing full loads of laundry
  • Updating bathroom fixtures, laundry, and kitchen fixtures

Similarly, implementing a conservative water usage policy within your business can help reduce your company’s footprint.

Help control water usage by:

  • Monitoring and metering your business’s water usage
  • Updating cooling and restroom fixtures
  • Educating and rewarding employees for adhering to a strict water usage plan

Custom Signs offers a wide selection of conservation signage to remind your employees to strive towards lessening your business’ water consumption. Our brass and plastic signs come either engraved or in full color and can be customized to meet your company’s needs. Take the first steps of your company’s journey towards preserving our water supplies by informing your employees with a custom conservation sign from CustomSigns.com.

References

  1. https://water.usgs.gov/edu/earthhowmuch.html
  2. https://www.gao.gov/assets/670/663343.pdf
  3. https://water.usgs.gov/watuse/wups.html
  4. https://www.epa.gov/watersense/types-facilities
  5. https://www.epa.gov/watersense/best-management-practices


Custom Signs to Honor People, Causes & Celebrations

For more than 45 years, Helen Mitchell has remained a loyal employee of what recently has evolved into TIAA Bank in Jacksonville, Florida. After experiencing several acquisitions over the years, Helen continues to work every day at what now is officially named the Helen Mitchell Mail Center, dedicated in her honor. Many companies choose to honor employees for their years of work, for going above and beyond for a coworker or customer, or for producing consistently stellar work.

"Helen Mitchell Mail Center" Sign at TIAA Bank, Jacksonville, Florida

Getting Creative with Custom Signage

Creating your own custom signs and other unique plaques, plates, and products offers many benefits; the only limit is your creativity! Custom designed signs and donation plates, for example, make wonderful personalized tokens of appreciation for all to see. We offer a variety of custom signs, including custom engraved brass signs, brass wall plaques and name plates.

Here are just a few of our top-selling custom product ideas:

  • Donation plates representing donor names of honorees and amounts (or gift levels, i.e. gold level donors)
  • Donation plates recognizing charitable/philanthropic contributions, including donor name and date
  • Memorial plates to honor the life and memory of a loved one for years to come; for an extra special touch, add a meaningful quote and/or notable dates
  • Custom engraved plates to honor or highlight the special achievements of valued employees, celebrating company milestones, donors, patrons, teammates, graduates, or anyone deserving of extraordinary recognition
  • Choose from names, dates, numbers, logos, and more!


Brass Engraved Horizontal Signs

Our Custom Signs Specifications

  • Our custom engraved brass signs are available in a variety of specialized shapes and sizes to best fit your needs, including horizontal, square, and vertical sign shapes
  • We have engraved plates fully customizable for the number of lines of text you need
  • Your choice of engraving: etched (natural) or oxidized (black) lettering
  • We offer several mounting options, allowing your plates to be easily affixed to awards, benches, tables, or other durable surfaces
  • Optional extended UV coating provides longer life for your signs, especially recommended for outdoor usage

Mounting Options Include, among others:

  • Adhesive tape
  • Magnetic tape
  • Velcro
  • Holes/screws
  • Metal foil
  • Adhesive backing

Our Commitment to You, Our Valued Customer

If you do not see what you are looking for, or if you just need help navigating the options, our Customer Focus Team is here to help you every step of the way, before and after the sale. All our products are produced right here in the USA in our state-of-the-art facilities by our product and engraving experts!

Mr. Croft Goes To Washington

Hello blog world! This is your humble CEO Bryan Croft coming to you live from Jacksonville, Florida!

While most of the time, I find myself running around the building, checking in on people, and in meetings- I have a wife and three kids who also demand my attention. And as any parent can tell you, the summer months mean summer vacation! This year, the family and I packed up and headed north to our nation’s capital in D.C.

Now since I’ve been in the sign industry for over twelve years, naturally anytime I go anywhere my eye is immediately drawn to all the signage.  Sign, sign, everywhere a sign! Okay I’m done, I promise. What I’m really trying to say is, while we may not actively be aware of it, we are constantly surrounded by signs. They may come in different sizes, types, or colors- but in today’s world, it’s impossible to avoid them and they are all designed with the same purpose in mind- to get your attention!

Well for me they work twice as well. My wife hates it when I walk up to a sign and rub it to determine the manufacturing process – is it Vinyl? Maybe its screen printed?  Sublimated? Is it rotary engraved or is it laser engraved (and yes there is a difference). But I can’t help it! And what I’ve discovered about these signs, is that so many of them, our company, CustomSigns.com can make! I know my wife probably finds it annoying, but I can’t help it!

Well anyway, getting back to our trip- the Florida heat followed us to D.C. so naturally the kids wanted to stop in every ice cream stand they laid eyes on. There are a lot of ice cream stands in D.C., therefore naturally we were walking all over the place. So to entertain myself, I started taking pictures of all the signs. Eventually we wandered in to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum- and while the exhibits were great, I was still taking pictures of all the signs. At least until my wife took over the picture taking responsibilities.

But besides the exhibits, what I was most blown away by were all the different types of signs that were there. People always seem to think that a sign is just a sign- what they don’t realize is just how many different variations of signs there are. Here are just some examples of the types of the signs I saw all of which we could easily make here at customsigns.com:

To some, this may just look like stickers, but they’re actually signs. The sign world is constantly evolving with the implementation of new technology and techniques and here at customsigns.com, we try our best to stay on top of it!

Another example of an engraved sign.
Another example of an engraved sign.

Here is another example of an engraved sign, though this time smaller and without Braille. The great thing about engraved signs is that they can be used indoor or outdoor and remain unaffected by the elements.

Elephant at the Smithsonian Museum
Elephant at the Smithsonian Museum

And here we have an elephant, and while we don’t make elephants, this was just a really cool picture of one 😀

People are always asking us, “What kind of signs do you make?”. And while technically we can make just about any kind of sign, approximately 80% of our business comes from people asking us for interior signs. These signs never lose their effectiveness, and as new technologies come along and give us the ability to improve upon their production, we here at CustomSigns.com will be taking full advantage in an attempt to improve your sign shopping experience!