Agenda Item
b. Enhancing Student Engagement: Implementing Yondr Cellphone Pouches in Schools
Summary: Presented by: Dr. Darnell T. Logan, Director of Student Relations, Division of Wrap Around Support
Contact: Dr. Kishia Towns, Chief of Wrap Around Services, Division of Wrap Around Services, 678.676.1918
Dr. Darnell T. Logan, Director, Student Relations, Division of Wrap Around Services, 678.676.1811
Enhancing Student Engagement:
Implementing Yondr Cellphone Pouches
in Schools
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Board Agenda Item
Division of Wrap Around Services
July 8, 2024
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Introduction
• Understanding the negative impact of cellphone usage on
children during school hours.
• Introducing Yondr as a solution to manage cellphone usage and
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enhance the learning environment.
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The Challenge
In today's digital age, managing smartphones usage in the educational
setting has created a significant to student engagement and academic
performance.
The constant temptation to check notifications, text messages, and social
media platforms disrupts learning environments and impedes student
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concentration.
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Distractions From Learning
• Reduced Attention: Research shows that students who use their
phones during class have lower levels of attention and engagement
(source: Journal of Educational Psychology, 2018).
• Lower Academic Performance: A study found a significant correlation
between in-class cellphone use and lower academic performance
(source: Computers in Human Behavior, 2015).
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• Interruptions: Notifications and messages cause frequent interruptions,
disrupting the flow of learning (source: Journal of Experimental
Psychology, 2014).
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Impact on Social Skills
• Limited Face-to-Face Interaction: Excessive cellphone use reduces opportunities for
direct communication, impairing social skill development (source: Developmental
Psychology, 2017).
• Weaker Social Bonds: Over-reliance on digital communication can weaken
relationships with peers (source: Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 2016).
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• Impaired Social Development: Lack of direct interaction hinders the development
of essential social skills (source: American Journal of Public Health, 2018).
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The Surgeon General Warns That Social Media
May Harm Children and Adolescents
The report by Dr. Vivek Murthy cited a “profound risk of
harm” to adolescent mental health and urged families to set
limits and governments to set tougher standards for use.
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New York Times, May 23, 2023
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Baseline Data Collection Information
• 18 classrooms across 9 schools (Middle & High Schools)
• 306 students
• Tally Notifications (i.e., text messages, emails, gaming, social media, and
phone calls)
• 30-minute data collection (during the regular classroom routine)
Results: Combined Notifications: 4097
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• Student Average - 13 notifications per 30 minutes
• Class Average over 227 notifications per 30 minutes
• Middle School Notification High: 976 (1 class for 30 minutes)
• High School Notification High: 883 (1 class for 30 Minutes)
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Our Student Voices
• It distracts me from doing my work
• It gets me in trouble with the teacher
• I like to stay on the phone and not interact with other people
• It helps me research information
• It gives me something to do when I finish my work
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Mental Health Concerns
• Increased Anxiety: Constant connectivity and social media exposure can heighten
anxiety and stress levels (source: Clinical Psychological Science, 2019).
• Cyberbullying: Cellphones can facilitate cyberbullying, which significantly impacts
emotional and psychological well-being (source: Journal of Adolescent Health,
2015). 9
• Sleep Disruption: Late-night phone use negatively affects sleep patterns, leading
to fatigue and reduced academic performance (source: Sleep Medicine, 2016).
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Academic Integrity
• Cheating: Easy access to information on cellphones can tempt students to cheat
during exams and assignments (source: Ethics & Behavior, 2018).
• Fairness: Ensuring academic integrity is crucial for a fair and just educational
environment (source: Educational Research Review, 2019).
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Introducing Yondr
Yondr offers a solution by providing patented cellphone
pouches designed to create phone-free spaces.
These pouches are easy to use, secure, and ensure that
students retain possession of their devices while
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restricting access during specified times.
How Yondr Works
Phone Placement: Students place their phones in the Yondr
pouch at the beginning of the school day.
Locking: The pouch is locked, and students keep the pouch
with them.
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Unlocking: At designated times or at the end of the school
day, pouches are unlocked using the base station.
Benefits in Schools
Promotes Classroom Focus: Eliminates distractions and fosters a conducive
learning environment.
Improves Academic Performance: Reduces interruptions, leading to enhanced
comprehension and retention of course material.
Encourages Social Interaction: Facilitates face-to-face communication and
collaboration among students.
Enhances Safety: Minimizes the risk of cyberbullying, inappropriate content
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exposure, and classroom disruptions.
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Implementation Strategies
Virtual and in-person professional development will be provided to school personnel.
A cellphone awareness media campaign will be implemented to reach all stakeholders
impacted by this initiative.
Schools will have adequate Yondr magnet bases in each school to ensure students have an
opportunity to immediately unlock phones, if an emergency should arise.
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Exceptions are unavailable made for students who may have medical issues, disabilities, or
accommodations that may require the use of cellphones during the instructional day.
Three schools with cellphone lockers will be available in each room and the teacher will
have access to each phone during the class period.
Key Insights
Cellphone and other designated electronic communication device usage including smart
watches has been prohibited during the school day (instructional time) for many years and
is included in the 23-24 Code of Student Conduct.
Rule #2 Electronic communication devices, including cellular phones, smart phones,
tablets, walkie-talkies and similar devices.
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Violations range from a Conference to Suspension
The Yondr pouches will assist school personnel utilizing supportive measures to enforce the
rule while limiting classroom distractions and increasing student engagement.
Yondr Pilot Schools
Middle Schools High Schools
Salem MS Martin Luther King, Jr., HS
Henderson MS Lakeside HS
Sequoyah MS Cross Keys HS
Lithonia MS Lithonia HS
Tucker MS Tucker HS
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Cellphone Locker Pilot Schools
Miller Grove MS
Druid Hills MS
Chapel Hill MS
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