Problem & Solution

The Problem

The proliferation of smartphones and mobile devices has become a major problem in classrooms, where students' attention is diverted away from learning by texting, social media, gaming, or other non-educational activities on their phones. The attention span of a student has greatly diminished, with some studies noting that the average high school student can only focus on one task for seven minutes without their mind wondering.

Students have always struggled to focus in a classroom, but phones have made this near impossible. The modern student has less of an attention span and is easily distracted. This makes for classroom management issues and lowered levels of participation. With students practically living on their phones, something must be done to curb their usage.

The Solution

We at ScreenSense believe that teachers and administrators must be empowered to ran a classroom free from problematic distractions. Below are ways that ScreenSense will take back the classroom and set the future generation up for success.

Distraction Mitigation

Phones can be a significant source of distraction for students, impacting their ability to focus on lessons and engage in class discussions. ScreenSense helps mitigate distractions by allowing teachers to set specific time restrictions or block access to certain apps or websites during class hours, encouraging a more conducive learning environment.

Time Management

Excessive phone use can lead to time mismanagement, resulting in less time spent on productive learning activities. With the app's controls, teachers can ensure that students allocate their time efficiently and prioritize their educational tasks.

Classroom Management

Managing phone-related disruptions can be challenging for teachers, taking away valuable instructional time. ScreenSense streamlines classroom management by providing teachers with real-time monitoring capabilities, enabling them to identify and address phone-related issues promptly.

Active Participation

Excessive phone use can deter students from actively participating in class discussions or group activities. With phone distractions reduced, the app promotes greater student engagement and participation in classroom activities.

Responsible Device Usage

ScreenSense encourages responsible technology use by setting boundaries on when and how phones can be used in the classroom. It teaches students to strike a balance between technology and education, promoting healthy habits for the future.

Data Analysis

The app's data analytics feature can provide insights into students' phone usage patterns and behaviors, helping teachers and school administrators understand trends and develop strategies to improve overall classroom dynamics.

The Competition

Offtime (iOS, Android)

This app helps users unplug by blocking distracting apps like Facebook and games and filtering communications. It includes information on how much you actually use your smartphone. You can choose tailored modes like Work, Family, or Me Time to ensure that you have access to the things you need, but aren't distracted by what you don't. Analytics of your phone and app usage can be an important wake-up call, and can help you curb your habits.

Moment (iOS)

Moment tracks your device usage and allows you to set daily limits; the app notifies you if you exceed them. You can even use a setting that "forces" you off your phone by flooding your screen with annoying alerts when you try to extend your screen time. Moment can also be used for families, with the option to track your family's device use from your own phone.

Breakfree (iOS, Android)

BreakFree incorporates the usage tracking features found in many similar apps, but it differs in that it breaks down the information into an easy-to-understand "addiction score." It also shows you how often you unlock your phone screen, and comprehensively logs your usage for the day. This system makes it a great choice for those who like to set goals and challenge themselves. In an ironic twist, it can almost be addictive to try to see how low you can get your addiction score.

Flipd

If you find that you need a more aggressive approach to unplugging, Flipd is the app for you. Flipd allows you to lock your phone for a set period of time, and once you do, there's no going back. Even restarting your phone won't disable the app, so it's impossible for you to cheat! Flipd can even be used to remotely "flip off" one user from another user's device, which is helpful for teams that want to keep one another on point.

Since ScreenSense is designed specifically for educational purposes, it can cover all of the needs of an educator and administrator, whereas the competition is designed primarily for personal use.

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