Anderlecht (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): Sophie Caironi, an art academy teacher, believes smartphones hinder creativity. To combat this, students must deposit their phones during class to enhance focus and social interaction.
Sophie Caironi, who teaches at an art academy, has noticed something worrying about her students. She believes that using smartphones and tablets is hurting their creativity. Caironi says these devices make students less excited and motivated about their art. Caironi says that students are more interested in finishing their assignments quickly so they can get back to their screens, rather than really caring about the work. This change makes them engage less deeply with their creative projects. As a result, they are not putting in as much effort, which leads to less creativity and involvement in their art.
How will Anderlecht academy tackle smartphone distractions?
Sophie Caironi has noticed that students often say they are using their phones to look for images or inspiration for their art. But in reality, they often just go on social media like TikTok or play games, which takes their focus away from their creative work. To address this issue and minimize distractions, Caironi and her team plan to implement a new policy. They will ask students to deposit their phones in a designated box upon entering the classroom. The students will be able to retrieve their phones only after the class has concluded. This measure aims to ensure that students remain focused on their art projects and are less tempted to indulge in digital distractions during their creative time.
The art academy is taking a strong stance against the influence of the online world in classrooms. Sophie Caironi explains that the academy wants to eliminate digital distractions because they believe these distractions are harmful to creativity and social interactions. She points out that smartphones and social media reduce face-to-face conversations among students, making them less likely to engage and share ideas. To address this, the academy has implemented a new policy requiring students to place their phones in a box during class, aiming to promote more direct social engagement.
Caironi thinks younger students will get used to the new phone rule quickly because they are used to having rules. But she believes older students might find it harder since they are more used to using their phones every day. Even so, the academy is determined to keep this rule to help improve creativity and socializing among students.
