Large Indian trial finds phone-free classrooms improve student grades
A randomized trial involving more than 16,000 students in Odisha, India, shows that requiring students to store mobile phones during lessons raises their academic performance.
Students stored devices at start of class
Researchers randomly assigned groups of students to either keep their phones or place them in a box before each lesson. The study monitored grades, attendance, and student experiences throughout an entire semester across ten higher education institutions. Results published in Science indicate that the phone-free condition led to better learning outcomes compared to normal conditions.
Participants supported restrictions after experiencing them
The research team also surveyed students about their views on mobile phone usage in the classroom. Those who experienced teaching without access to devices became more supportive of such restrictions later on. This shift in opinion occurred alongside the measurable improvement in academic results for the restricted groups.
Study addresses limited previous experimental evidence
Andreas Bjerre-Nielsen from the University of Copenhagen noted that extensive debate existed but experimental proof was scarce. The trial provides the first large-scale demonstration that removing phones actually makes a difference to learning. These findings help resolve long-standing questions about mobile phone interference in higher education settings.
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