Values in Balance: The Phone Policy Dialogue | Lesson Plan
Support Materials
Articles for reference (not needed for the lesson plan)
- Screenagers Bites – The Value of Phones Kept Away For the Day | Darice Johnson (video)
- The Impact of Cellphone Bans in Schools on Student Outcomes
- Social Media Commentary example 1
- Social Media Commentary example 2
- Distraction Free Schools: New York Schools Phone Ban Policy
- Pew Research Center: How Students View Cell Phone Bans
- NYC Schools Chancellor Explains Urgency of New Phone Policy
- Cell Phone Ban Passes PA Senate
About
Students in grades 9-12 will learn about evaluating information from different sources. Students will practice critical thinking, collaborative discussion, and ethical reasoning by examining multiple perspectives on a real-world school policy dilemma. Students will learn about how to weigh evidence from research, policy, surveys, and personal narratives to inform a stance on a complex issue.
Credits: Ziquan Zhan, University of Pittsburgh, Masters Student Applied Developmental Psychology
Standards
Pennsylvania Career Readiness Standards:
- Standard 13.1 (Career Awareness and Preparation): Students engage in analyzing information from diverse sources and making evidence-based inferences to inform a stance.
- Standard 13.2 (Career Acquisition): Students practice the professional skills of researching, evaluating information credibility, and synthesizing findings—key to any career acquisition process.
- Standard 13.3 (Career Retention and Advancement): The core of the activity involves essential teamwork, consensus-building, negotiation, and conflict resolution strategies vital for career retention and advancement.
C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards:
- D2.Civ.10.9-12: Analyze the impact and the appropriate roles of personal interests and perspectives on the application of civic virtues, democratic principles, constitutional rights, and human rights. (Considering stakeholder views in policy debate)
- D2.His.9.9-12: Analyze the relationship between historical sources and the interpretations to draw conclusions about how to evaluate and use sources. (Evaluating the credibility and relevance of different source types)
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