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Navigating Digital Distractions: Proactive strategies for managing cell phone policies in schools

Past Webinar | May 20, 2025

As schools increasingly adopt cell phone bans to reduce distractions, educators face a new challenge: ensuring students are still equipped to navigate today’s tech-fueled world in high-character ways. While removing phones from the classroom can boost focus, it doesn’t address the underlying need for students to develop healthy habits around technology use.
 
Social media, A.I., and screen time continue to play a significant role in students’ lives, whether phones are present or not. In this webinar, The Social Institute explores how educators can maintain the benefits of phone restrictions while empowering students with modern life skills. Educators will discover how to promote meaningful student engagement, foster social skills, and prepare students to thrive online and offline.
 
Key Takeaways:
  • Methods for guiding students to strike a balance with technology, even in phone-free classrooms.
  • Practical approaches for guiding students through the challenges of social media and tech use.
  • Strategies for fostering positive student-teacher relationships and a supportive school culture that empowers students to make healthy choices in a tech-driven world.

Featured Presenter

Chelsea LopezChelsea Lopez is a passionate and dedicated leader at The Social Institute, where she serves as the Director of Educator Advancement. In this role, Chelsea is responsible for creating and delivering innovative professional development for educators, focusing on social media and technology. She works in developing comprehensive teacher resources, asynchronous and synchronous courses, educational materials, and webinars. Before joining The Social Institute, Chelsea spent time as an educator, having taught K-5th Special Education and 6th-8th Special Education. In her most recent teaching role, Chelsea served as the 6th-8th grade Intervention Coordinator, where she supported students and teachers in meeting academic and behavioral goals. Her diverse teaching experiences provide her with a deep understanding of the challenges educators face and the strategies needed to support student success.