Teachers should use smartphones to educate and guide learners on concepts such as mental health and technology through online group discussions instead of banning them because this is just the digital era, and the best we can give to teenagers who use smartphones is the digital awareness for the best learning outcomes. At its core, the digital generation can be described as that generation which thrives on technological innovation, creation, use, through tablets and smartphone. Hence, for most high-schoolers, it is fortunate that they are thriving in an era where smartphone technology is coming wrapped with technologies that promote discussion groups and social platforms to address surrounding issues. For instance,The typical android smartphone has a WhatsApp feature that allows members to form groups of up to 256 members. Such groups also become some of the discussion forums that teachers can engage their students in talking about their experiences with a smartphone as a learning tool. Of crucial importance, teachers and professional ICT psychologists alike can promote healthy discussions on how they use smartphones and how to own the responsibility of owning a smartphone.
Conclusion
As is known, the number of adolescents using smartphones and other technology-related resources have surged in recent years. What this means for teachers is that they should include technology use, such as a smartphone in the classroom. One way to do this is to use reminder apps to help students complete tasks and check due assignments since homework has proved to be a pivotal element of learning outcomes. Two, learner motivation is a crucial element in the classroom. If teachers understand that most students are motivated to learn because of smartphone inclusion in the school, they will not ban it. Lastly, this is the digital age, and the best way to prevent the uncertain and unforeseen elements of smartphones or technology used in the classroom is to provide learners with mental health awareness programs that can help them cope with the overwhelming effects of smartphone use. Teachers can use smartphone WhatsApp and social media features to create mental awareness discussion groups. Even as many more studies continue to discover the negative impact and correlation between smartphone use and mental health, it is essential to look on the bright side because most adolescents are doing well with smartphones, and even then, they would do better with them in the classroom. .