Limit smartphone distractions while learning with School Mode

Smartphones and school. Can they coexist?

Bringing smartphones into schools has long been a contested issue. Are they harming the learning environment or enhancing it? With many schools choosing to entirely ban smartphones during school hours/on school grounds, the debate continues. In a world where digital literacy is increasingly essential, especially while children are still learning and growing, is banning smartphones really the answer? Or are there smarter ways to limit smartphone distractions without removing them altogether?

With back-to-school season fast approaching, we have implemented School Mode into our latest smartphone HMD Fusion X1 through the Xplora subscription.

Do smartphones affect learning?

Smartphones in the learning environment, whether that be at school or at home while doing homework, can be a major distraction. With large amounts of notifications going off and other urges to want to play games or talk to friends and family, it is no wonder that people have reported struggling to pay attention.

We conducted a study called ‘The Better Phone Project’ where we heard from teachers, parents, experts and teenagers about the world of smartphones. As part of these sessions we spoke to Professor Gloria Mark, the Chancellor’s Professor of Informatics at the University of California. Professor Mark has spent two decades studying the human attention span and how it has been impacted by technology, particularly smartphones. She found that attention spans are decreasing, and since the introduction of smartphones, they have been decreasing at a faster rate. In 2012, attention spans went down to 75 seconds on average and in 2016 Professor Mark found that attention spans averaged 47 seconds, with the median attention span being 40 seconds. In The Better Phone Project Session, Professor Gloria Mark emphasized that it is important to place attention span protection in young people as a priority as it affects them all throughout life, especially in the vital years of schooling.

School Mode: A smart way to stay focused

Recently we released the HMD Fusion X1, a smartphone specifically designed with teens in mind. As part of the Xplora subscription that runs on the phone, the School Mode is a great way to encourage distraction free learning while doing homework or at school. School Mode is a great tool that temporarily disables screen activity and the majority of the essential features. Unlike completely turning off the phone, the teen can still use some of the essential features on the phone – like the calendar or the calculator. You can also rest easy knowing that you can still contact your teen, and they can text or call their parents, no one else in the contact list.

Learn how to set up School Mode on the HMD Fusion X1 here: https://support.xplora.com/hc/en-ca/articles/26494243629714-School-Mode-Mode-École

Setting digital boundaries for learning

Creating clear and consistent digital boundaries can help students stay focused and make the most of their learning time. When setting up School Mode on your HMD Fusion X1 it is important to make it a collaborative effort with your teen; discussing what hours during the day School Mode will be on, what apps they will have access to during the school day and what time at home will be dedicated for homework.

Working together with your teen to develop what their own School Mode looks like will allow them to feel more in control of the situation and their smartphone journey. Make the setup a discussion and help your teen feel included in the process.

The HMD Fusion X1

The HMD Fusion X1 has many different features outside of School Mode. The phone is purpose built as a smartphone for teens and was designed with the help of the research from The Better Phone Project and other HMD conducted global studies. The HMD Fusion X1 has some incredible features to give parents that extra peace of mind including:

• Live Location Tracking – Monitor your teen’s whereabouts in real time, with location updates every 24 seconds.
• Customizable Safe Zones – Set up to 10 designated safe areas and receive alerts when your teen enters or leaves these zones.
• Location History – Access a three-day history of your teen’s movements to retrace their steps when needed (tracked every 5-minutes)
• Contact Approval System – Stay informed about who your teen communicates with by pre-approving their contact list¹.
• App and Screen Time Management – Directly control which apps can be downloaded and set daily screen time limits or usage schedules from your own smartphone in real time.
• DIY Screen Repairs – Replace common parts like screens or batteries at home using official self-repair kits².

Additional features that your teen might love include:

• Stylish Cases to Add Personality – Teens can personalize their phone with cool clip-on outfits like the HMD Fusion Flashy Outfit (ideal for standout photos) and the HMD Fusion Gaming Outfit (designed for gaming on the go)³.
• Next-Level Camera Performance – Capture every moment with a powerful 108MP rear camera, a 50MP front camera, and fun features like gesture selfies and selfie slow-motion.
• Sleek, Repairable Design – A modern design that not only looks great but is built for easy home repairs², because no one wants to be the person walking around with a cracked screen.
• Request Extra Screen Time – If usage limits kick in too early, teens can simply request more time directly from their device.

You can learn more about the HMD Fusion X1 here: https://www.hmd.com/en_int/hmd-fusion-x1