The Benefits of Switching off Smartphones on a Khiri Campus Program | Khiri Campus

Author : Khiri Campus | Tag : For Teachers, For Students, For Faculty

In today’s fast-paced world, our smartphones, tablets, and other devices play a huge part of our lives. We are constantly online, looking up information, being entertained, and most importantly, connecting and interacting with our friends. Being connected to the Web is now so entrenched in our daily activities that in many ways it is hindering our normal interactions with people and the world around us.

While there are many benefits to living in a connected world, however, at Khiri Campus, we believe that limiting the amount of time spent online is also important, especially where young people and education are concerned. On our university and high school student travel programs abroad we therefore encourage students to limit their use of smartphones and other technologies, so that they can really focus on their task at hand and benefit from the every-day interactions they have with fellow team members and the people in the local communities.

Here are a few reasons why switching off technology and abstaining from social media can really boost a student’s confidence and help them to become more observant, compassionate, and intuitive.

Living in Reality

The minute we pick up our phones, we are missing out on the world around us. All sorts of wonderful and amazing things happen every day and all one has to do is pay attention. This is especially true when traveling, or when students are taking part in one of Khiri Campus’s educational travel programs and study abroad trips, where they will be immersed in a completely different culture, with new customs and traditions. At times like these, it’s important to be alert and observant.

Don’t Succumb to Nomophobia!

‘Nomophobia’ can be defined as “a fear of being without access to a working cell phone,” a phenomenon that is becoming more and more common among young people. Turning off one’s phone can be difficult for some students, so the best place to start is simply getting them to note how much time they actually spend using their phones in one day. 

In preparation for an educational travel program or study abroad trip, your students can set goals for their phone use, and there are even apps out there that can help them monitor and limit their usage. Another option is for students to try and set a goal with a friend or family member and make it into a competition! 

This is great practice in preparing for a student travel program. When your students limit their phone usage, they will suddenly find they have more time to prepare for their trip and are more likely to be inspired, which in turn could lead to new ideas with real educational benefits.

Happy and Less Anxious 

The rise of smartphones has also been linked to increased anxiety, especially in situations – like for example, in a classroom – where students can’t check their phones every minute. Research has been conducted in Britain that suggests college students with high mobile phone use tend to have lower GPA scores, higher anxiety, and lower satisfaction with life or happiness, compared to students who used their phones less. 

For more information on Khiri Campus’s university and high school travel programs, feel free to get in touch with us here.