Challenge Library by Ken Benidick Lapitan

What is the problem?

kenkenlapitan77 — 2025-10-14 07:23:16 UTC

Students today are becoming less focused on their studies due to excessive use of social media, which also makes it difficult for teachers to maintain effective teaching and classroom engagement. According to a systematic literature review conducted between 2014 and 2024, excessive social media use can disrupt students’ concentration and negatively affect their academic performance. This supports the present study’s concern that uncontrolled social media exposure contributes to declining student focus and classroom participation.

What are the givens?

kenkenlapitan77 — 2025-10-14 07:27:29 UTC

A study conducted in Borongan City revealed that social media significantly influences students’ communication and social skills but moderately affects their time management. Excessive use of platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube was found to reduce students’ focus during class, making it challenging for teachers to maintain active engagement and effective teaching (Social Media Influence on the Academic Performance of Senior High School Students in Borongan City - International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 2025).

Similarly, a study conducted in 2021–2022 found that while technology supports learning, it also serves as a major source of distraction that reduces students’ focus and class performance. Students admitted that digital distractions negatively affect their attention, making it harder for teachers to maintain effective classroom engagement (Pérez-Juárez et al., 2023).

In support of these findings, a study at Walter Sisulu University revealed that while social media can aid learning, it mainly serves as a distraction that lowers students’ focus and performance. Most students spend over four hours daily on social media, which negatively affects their assignments and classroom engagement (Lukose & Agbeyangi, 2025b).

What are the current solutions?

kenkenlapitan77 — 2025-10-14 07:27:48 UTC

Australian schools have implemented phone bans to reduce distractions from mobile devices. At Australian Christian College in Melbourne, phones are kept in bags or lockers during the school day, ensuring students remain fully attentive in class. Two years after these bans were implemented across several Australian states, teachers and parents reported improved student focus and classroom engagement (Ayoub, 2025b).

Complementing school-level measures, students can adopt digital minimalism, intentionally managing technology use by eliminating non-essential apps and distractions. This approach improves focus, memory, sleep quality, and overall well-being, while fostering healthier real-life connections, leading to better concentration and academic performance (Education, 2025).

Why should we solve them?

kenkenlapitan77 — 2025-10-14 10:02:39 UTC

Addressing digital distractions is crucial to ensure students can maintain focus and fully engage in learning activities. Studies show that distractions from mobile devices and excessive social media use reduce attention, classroom participation, and overall academic performance. Implementing strategies such as structured phone policies and promoting responsible technology use has been shown to improve student focus, engagement, and well-being (Ayoub, 2025b; Education, 2025). By minimizing distractions, teachers can deliver lessons more effectively, and students can achieve better academic outcomes, making learning more meaningful for everyone.

Reflection in Padlet

kenkenlapitan77 — 2025-10-14 10:02:43 UTC

At first, I found it quite challenging to use Padlet since I was not yet familiar with its features and settings. I experienced confusion, especially when my post would not publish, only to discover later that it was due to the “required” option being turned on. This caused me some stress and frustration as I tried to figure out what went wrong. Fortunately, my friends Raven and Jerwin guided me patiently and helped me understand how to use the platform properly.

As I continued to explore Padlet, I realized that it is actually an easy and enjoyable tool once you become familiar with it. It allows users to express their ideas creatively and collaborate effectively with others. Despite my initial struggles, the experience taught me valuable lessons about patience, problem-solving, and seeking help when needed. Overall, using Padlet was a meaningful experience that improved my digital skills and reminded me that learning new things can be both challenging and rewarding.