This Associated Press story yesterday once again broached the topic of cellphones in the classroom. The article describes a school in Tampa Bay that encourages students to use cellphones for educational purposes.
For instance, in the article, an English teacher asked students to look up information about author D.H. Lawrence, and within seconds, students began sharing their finds with the rest of the class. Using cellphones saves time, says the article, because classes no longer have to wait to go to computer labs to do quick Internet searches. And those students who do not have cellphones either partner up with those who do or are given alternate devices to use.
However, this part of the article made me wonder whether cellphones can be just as much of a distraction as an educational tool:
Senior Eric LaGattuta, who attended Freedom High in Hillsborough before moving to Wiregrass Ranch, called his new school "ahead of the game."
"They're just following the rest of the world. It's going digital," he said, checking his phone for messages repeatedly during a short interview. "Once you're 16 or 17, there's things you need to know throughout the day. It was so inconvenient when I had to hide it all the time."
There's no question that cellphones are used by students during school for non-educational purposes, but perhaps the bigger question is whether the educational benefits of that technology outweigh the distraction factors.
What do you think? What's your school's policy on cellphones?
As Dean of students in a large urban high school, I would have to say that the potential for abuse is so rampant that it far outweighs the benefits of using cell phones in this way. I would welcome ideas about how one might overcome these challenges. However, my daily experience with these devices suggests that the challenges are very big indeed. Cell phones are a constant security issue. How are other schools dealing with this problem? Can it be overcome to allow for learning to take place? How is that benefit measured or quantified?
Did putting a computer in the classroom cause distractions? Yep.
Did putting textbooks and dictionaries in the classroom cause a distraction? Yep.
Did installing chalkboards cause a distraction? Yep.
What did educators do about all these distractions? They educated themselves about how to use them. Then they educated the students on how to use them for learning.
Are they still a distraction? Sure. Especially in the hands of teachers who haven't taken the time to know how to use them for learning.
Did we ban textbooks, chalkboards, and computers? No, we learned how to use them effectively. If we, as educators, know how to use cell phones, smart phones and netbooks effectively, then we can teach the students and they can increase their learning, just like they did with textbooks, chalkboards and computers.
I echo the concerns raised about security; however, at every business meeting or staff meeting or principals' meeting I have ever attended, I see seasoned professionals using their cell phones to send and read email, to send and receive texts, to search and browse the web. In the meantime, they are taking notes, taking part in discussion, and frequently using their laptops. Multitasking is an important skill, and we need to accept that we will have to teach it. Better "controlled" disruption than "deceitful" disruption!
I remember a rough decade ago that cellphones will be confiscated by instructors when students are caught using them in class. Maybe it's because the purpose of cellphones back then was to message and call people. Nowadays, with the advent of connectivity and social media, cellphones contain lots of functions, most of which connect to the Internet and is perhaps the main reasons why schools now condone the use of cellphones in class. Reasonable enough, since the Web has become a place to exchange information and data. The web also happens to encourage education such as interior design online school, business workshops on the Internet, and others. However, the main purpose of a cellphone - to call and message - should remain as a reason to at least limit the use of such.
This year we relaxed our cell phone policy. I am an assistant principal at a public high school. We now allow students to use their cell phone during the passing time between classes and during their lunch period in the cafeteria. Our goal is to gradually prepare the students and the staff to use cell phones as part of the learning environment.