Cell Phones in the Classroom

You know the old saying if you can't beat ‘em join ‘em. That's what comes to my mind when I think about using cell phones in the classroom. Many students have cell phones and are prohibited from using them in school. I know some parents that regularly text their kids during school. Students are certainly texting each other. The newer phones have many applications and web access that could be a benefit to students. Could cell phones be a resource that is not being used to its potential in the classroom.

It is understandable that educators and administrators are concerned about allowing cell phones in classrooms. “Educators note that restrictive cell phone policies — even blanket bans — are born of worrisome reports or direct knowledge that some students have used cell phones to cheat, disrupt classroom activities, bully, communicate with adults they shouldn't be talking to, and take unauthorized or inappropriate images of teachers or students for uploading to the Web.” (2009. Trotter. p.1) We must still deal with these important issues but we should also consider the benefits of using cell phones in the classroom. Cell phones can be used to create audio podcasts, taking notes, texting opinions to poll programs, taking pictures on field trips.(2009 Trottier p.1) Cell phones can be a way to give each student a connection to technology; especially in schools where there are not enough computers for the students. It is much less expensive to provide each student with a cell phone with internet capability than to provide each student with a computer.


“Students, for example, can do first-person interviews with a cell phone, with audio or video that can be posted to school wikis, collaborative Web sites, to enhance their reports and projects. They can receive class assignments and start their research using Web features on their phones. And they can record themselves practicing musical instruments, or a foreign language, and send the recordings to their teachers.”(2008. Manzo. p.10) I think that the benefits are beginning to outweigh the problems with cellphones in classrooms. there would definitely have to be rules of use for cell phones but I don't think educators should reconsider banning cell phones in the classroom.


Citations:
Manzo, K. (2008). The Cellphone: Turning It Into a Teaching Tool. Education Week, 28(3), 10-
11. http://search.ebscohost.com
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Trotter, A. (2009). Students Turn Their Cellphones On for Classroom Lessons. Education Week,
28(16), 10-11. http://search.ebscohost.com
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