Technology in Classrooms - Skyla

Technology in Classrooms

            Cell phones have recently become an issue in High Schools and Universities across the nation. Christine Johnson said that her “blackberry is a little out dated but the ipad is to complicated to use” (Johnson). So she sticks with her cell phone most of the time.  Cell phones are considered a distraction in the classroom; because students are using them for non educational purposes during class time. Such as taking pictures with friends, sending a text message, sometimes even making or answering a phone call while in class. Despite all the distractions of cell phones, they should be encouraged for educational use in secondary and post secondary classrooms. The reason I would choose to have cell phone use in post secondary and secondary classrooms is because the maturity level is higher and kids are able to understand right from wrong easier. This more mature age of students should know the restrictions on what they can and can not do while in a class room.

            We all know cell phones can cause students to lose focus in classrooms, what if there was a way to eliminate the distraction and focus on the right way to use cell phones during class.   Would you consider it to be a good or bad idea? At my high school, cell phones aren’t banned by any means; teachers use them just as much as students do. Why ban cell phones when “75% of all kids ages 12-17” have them? (Ferriter). Students are going to find a way to use them one way or another banned or not, yes there should be restrictions on when cell phone use is appropriate or not, and consequences if these restrictions are broken. Every school is going to have a different opinion on what they think about cell phones in class rooms, but in my opinion a majority of staff members would agree that cell phones can and do help students.

            There are many ways that studies have shown that cell phones can and should be encouraged in a classroom. If teachers are worried about students saying they are using their cell phone for educational use and not actually doing it William Ferriter stated that there are ways to “break down negative attitudes toward cell phones as learning tools” (Ferriter). Here are a few examples of what he suggested to try: Make cell phones visible in the classroom, and make the students have them on there desk face down. You can use cell phones to replace needed supplies, such as timers, cameras, dictionaries and so fourth. Schools could save money on certain supplies because majorities of the student body already have them at the tip of their fingers all day long and ready to use. “Efforts to eliminate cell phone use are also short sighted, especially in an era when fewer dollars are available for classroom supplies” (Ferriter).

            Schools would see a higher percentage of students applying themselves if they were able to use something they love to be on. Cell phones could help students understand responsibility and how to use technology correctly and it is more then just a screw off tool. Cell phones have spell check, stop watches, cameras, calendars, and internet; everyone uses these tools daily. Not only students use these tools, staff members would use them a lot more to if they were aloud to be used more class room time.  “Technology is the ultimate carrot for students. It's something they want to master. Learning to use it enhances their self-esteem and makes them excited about coming to school”. --Fifth grade teacher.(Effects on Technology)

            Cell phones can help students and teachers in many ways; everyone will always have their own opinion and there may or may not always be a debate on weather or not cell phones are a educational tool.   I bet students would be more excited to learn about new things if they did get to use their cell phone and communicate with their teachers and fellow classmates on certain subjects without it being a big deal. Technology is a great way to get information and find new ways to learn, I think over the next few years the amount of cell phone use in the classroom will rise.

Works Cited

"Effects OfTechnology OnClassrooms AndStudents." Effects of Technology on Classrooms and Students. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2012. <http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/EdReformStudies/EdTech/effectsstudents.html>.

Ferriter, William M. "Membership." , Policy, and Professional Development for Educators. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2012. <http://www.ascd.org/>.

Mangan, Katherine. "The Digital Campus 2011." - The Chronicle of Higher Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2012. <http://chronicle.com/section/The-Digital-Campus/529/>.