Students Using Cellphones in Class

Some students are getting together to figure out ways to use cellphones in classrooms. We are also examining other devices like smartphones, the iPod Touch, and student-owned laptops and netbooks. Amazingly, the students even more concerned about kids using these devices to cheat or misbehave than I am as the teacher. I think it is because they value this possibility so much that they want to make sure no one spoils their opportunity. I think they will re-write our school's policy on cell phones.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• cell phone
• iPod Touch
• wireless
• education

[friendlynicholas]

Find it funny you're encouraging cell phone use in kids. Recently there was a study called interphone that showed kids are particulary vulnerable to the radiation emitted by cellphones.

[mrjagill]

@friendlynicholas yep - good point. Also re-thinking my thoughts on cell phones in classroom. My whole district is. We have some instances where students are able to use it in a class under the direction of a teacher in order to use the calendar to keep organized. But, we have also had a number of students this year use their cell phones when unsupervised (on the way to school, after school) to send harmful text messages. Wondering if students this age are mentally devel't enough to use them

[peacetake123]

Woah. That is not good idea at all. Using the iPod touch to view relevant school videos? Come'on, do you really think they'll watch ONLY educational videos and not resist others? How can you be sure that every student is doing work and not texing or playing games? You did mention that not every kid has a phone or ipod touch, how do you think they'll feel when everyone else is using them; a bit left out ? School boards banned the use of cell phones for a reason: to keep students on task.

[mrjagill]

I don't have all the answers to your criticisms. Your comments echo the fears of many of my colleagues. With regards to keeping students on task, I can only ask how many students are on task in conventional classrooms today? A teacher got kids with wireless devices on our school network because they couldn't get enough computer lab time at our school for research. 26 other classes want lab time too. Further if we don't teach good use of cell phones, students will only learn from peers.

[ismailcooltube]

The games on iPod touch are really cool. Some students also also spend time on these during their classes

[mrjagill]

You're right. I have an iPod touch, but I only have some of the free games which are somewhat interesting. Regardless, this is a good point, some students might want to play games on their iPod touch instead of doing school work. I want to create a policy where kids can learn acceptable and unacceptable uses of technology they bring to the classroom. So far, most kids are really excited at the prospect, and have said they wouldn't risk losing this opportunity by mis-using it.

[steveramirez15]

I AGREEEEE WITH HIM!!!!! CELL PHONES SHOULD BE ALLOWED IN CLASS

[dobber141]

But what I don't understand is if they don't want cellphones in school why will iPod be accepted? They do most of the stuff a cellphone can? but I agree we should be able to use our cellphones in classrooms.