Teach42

I agree with you. Granted, not every student will have one - when I was growing up, not everyone could have a programable calculator either, or earlier than that any calculator… to say nothing of computers.

A quick solution - sharing… allow students to work in groups and you’ll solve the access issue. Show that there are responsible uses, you’ll cut down on rebellious uses.

Another argument is that our kids are using these devices outside the school… usually without any guidance or boundaries. Unless their parents are doing an outstanding job of teaching responsibility with devices, kids aren’t hearing this. I feel the same way about every website we block, too. Teach them to use the tools they have responsibly and ethically… and then think what they could do!

I get extremely fired up about this topic as well, only I’m on the other side of the fence. I have no problem allowing students to carry phones in school just like teachers do, but I think that the same rules should apply. As a teacher, are you allowed to use your phone in the middle of a lecture? Do you stop class to answer your Grandma’s call? Neither should students. Yeah, I know some teachers do (my former teaching partner to name one), but that doesn’t make it right.
I see the list that you put up for uses, but I’m sorry, who’s gonna pay for it? Sharing, sure, but that’s unrealistic. What happens if there aren’t enough to share? What are other kids going to do? Who pays for it when Johnny drops Billy’s phone? Who pays for the minutes used during the day for web access or text messaging? If the school says you have to have it for a certain class, can you really make parents pay? Is your school district going to by phones for students? Who pays for the added on features? You want teachers to have your kids’ cell phone numbers? Do you want your students to have your cell phone number? Since when do you see cell phone use as an additional job skill?
There are so many pieces of this issue that I disagree with and I am continually amazed that people see this as an educational opportunity. I understand that laptops are more expensive, but they are more versatile and, I feel, a better use of a continually chunked up school day.
In closing, please make sure this isn’t taken as a slam on you. It’s the theory of cell phones in schools. I love your work and will continue to read (just signed up to follow you on Twitter), but like you mentioned, this issue gets me more fired up than most. Have a wonderful day:)

@Josh
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. I’ll be the first to admit that I have very strong opinions, and I love to hear other opinions that are equally strong and contrary to mine. Let me try to address some of your comments.

> Do you stop class to answer your Grandma’s call? Neither should students.
This is a no brainer. You should model appropriate cell phone usage for the students. No, social calls should not be taken during class. I don’t think you’d get an argument from anyone on that one.

> I see the list that you put up for uses, but I’m sorry, who’s gonna pay for it?
Who’s paying for it right now? What % of your students have cell phones? Who pays the bills? Who buys the calculator your students use? Who buys their pencils and markers? Dont’ make the issue more complicated than it needs to be. If they HAVE a phone and they HAVE a contract, then I’m just saying that you should make use of it! Would you tell a student that has a graphing calculator “You can use it to add and subtract, but you can’t use it to graph because Johnny over there doesn’t have one.” Or tell them, “You can only use these 16 colors from your box of 64 crayons because not all students have the other colors.” Keep it simple. If they have it, leverage it.

> What happens if there aren’t enough to share?
Then they don’t use it.
> What are other kids going to do?
Learn the things that you’re teaching. And when they need to look up a word, use a dictionary or encyclopedia.
>Who pays for it when Johnny drops Billy’s phone?
That’s between Johnny and Billy’s parents. Who pays for it when Johnny drops Billy’s calculator?
> Who pays for the minutes used during the day for web access or text messaging?
Who pays for them now? No change.
> If the school says you have to have it for a certain class, can you really make parents pay?
Whoever said anything about requiring students to have it for a certain class? I’m not saying that you should make it required. I’m saying that we should stop banning it and leverage it whenever possible.

>Is your school district going to by phones for students?
No

> Who pays for the added on features?
What added on features? Text messaging and internet? I’d be blown away if students’ phones didn’t have them. But as I’ve said a few times now, who’s paying for them now? No change.

> You want teachers to have your kids’ cell phone numbers?
No strong feelings either way.

> Do you want your students to have your cell phone number?
If I’m going to model appropriate use in the classroom, yes.

> Since when do you see cell phone use as an additional job skill?
Since my cell phone became more powerful than the computers I was using in college. Since the mobile internet became so powerful. Since I use mine for work nearly every single day.

> In closing, please make sure this isn’t taken as a slam on you. It’s the theory of cell phones in schools.
I would never take a well written response to be personal! I appreciate your sharing your opinion here.

Just to recap though, I don’t think they should be required. I also don’t think they should be banned. If a student has an asset, let them use it. If it can help them work more efficiently, why prevent that? Equity will always be an issue, but that’s no reason to say that the people who have the tools can’t use them. If a few students didn’t have pencils, would you take them away from everyone else? Should I stop using my laptop because other Online Community Managers in other companies may not have one? Students need to be taught to leverage every advantage that they have access to.

You’ve mentioned many obstacles, but these are not roadblocks. I’d love to see you look at each of these issues and say to yourself, “Recognizing that this is a potential issue, how can we work around it?” The obstacles are much smaller than one might think.

Thanks again for the comment!

You have some good points. Not good enough to change my mind :), but good none the less. It’s a great discussion for districts to have. Thanks for your response.

11. Ask for help.

[…] DEFECITO.COM: Explorando la Ciudad de México wrote an interesting post today on Comment on Mobile phones in the classroom…. again by SteveHere’s a quick excerptAnd when they need to look up a word, use a dictionary or encyclopedia. >Who pays for it when Johnny drops Billy’s phone? […]

Well after I read Dav’s post I had the same reaction and posted his letter and my comments on my blog, then I read your post. Not to say that I am in the same league as you two, but we do think a lot alike.

[…] Steve Demby  suggests 10 ways to use a cellphone in class — and that’s just what he could come up with off the top of his head.  But I’m determined that we can come up with 92 more. There are both students and professors who read this blog, so what can you think of (that’s constructive and serves some educational purpose) that you can do with a cellphone in a classroom? […]

[…] voice my opinions about cell-phones in classrooms; instead here’s a post from Steve Dembo on Teach42.  Note that the ten good ideas are useful links as well.  Of particular local interest […]

[…] If you check out the list on Steve’s blog, he will point you to examples for most of his list. […]

[…] Many students receive online class updates via programs like Twitter. Here are a few other ways the Teach 42 blog suggests phones can be used: “1) Check the spelling/definition of a word 2) Research a […]

Managing the ever changing and increasingly complex relationships between semesters, classes, assignments, fellow students, careers, internships and life. Information such as stated above is available to students using systems that track and these occurences that are available on line and on their mobile device.

[…] the value of introducing leisure-associated technologies into the classroom, education blogger Steve Dembo offers a short list of ways cellphones can be used to enhance the learning process. Read the list […]

Steve,
Great post and great response, point by point, to Josh’s concerns.
I’ve blogged about the use of jott.com as a learning tool, which requires a cell phone. You may be interested in this:
http://tinyurl.com/54u3mx

I’m so sick of adults hating technology. Seriously, it’s the future people. Embrace it, love it. It’s not a big deal. It’s a cell phone. Get over it, and understand that even if they are banned in school, kids will use them.

Having just graduated from high school, I figured I’d have something to comment on the situation. I don’t think the problem is the phones themselves, it’s the people using them. Obviously, this is a user thing. It’s stupid to think that just because somebody levys a consequence against having an item in school, that it would stop them. If somebody is going to bring something to school, and use it at their will, then it’s not something that can be stopped. There is a pointless amount of energy wasted on enforcing the most arbitrary rules. And it’s the same thing with iPods and the like. I have long enough hair that I could very well snake a headphone up my shirt and hide it beyond sight. If a school would allow them at say, lunch/recess, then I’m sure the problems in class would drop drastically. However, they’re so dead set on controlling EVERYTHING within their domain, that they end up beating a dead horse about it. Kids today thrive on technology, and are in constant need of contact with each other. In conclusion, it’s just bothersome that the school system decides to be such nazis (Pardon the expression.) about the technology that is helping our future progress. I know I wouldn’t be of much use without a cell, iPod, and laptop. Haha.

- Kain.

[…] Many students receive online class updates via programs like Twitter. Here are a few other ways the Teach 42 blog suggests phones can be used: “1) Check the spelling/definition of a word 2) Research a […]

[…] Many students receive online class updates via programs like Twitter. Here are a few other ways the Teach 42 blog suggests phones can be used: “1) Check the spelling/definition of a word 2) Research a […]

Hi, this is an interesting post with some great links for mobile devices.

I would be tempted to focus on - what it is you’re trying to do where access away from a desktop, that may fit into someone’s hand - is useful i.e.
a)someone is familiar with so not necessarily a new learning curve in terms of technology to climb
b)that has voice & text capability, can help someone learn by giving them an additional choice about how and where to access their learning.

Distraction is more around students response to what they are doing, so along your lines of thought, I guess windows are a distraction too, because students can stare out of them

[…] a great perspective on new uses for cell phones in the classroom with just a few simple, everyday ideas that teachers could […]

[…] Many students receive online class updates via programs like Twitter. Here are a few other ways the Teach 42 blog suggests phones can be used: “1) Check the spelling/definition of a word 2) Research a […]