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Mobile phones in the classroom…. again
Pogue shared a letter that’s got me all riled up again…
I’m a high school teacher. Like all high schools, we are dealing with a problem that sucks time, energy, and resources like a black hole: cellphones. We waged a similar battle a few years back with iPods, and although stakes seem much higher now, the fundamental argument is the same. The argument is:
1] cellphones are a distraction
2] cellphones present a potential liability in terms of cheating on tests
3] cellphones are a distraction
…
So I’m asking for some insight on how to sell this to an administration that is overwhelmed with a hundred more important things, and to a school board that feels that two $500 computers are twice as good as one $1,000 machine. What’s the answer?
I’m so fed up with these arguments. Paper clips are a distraction. Spiral notebooks are a distraction. And as we’ve seen recently, students certainly do NOT need a cell phone to cheat on an exam.
So off the top of my head, I decided to rattle off a few things that cell phones could be good for.
Such as…
1) Check the spelling/definition of a word
2) Research a topic
3) Look up reference images
4) Pull up maps (even with satellite imagery)
5) Document a science lab with built in digital camera/video
6) Fact check on the fly
7) Mail questions to the teacher that they might be embarrassed to ask
Classroom response system
9) Take quizzes
10) Record and/or listen to podcasts
And that’s off the top of my head, spur of the moment. Give me some time and I’m sure we can come up with a much more comprehensive list.
So let’s stop exerting so much energy trying to ‘bust’ students for carrying the same devices the rest of us carry. Rather, let’s start focusing on how we can use them to improve education in the classroom. You know, prepare them for the world and such…
- Cell phones in the classroom
- Researching a digital camera? Use Flickr!
- What can you do with a cell phone in the classroom?
- Mobiles to Help Learning? High School in UK says OK
- iPods in the Classroom, and the travesty in Chicago
Raj
5/6/2008
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.
Michelle
5/6/2008
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!
Josh
5/6/2008
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:)
Steve
5/6/2008
@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!
Josh
5/6/2008
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.
wmchamberlain
5/6/2008
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? [...]
Lee
5/6/2008
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 [...]
Ed Schlesinger - studentforce
5/8/2008
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 [...]
Karen Janowski
5/8/2008
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
Preston
5/8/2008
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.
Kain
5/8/2008
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 [...]
Nicola
5/9/2008
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 [...]
Tim Childers
5/22/2008
I am one of those teachers sitting strategically on the fence. As a middle school teacher, I see more of the harm to cell phone use in school than I would if I was an elementary teacher.
Recently, we had a text message gun threat that went viral through student cell phones. When we did a lock down to do a search, kids were texting and calling parents telling them shots had been fired, and we had found several guns on campus today. Parents were checking kids out left and right.
If parents are going to purchase cell phones for their kids, they need to take the time to teach them how to use them responsibly. Hmmm, I think I’ve heard that before about Internet use.
Maybe proper use of cell phones within the classroom could help solve the issue. Like most things, when kids are allowed to do something it suddenly loses its appeal!
Could it be??? | Lead by Example
5/24/2008
[...] to Steve Dembo for creating this great list of uses. My favorite is using the above link, Poll Everywhere. As [...]
Don White
6/1/2008
I’m a high school principal and on the last day of school received a “petition” (junior high flashback) from my faculty requesting “the purchase and implementation of a cell phone blocker” at our school. The faculty had met for over and hour to discuss “the cell phone problem” and this was their solution, the purchase of this magical, mythic device. I continue to be stunned by the collective idiocy of this. I’ve long advocated for the teaching (and modeling) of responsible use, believing schools should reflect how we behave in the “real world” outside schools. Sadly, rather than asking the important questions about cell phones specifically
and technology generally, far too many teachers want it all to go away so they can continue their stand and deliver methods of teaching.
[...] Mobile phones in the classroom…. again, Steve Dembo apresenta várias maneiras pelas quais os celulares podem ser utilizados para melhorar [...]
[...] phones in the classroom…again I really like this post on using mobile phones in the classroom and the response it generates (particularly from Josh and Kain, a recent high school graduate). [...]
[...] 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 [...]
[...] a collaborative learning standpoint, as teachers and students battle out turf wars and policy on cellphones in the classroom and parents and kids do the same at home. (coming up soon, tips on media management/cellphone [...]
[...] 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 [...]
Jason
9/9/2008
Well I have this to say. It is not just a problem in High School….it is even worse in college.
Steve is obviously a child to think that kids don’t cheat on exams with cellphones. No they don’t need to use them. But they do.
Check spelling-we call it Websters dictionary maybe you heard of it.
research topic-what looking up the topic how distracting it is when a phone gets answered in class. Oh and yes it happens. Kids like Steve love to keep their ringers on hi and then answering it in the middle of a lecture in college classrooms. But lucky for us all Steve is not in college. He would be answering it in the library too. Which also happens.
Maps and Directions-In the classroom? What do you need directions in a classroom for Steve? Do you get lost on your way to that thing that you put stuff on. It’s called a desk Steve now that is useful in a classroom, ever try writing while standing up.
The teachers subject was cellphones in the classroom steve. not what great uses they have out of the classroom. Read Steve or are you too busy being distracted by your cell phone. “Paper clips are a distraction. Spiral notebooks are a distraction”. Is that really an argument. That stuff maybe distracting to an individual. A loud ring in the class during a test distracts everyone. Text messaging in the classroom distracts the people around you and the professor. And answering your phone in class or library is not only distracting but disrespectful.
Now that is the real world Steve….Grow up.
If cell phones are in the classroom they need to be on silent or set to vibrate. You should answer them outside of the college classroom, and texting in class should not be allowed.
Joe L
9/30/2008
I think we need to find newer ways to engage students and move a way from rote recall, the kind that prompts cheating, that disappears from ones memory as soon as the test is written. We need to engage students in solving real problems and doing so collaboratively. If this means that they chat, text, cell one another so be it. Let’s put away the chalk and slate and try and catch up to where the kids are because that is where the future is.
Fred
11/30/2008
This is one of those issues that schools need to address. Either we allow students to have them and set some realistic parameters for their use or we invest in the technology to jam the signal. (I realize that there are some legal issues involved with jamming the signal) Lets face it, most students have them and most students use them for texting during class. Not allowing them at all seems unrealistic because it is so hard to police/enforce. I could enforce it but, the time devoted to enforcement would seriously compromise the quality of my teaching. What would be a realistic concession for administrations to make? Is the prohibition universal? What is the logic behind said prohibition? (Is there more than just the simple distraction argument?)
[...] post about inserting media via HTML in Google Earth. Jannita’s David, Steve’s rant on cellphones on Teach42, and finally Letting Students Teach are all worth [...]
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chris
5/12/2009
1. Teenagers are NOT adults; they don’t think like adults, they don’t act like adults. Treating teenagers like an adult does not cause them to suddenly think and act like one, despite what some of you may desperately want to believe. Don’t confuse this with bashing teenagers, teenagers are GREAT, they’re just not adults anymore than a dog is a cat.
2. Anything beneficial that can be done with a cell phone in the classroom can be done with another device. Therefore, I don’t need cell phones in my classroom.
All of us know when it is appropriate to use a cell phone and when it is not. The difference is that most adults will use that knowledge and will responsibly use their cell phone. The same cannot be said for most teenagers. Ask yourself this, “How would I have used a cell phone when I was a teenager?” If you could have used a cell phone, as a teenager, without it becoming a distraction, then you are the exception to the rule. Studies have shown that the teenage mind is much less responsible than the adult mind. Forget the studies; my guess is that every one of us knows this is true from our own lives. It’s why the rules and laws that apply to teenagers are not the same as those that apply to adults. Why are more and more states changing the minimum age to get a driver’s license to 18? Especially when there are 100’s of legitimate reasons that the use of a car would benefit persons under the age of 18. Why are so many states being intolerant of the driving rights of teenagers? They must be ‘anti-car,’ or maybe they’re ‘anti-teenager!’
The positives that cell phones could bring to my classroom are not enough to outweigh the one major negative, “they are too distracting!” Besides, for every beneficial use on a cell phone there is another device that achieves that same benefit without having the distracting qualities of a cell phone.
It’s a ridiculous suggestion that those of us against the use of cell phones in school are against technology! I have and use a SmartBoard and Classroom Response System (Senteo) in my classroom (everyday!!). I save and post my notes on my school website (1 of only 3 teachers at my school with a website). Heck, I have a degree in Computer Science! I love technology! I love cell phones!
The fact that teenagers continue to use their phone when they KNOW getting caught will carry significant consequences (losing their phone for the remainder of the semester at my school for 2nd offence), is all the argument I need. Modeling good usage might work with younger kids, but you’re kidding yourself if you think it’ll do the trick with teenagers.
BTW, Don White, cell phone jammers are not a myth. They are REAL. They are also illegal, but they do exist and they do work.
Steve Dembo
5/12/2009
Wow. I disagree with you on so many levels, and NOT because I think that cell phones do have a place in education. I could personally argue the merits of it back and forth myself. But the reasons you put forth are downright perplexing.
1) Did anyone say that teenagers are adults? I don’t think anybody did. Nor do I think comparing adults/teenagers to cats/dogs is appropriate. They ARE the same species. How about puppy/dog? Or kitten/cat? A smaller version that’s still a work in progress. Young and impressionable. LEARNING. And how the heck are they supposed to learn appropriate use of technology if not to actually….. use it! WOuld seem to be common sense to me.
2) That just may be the silliest argument I’ve ever heard. Anything you can do with calculator, you can do by hand, so why use that? Anything you can do with an interactive whiteboard, you can do without. So why bother using it? I mean c’mon. With that argument, you could argue your way out of using pens, paper, rulers, markers, crayons, or any other tool or instrument in school. By that logic, why bother using all 64 colors in a box of crayons. That’s a ridiculous amount. Let’s just use 16 and be done with it. Yeesh.
As to the “They’re too distracting” argument, I just want to puke everytime I hear that. Windows are far more distracting than a cell phone will ever be. Should we board those up too? I hate when I hear people whining about how distracting they are. Paper clips are distracting, pens and paper are distracting, rubber cement is distracting. Is that REALLY the battle you want to fight? To remove enough diversions that the students only distract themselves in ways that are socially acceptable to you?
I’m not saying that our teenages are grownups. But they WILL become grownups. Maybe we oughta teach them how to use technology in a resonpsible way instead of just pretending that it’s not an issue.
EVEN if you don’t believe there’s ONE educational use of cell phones, at least it’s technology being paid for by the parents already! SO long as they have access to it, why the heck wouldn’t we leverage it for our own needs? Or is the problem in your school already that they have too many computers?
Yeesh. I can sum up your argument in one statement. “Teenagers are immature and easily distracted.” Is that really a compelling reason to not consider the most significant piece of personal technology in our generation? Talk about dismissive.
Free your mind.
Steve Dembo´s most recent blog post.. What would you pay for your name?
chris
5/13/2009
What a good laugh.
Do you really think that there is an issue where students are not actually learning cell phone technology? You may have a legitimate point here. Computer Business Applications is a class that students at my school can take today that didn’t exist when I was in high school. Perhaps a ‘Cell Phone Technology’ class should be created.
I never said teenagers shouldn’t use/have/learn about/… cell phones. I am saying that my class is not the appropriate place or time, usually. I qualified that because I don’t want to give the impression that I would NEVER use cell phones in my classroom. If I found that using cell phones on a particular lesson or activity would be beneficial, I would use them (or let them be used). To date, I’ve not found a beneficial place for them in my curriculum.
I apologize for the dog/cat thing; it wasn’t my intention to offend anyone. Let’s go ahead and use the teenager/adult and puppy/dog analogy instead. Every puppy I’ve ever had liked to chew on everything (even after they were done teething). And every one of them stopped when they got older (usually by 1-1/2 to 2 years old). I knew that they would quit chewing at some point, but I still didn’t leave my favorite slippers lying out. It is my assertion that most teenagers are not mature enough to exercise the self control needed to refrain from using their cell phone in inappropriate places and times. One day they WILL be adults and most of them WILL have more self control and when they’re sitting in a meeting with their boss they WILL refrain from texting with their buddies, otherwise, they WILL probably lose their job.
With a graphing calculator, one can solve a system of equations using the ‘graphing method’ in seconds. The same system may take a student 15+ minutes to solve by hand, using the same method (graphing). Calculators actually offer benefit over the alternative, “by hand,” method. Your analogy here is at least as off base as my ‘dog/cat’ analogy. My argument was, and is, that there is nothing on a cell phone, which would benefit my class, that is an improvement over another method or technology available; heavy emphasis on the word “improvement.” Instead of students texting me questions, I use a classroom response system. Is there some feature of texting that is better than using a classroom response system? If I had a lesson which could benefit from the use of a GPS, I would most likely use a GPS instead of a cell phone. (I wonder if a device that was specifically built for one function might work even better than one where that function was an add-on feature). When students access my website during class time, they use one of my student computers instead of their cell phones. They are more than welcome to use their cell phone to access it outside of class. Actually, if a student specifically asked permission to access class notes with their phone (say the student computers were all being used), I would let them.
I love your ‘paper clip’ argument, it’s very amusing. Let’s play with it a little bit. Picture a student paying attention and participating in class. Not an unusual event, since this student normally participates in class. Perhaps you have small group work where this student is the reporter in his/her group. Out of nowhere a paper clip jumps up and starts dancing, distracting the student from his/her work. Wait a minute, scratch that, it’s too predictable. I’ve got it; out of nowhere the student gets a text from his/her boy/girlfriend that they need a break. Luckily this responsible student realizes that their class work is important and that they can discuss the issues with their boy/girlfriend later, when it’s a better time. Disaster averted… Arrrrgggg, never mind, that one’s too predictable too. I guess a paper clip is just as distracting as a cell phone. Good thing that’s cleared up, I would hate for you to have to puke anymore.
Btw, ever heard of window blinds? As I understand it, they can really help prevent events going on outside your classroom from distracting students inside your classroom, without boarding up the windows. We wouldn’t want something going on outside, say a squirrel running up a tree, to take a student’s attention away from the paper clip that we’re letting them play with while trying to teach Algebra II. Perhaps this ‘window blind’ concept should be further investigated. It’s also my understanding that one can open and close them without as much as a hammer, just bare hands. You know what; the window blind itself may be too distracting. I think I’m starting to get where you’re coming from (giving myself a pat on the back).
I can’t imagine why I thought that a person that could be distracted by a paper clip, or window, would be more easily distracted by a cell phone than either of those items. What was I thinking? Their good judgment, obviously, indicates that they are responsible. And I would hate to think that preventing my students from using cell phones in class would cause them to miss out on the most significant piece of personal technology in our generation.
I need to free my mind. So, cell phones for everyone! Heck, let’s not stop there. We should make sure that everyone has headphones to listen to their favorite music during class. If they have XM Radio, they could listen to it. Many of my students swear that they learn better while listening to music. While we’re at it, let’s remove all those annoying firewalls on our networks. I’m sure my students will exercise self control and not visit sites they shouldn’t. What am I talking about; those firewalls aren’t even on the networks they’re using with their cell phones. They can already get to any site they want to get to. Boy, what a waste of time and money trying to prevent students from accessing inappropriate material at school.
Now that I think about it, so many people have closed minds. Take my boss for example. He required me to complete my degree program before he gave me a job. How narrow minded is that? I guess he didn’t realize that since I would have a degree some day that he should have treated me like I already had the degree. I should’ve had a job years earlier.
As much as I am enjoying this, I’ve spent enough time here. I look forward to your response, and I’ll leave it at that (you can have the last word).
Kim
6/19/2009
Wow, I was just about to leave a comment about how “grown up” most of the posts were on here…then I read the last (sarcastic) post…As much as I appreciate sarcasm, I don’t think that last post is doing a lot toward promoting discussion. Sounds more like, “Hey, I don’t like your opinion, so shut up.” Dancing paperclips. Oh brother.
RFields
6/29/2009
I am conflicted on this issue as well, and in my classroom, I already allow my students to use their phones as appropriate tools. They have used them as timers, taken video/pics with their cell phones they have then incorporated into projects, and other things. In fact, many times, when a student is absent, students will text them assignments or reminders about upcoming due dates and the like. As far as making them an integrated part of the classroom, I think that will have to wait until every student has one. I was originally against cell phones entirely, but now, I’m warming up to them. My only problem with them is when students try to use them at inappropriate times or when they’re just texting for the fun of it.
mschwanz
6/30/2009
Reading – Mobile phones in the classroom…. again – by @teach42 http://bit.ly/75pco
Motorola Cellphones
7/17/2009
Mobile phone in class room should not be allowed.It totally create disturbance only you also your class mate and teachers.Please do not use the mobile in class room.Thanks
APB
7/30/2009
Tools, any tool (including cell phones) that can be used to accelerate knowledge, should be utilized whenever and wherever appropriate. That said, just as educators evaluate books, software, movies, etc. for age-appropriate content and use, electronic media should be subjected to the same review.
It is naive and farcical to believe that banning such benign items, including portable electronic devices, from schools is the answer. Yet, when those items become the weapon of choice for bullies; when sexually explicit photos, taken in the locker room, are passed from one phone to the next within seconds; when passing notes takes on a new, hidden, and sinister mode; when competent teachers are videoed without consent by a student with a vendetta, then the video is re-edited out of context to become slanderous content, and placed on video sharing sites, then something must be done to effect change. These are neither isolated incidents, nor are they frivolous; the resultant lawsuits and negative publicity, not to mention counseling services, are costly.
virago1
8/17/2009
reading – Mobile phones in the classroom. again – by @teach42 http://bit.ly/75pco
Neil Milliken
8/20/2009
I certainly believe that mobile phones have a place in education both inside and outside of the classroom. Whilst I take on board APB’s comments it is not the technology that is the problem it is the people using it.
Please find below a link to slideshare where I have posted a copy of the presentation that I made to University of Southampton’s learning societies lab recently:
http://www.slideshare.net/NeilMilliken/the-affordances-of-mobile-technologies
Jeremy Swanson
9/9/2009
The fact of the matter is very few people have proper cell phone etiquette. Students use the cell phone the way it is demonstrated by adults. Most people act like the person on the other end of the line is more important than the person sitting in front of them. It is current technology and needs to be embraced, but we are not there yet. The “newness” has not worn off yet. There needs to be a mandatory class in Junior High or High School that teaches students proper cell phone etiquette. Until that happens, people will continue to be rude and misuse this wonderful peace of technology. This is a learned behavior and will continue unless we break the cycle somehow. Until this happens, schools need to have cell phone blockers that block all cell calls within the school walls or at least the academic wings. This would eliminate improper cell use by teachers as well.
sho-sho
9/19/2009
hi, can you put information about mobile phones and students?
sho-sho´s last blog ..Threadless Tshirt Giveaway at jaypeeonline.net 
Inchirieri Masini
9/20/2009
well phones+school= not a bright ideea
Alfredo Reyes
10/20/2009
A few things that cell phones could be good for in a classroom http://bit.ly/DenE5
Fergielei
10/21/2009
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Kaysey
10/26/2009
We are ninth grade students in Mr. Villavisani’s honors english class. We just watched a Simpsons clip on cell phones in the class. Imagine if we all had iPhones on our desk, it would open up a whole new learning world. We would have internet access, an electronic planner, anywhere in the world would be at the tip of our fingers with just a touch. We could research topics easily without fighting over computers…slow ones at that. I wouldn’t mind coming to class if i had all of that to work forward to.
EDIT by Nick: I believe that what Kaysey has said is true and would be very convenient and very helpful in class, but the real question is: How do we make this technology more available and more affordable to students in the classroom?
And… How do we appease the grouchy and stingy School Board members to approve cell phone use in class for educational purposes?
Steve
10/29/2009
@Kaysey Well, I’d say that step one is not to call the Board members grouchy and stingy
Seriously though, the key is to understand why they feel the way they do and to validate and address their concerns. The rules were put it in place for very good reasons, but as times change the case has to be made for policies to be updated accordingly.
Want to make that change happen? Then you have to make a case that will appeal to THEM. In their language, addressing their fears and concerns.
Now the question is… what’re you going to do about it?
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