Matt Monjan let me know that the Simpsons spoofed cell phones in the classroom this past weekend. Yes, it’s funny, but it’s also frustrating because there’s so many hints of truth in there. Give the segment a watch before continuing. For visitors outside the US, visit FOX to watch the full episode. Clip I’m referring to is from about 1 minute in until the 3:30 mark.
Yes, it’s a comedy, but comedies are only funny if there’s kernels of truth in there. The kids are distracted by the phones. When asked what they’re using them for, they know the stock answers and can rattle them off without thinking. But there’s a big difference between a student rattling off an answer that they think will satisfy an inquiry, and a teacher actually using a mobile device for educational purposes. And all too often, the solution is pretty similar to what you see in the clip… lock it away and pretend it doesn’t exist.
Fact is, they aren’t going away. If anything, they’re only becoming more and more prevalent. School budgets are tight, and here we are with millions of dollars in technology that’s being paid for by the parents VOLUNTARILY… and most schools refuse to leverage it because of outdated policies and teachers that don’t want to modify their own classroom management strategies.
I’ve heard it thousands of times it seems, “cell phones are a distraction in class.” That’s great. So is the class pet, a window, a paper clip and pencil/paper. Isn’t teaching students to overcome these distractions part of what we do in the classroom? Heck, I used to focus on that in kindergarten! “Maybe you should put that toy behind you right now because it’s circle time. You can play with it again during choice time.” Saying that cell phones should be banned in schools because they’re ‘too distracting’ is a cop out. If your current classroom management model can’t incorporate mobile devices…. well, then it’s time to do some unlearning and relearning.
When I saw Jeremy Davis recently, he told me of an educator who uses cell phones in the classroom. In fact, this teacher requires that the cell phone be out and ON the desk. In plain site. Not hidden in a pocket or backpack. So if the student is using it, the teacher KNOWS. And if the student is using it when they shouldn’t… Well, that’s when there are consequences. Phone is confiscated until the end of the week, or the parent can pay a $25 fine to get it back for their student. Sure, there were plenty of students who lost their phones, and plenty of fines paid. They used the money to pay for a field trip before the end of the year. But the point is, the students learned when it was ok to be using the phone as a learning device, and when it was inappropriate. Believe me, no student wants to go to his parents and let them know that they need $25 to get their phone back… and explain why.
Sure, we can keep fighting to keep cell phones hidden or banned in schools. But it’s a battle that schools can’t win. Life progresses, things change. Like it or not, these devices are here to stay, and adoption rates are racing towards 100+%. I suggest teachers be proactive. Because there’s a tidal wave coming and you can either ride with it, or have it crash into you.
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Stephen Downes
10/6/2009
Don’t use Hulu, people outside the U.S. just get a great big black error box.
Stephen Downes´s last blog ..Intelligent Communities Summit – Day One 
Lisa Thumann
10/6/2009
I had posted this picture (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lisathumann/3277202582/) on Flickr the day I was asked to present to high school teachers on using technology in the classroom. I was given an hour to talk with them about innovative ways to engage students, so I decided to talk about using cell phones, Mp3 players, iTunes, multimedia, etc.
The picture didn’t change my presentation – it just added a little humor. The teachers still took their cell phones out to vote in the Pollanywhere survey I had embed in my presentation. The dated and unreasonable rules posted in their lobby were not going to stop them from working to use the tools that the students already had and knew how to use.
Patrick Black
10/6/2009
This is a great post!! And really illustrates the way many teachers/admins/school districts see technology!! We have work with the new. There are ways to use it appropriately. Thanks for sharing (or did you say ranting on Twitter!).
Patrick Black´s last blog ..A.T.Tipscast – Special Announcement!
Sean
10/7/2009
Is this video available on some other service? Hulu doesn’t work in South Korea.
Sean´s last blog ..ESL Kingdom on: 20 Online Resources for EFL Teachers
Steve
10/7/2009
Updating the post with a link from Fox to accommodate international visitors. And thanks for the heads up, Sean and Stephen, didn’t know that about Hulu.
Steve
10/7/2009
@Lisa That’s classic. And very much helps drive home the point. If we don’t want to give up our connectivity and cell phone access, why on earth would our students? And I don’t blame them for not knowing how to use them appropriately for educational purposes… after all, who has taught them to do so??
Tweets that mention What can you do with a cell phone in the classroom? - Teach42 -- Topsy.com
10/7/2009
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Matthew Ciscart and Amy Gibson. Amy Gibson said: Yes! Let's use cell phones for good! RT @cathyjo: http://bit.ly/19FrXZ Wow Yes–Who would have thought the Simpson's could nail it? [...]
Thejesh GN
10/8/2009
“isn’t teaching students to overcome these distractions part of what we do in the classroom?”
I agree. Teaching is more than what is in the textbook. Forwarding to all VTU (My univ) teachers.
TNschatz
10/10/2009
Great article on what to do with a cell phone in the classroom. http://bit.ly/UseACell
Mats Larsnäs
10/11/2009
RT @joha88: Vad du kan göra med en mobil i klassrummet http://bit.ly/4u98mS
John D McMillen
10/12/2009
What can you do with a cell phone in the classroom? – Teach42 http://tinyurl.com/yhs9cra marking this 2 read later but sharing.
David Truss
10/19/2009
I found this post via Alice’s post http://aliceayel.posterous.com/personally-owned-devices-or-whether-or-not-us where she quoted this wonderful phrase above: “here we are with millions of dollars in technology that’s being paid for by the parents VOLUNTARILY… and most schools refuse to leverage it because of outdated policies and teachers that don’t want to modify their own classroom management strategies.”
I created this little cartoon “Miss Management” to beg the question, why are we banning a useful tool?
http://www.toondoo.com/cartoon/880754
David Truss´s last blog ..Caring across the curriculum
David Truss
10/19/2009
.@teach42 Nails it! http://bit.ly/19FrXZ What can you do with a cell phone in the classroom? The Simpsons clip is also great!
Amber Teamann
10/20/2009
RT @datruss: .@teach42 Nails it! http://bit.ly/19FrXZ What can you do with a cell phone in the classroom? The Simpsons clip is also great!
Jasna Aliefendic
10/20/2009
RT @8Amber8: RT.@teach42 Nails it! http://bit.ly/19FrXZ What can you do with a cell phone in the classroom? The Simpsons clip is also great!
David Truss
10/20/2009
Steve,
I followed a cooking trail with Alice Ayel finally sending me here when she quoted you: http://aliceayel.posterous.com/personally-owned-devices-or-whether-or-not-us
“here we are with millions of dollars in technology that’s being paid for by the parents VOLUNTARILY… and most schools refuse to leverage it because of outdated policies and teachers that don’t want to modify their own classroom management strategies.”
This totally reminds me of the cartoon I used in the POD’s presentation she also links to. Here it the cartoon: http://www.toondoo.com/cartoon/880754 I called the cartoon ‘Miss Management’.
“Like it or not, these devices are here to stay” is almost a mantra for me. I call these devices the elephant in the room since they are so ‘huge’, and yet they are ignored. It is time to introduce them into the classroom and use them as tools with great opportunities for teaching and learning.
David Truss´s last blog ..Caring across the curriculum
David Truss
10/20/2009
@teach42 Thanks, and great post! http://bit.ly/19FrXZ What can you do with a cell phone in the classroom? – Simpsons clip is so apropos!
Paul Villavisanis
10/20/2009
Steve,
As a classroom teacher working under a cell phone “non-negotiable,” (take it if it’s in sight) it’s hard for me to envision a school where all teachers are asking students to use their cell phones for learning. Might you know of any videos demonstrating the kind of classroom you envision? Would be great to share with the faculty. I’ve been thinking of phones, but haven’t retaught myself enough to work them into a lesson. (And here’s another request- here I am requesting things and giving nothing- not a nice guest!) Are there classroom teachers posting lesson plans that utilize cell phones? Would love to see them.
As always, I’ve enjoyed reading your blog.
David Truss
10/20/2009
To Paul Villavisanis,
I did a presentation in Boston last July and if you click on my name in this comment, I’ve linked to my blog post about it. Although I don’t have a specific video of how they are used in the classroom, I video taped an interview with Sonya, a teacher who uses POD’s (Personally Owned Devices) in her classroom- cell phones, ipods, whatever students can provide.
The interview is divided into 3 different YouTube videos and embeded into the presentation.
Here is the full interview on blip.tv: http://pairadimes.blip.tv/file/2412413/
I hope you find this helpful.
David Truss´s last blog ..Caring across the curriculum
Crystal (Adobe Youth Voices)
10/21/2009
Adapting to new technology to engage students is important. In relation to technology and teaching kids, The Adobe Foundation and The Black Eyed Peas Peapod Foundation recently unveiled a new public service announcement called “Plant Inspiration.” The PSA promotes the launch of Adobe Youth Voices, a non-profit that stresses the power of technology to engage middle- and high school–age youth. Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ9WFXs34T8
Darren Fix
10/25/2009
What can you do with a cell phone in the classroom? http://bit.ly/1cHBKU
Alex T
10/26/2009
Steve,
I think we could use cell-phones in class very productively. Most importantly we could have online textbooks. It could be used for connecting to the internet, spell chaeck, take videos on lectures, voice memos, and it would be useful as a planner. The teachers should wiretap cell-phones to make surre no one is cheating on tests. This will most likely come into effect in the near future.
Kati
10/26/2009
A good way to use a cell phone in class would be if you research and text answers to the teacher. Also, you could research what is “big or hot” in popular culture. You could also use your calculator and other apps. And access your teachers blog , so more teacher could interact with their students outside of school.
Sarah, Dequanda, Jose, Kiel
10/26/2009
Hi,we are a group of English honors class students and our teacher (Mr.V) challenged other students and my group to find a way cell phones and other technology can be useful in our classroom.
We think cell phones can be used in many different educational situations. But they also have their down falls. For example, if our schools were to fund IPhones for each class, we could access internet from our desks, turn in tests by email, access different applications that can further our learning experiences, and discuss without interrupting the class, if we’re having problems understanding something. We could also create more organized notes and in a quicker amount of time.
Matt C.
10/26/2009
Hello this is Matt, Nick, and Josh. We are for cell phone use in classrooms. It would make class easier,we would be able to go online for answers,to questions. It would make our class more organized like say we had to do assignments for homework but forgot it, we could get it off our phone and show the teacher. It would eliminate the need for book, paper, pen and pencils. We could do it all on our phones. We could also use it to calculate math programs that are to hard to do it in your heads.
Jenny
10/26/2009
Hello!! We are in class and our teacher showed us your website.We agree with you vision for cell phones in the classroom.The way we see this is if we use our cellphones in class is tohelp us organize notes, Record lectures given by long winded teachers, and search the internet for classroom textbook .We can use them to start pre writing essays and to write in our classroom blog.
We know that this could also be a huge risk for teachers with some kids cheating.There are alwayss some kids who try to bend the rules but it is a trust thing.At our school we are not aloud to have our cellphones in sight of the teacher, I f we do they get taking away and our parents have to come pick them up.We think we should be aloud to advance our educational carreers
Tom Welch
10/28/2009
We have been exploring using mobiles (PODs) in school with sixth grade students. Our first project had students collect data about how children get to school each day. Two days a week for three weeks our students came to school thirty minutes early and recorded short interviews, took photos, and sent text messages to a central site. They used class time to organize the information. Eventually they will report their findings to our administrators. They are learning to use their personal mobiles in teams for real time research.
[...] in that it reflects back the world in which we live (God help us!). Take a peek at this Simpson clip. As Steve Dembo points out, it is funny because it bears some [...]
Custom Essay Writing
11/10/2009
Hello,
First and foremost thing is to understand that if a technology provides ease and benefit to you today, it will be causing a little harm to you tomorrow. Using cell phones creatively in classrooms is well evaluated here but I think one point is missing here; we are promoting a culture that makes our fingers speak for us. To some extent it is good but, classroom discussions should not be compromised. One can use phones in other ways creatively like searching and finding solutions to the problems
Tracy
11/18/2009
Believe me, no student wants to go to his parents and let them know that they need $25 to get their phone back… and explain why.
I just wanted to comment on the above. I disagree, I work in a school that charges and disciplines for cellphones. You wouldn’t believe how many will willingly and eagerly call home to explain how their phone was taken up. Mom and Dad are typically easily persuaded to come help out.
Other than that you made many valid points.
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11/24/2009
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11/25/2009
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11/25/2009
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Dissertation Help´s last blog ..Home
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11/26/2009
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Jason K. Suter
12/12/2009
Thanks for this post. Interesting idea about fining students to get their cell phone back. I can’t imagine the reaction from my parents if I tried to pull that off!
Jason K. Suter´s last blog ..Link to a cartoon about the History of Tech in Schools
digizen
12/13/2009
"What can you do with a cell phone in the classroom? – Teach42" http://j.mp/7b8hAZ
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12/19/2009
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