iSchool
Smart phones are becoming quite an issue in the classroom. But what is the issue? Is it that students are constantly using their phones in class, or is it that teachers aren't allowing students to constantly use their phones in class? Having the internet literally at your fingertips is an amazing resource that is underutilized every day in schools. The problem is that the "power" of the iPhone is too much for students to know how to wield without abusing (this is true for teachers as well, whom I've seen texting the entire length of their hall duty shifts as well as in classes that they're teaching[?] - I'm sure "students" is not the only reason facebook is blocked in many schools, but I digress...). Usage of phones in the classroom by students has prompted many schools to not allow cell phones in the schools at all, let alone in the classroom. It used to be that it was easy to catch students using their phones; it was very clear why girls chose to keep their purses on their desks, with one hand inside, with a blue glow on their faces. Now the problem is so widespread that it is almost impossible to combat; every student in every academic level, it seems, is not immune to falling prey to the poison apple phone. The games are a problem too, but it's really the texting that's the issue. Playing games has been easy to do in class since the TI-83 days (for some reason, not even my English teachers didn't stop me from being on my calculator throughout the entire class). "Texting" (which is ALWAYS from their mom or dad, which I didn't believe any would do in the middle of class until several students proved it to me) is just a phenomenon that cannot be stopped with any of our current technology or scientific knowledge, it's just seems too powerful.
However, getting rid of the phones is not the solution; they need to be utilized! In my biology classroom, phones are a great as stopwatches during labs and taking photos of experiments. The internet has unlimited uses, the best of which simply looking things up that fellow students ask during class discussions. Students can also pull up google images (my best friend in class) of organisms and molecules we discuss - a very common question in biology classrooms is, "What does that look like?" -- and unless it's an amoeba, I'm not going to do the picture justice with dry erase markers. Phones in the classroom allow students to set up synced calendars for groupwork, or to create digital memos for themselves on a calendar to keep track of homework and test dates. Still not a fan? Texting isn't all evil, check out polleverywhere.com; this site allows teachers to set up questions in a poll format that students can text their replies into. This is great if your classroom does not have access to student personal response devices.
iTechnology is wonderful; we just need to figure out how to stop people (not just students) from abusing it.
My gut reaction to reading your post was that phones themselves are not necessary; students can have computers with internet access which will serve the same purpose. However, as I continued reading, I knew this solution was not as easy at it seemed. I think we’ve all sat through a class where the student next to us is Facebook messaging and/or writing a paper for another class and/or online shopping (and these are college/graduate students who, presumably, want to be there and, at the very least, are spending an absurd amount of money to be there!). While certainly some sites can be blocked, as we know Facebook often is, there are so many other distractions on computers (such as the afore mentioned paper writing,) that computers become just as much of an issue as a cell phone can be. I do not have a magical solution. However, I have heard of a new program that is being worked on that can “jam” phones so that they can not text. This is currently being tested to be used in cars so that teenagers do not have the ability to text while driving (a separate but VERY important issue). While there are certainly implications to applying this to a school setting (safety being one of them,) I also think it’s a concept which is worth thinking about and discussing.
ReplyDeleteHonestly Steve I agree with you completely. Half of why cell phones are such an issue is because we make it a big deal to have one. I love the website you put up that'd be an interesting way to start students up and build on prior knowledge. Instead if having your kids text under the desks or wait until you turn around, ask them ALL to take out their cell phones at the very beginning of class and answer the poll question you write on the board. It's like a whole new do-now! The stigma is what makes kids find ways to use cell phones inappropriately.
ReplyDeleteI think Kristen definitely sees the safety side of it, but like you said students need to know how to use their resources wisely.
I think allowing phones in the classroom, especially at the high school level, would be a great way to save money! Most smart phones now have the capability to do what most computers can do. In fact, I am pretty sure, that I could responding to this blog on a smart phone. So besides saving money, I could also be using my time more effectively by doing my homework as I am walking up the hall, back to my classroom :)
ReplyDeleteYou bring up some important points, in that teachers have set the standard and example for using these powerful tools in school. Are we using the phones only to socialize or are we using them as they were intended, to increase productivity? But, the real questions is...how do our students see us using these devices? A science teacher in my school (grade 3-5) was using his phone in class to supplement a lesson on constellations. He has was using the Sky Map app to demonstrate which constellations could be viewed that evening. Later that day, he was confronted by the principal who had received a complaint, from a student, that he was using his phone in class. So, even when we use our phones for learning, our students might perceive it differently.
Ideally, each student would have access to an updated digital device whether that was a phone, tablet, or computer either owned or school provided. Because that is not the case, I feel the issue becomes how to integrate the use of tech that is not available to all students. If most students have phones and only a few do not, it may be possible to have those students share the classroom tech resources, however that could create an uncomfortable situation for those students who do not have that luxury for whatever reason. "Those of you with smart phones, take them out and take the poll, those of you who do not, stand up, silently announce to the class that you do not have such an item and walk over to the free shared computer"
ReplyDeleteDespite the prevalence of technology across our country, we have to realize that there are students right in front of us whose only access to such technology is at school, at the library or at a friend's house.
I realize I have not offered any solutions, I am merely bringing up a concern that came to me while reading a number of postings this week.