Cell phones in the Classroom - Yay or Nay?

        I have to admit, ten years or so ago, I was dead against having cell phones in the classroom.  I actually was against even bringing them to school.  I could not see the reason that a parent would have for allowing their child to bring such a device into school.  They can be very expensive, and plans could last up to three years at the time, so why a parent would want to risk their child bringing a cell phone into school, where it could be lost, stolen, or damaged was beyond me.  Some would argue that it was mainly for safety reasons, so parents could have easy access to communicate with their child in case of an emergency or if after school pick up plans have been changed.  I would argue that was unnecessary, as such information could be communicated via telephone call with the school office.  It worked just fine in the past, it could continue to be fine now.   

       Seeing students and young children with cell phones would usually result in myself channelling my father, and how he would give me the hard luck stories of his past, with "In my day, we had to do this....".  I would think of him every time I would comment on kids with cell phones of their own, responding with, "In my day, my cell phone was a quarter!", which I always had in case I needed to use a pay phone in an emergency.

      The data arguing against cell phones in the class is there, with respect to them being a distraction with text and instant messaging.  71 percent of students bringing cell phones into the classroom have admitted to sending or receiving text messages, and within those schools that allow students to have phones in school but not use them in the classroom, the number was almost as high as 65 percent.  Even in schools that ban cell phones entirely, the percentage was still a shocking 58%.  ( The Atlantic, May 18, 2012 ) One can argue that this type of distraction can be extremely detrimental to the educational development of a student.  A study by Duncan, Hoekstra, and Wilcox (2012) demonstrated that students who reported regular cell phone use in class show an average negative grade difference of on a 0.36 ± 0.08 four-point scale.  ( Faculty Focus, April 15, 2013 )  Today, I have to say that not much has changed, I still am against "Cell Phones" in the classroom.  A cell phone has limited functions; call, text message, instant message, and limited Internet access. What I am strongly for, is for students to bring "Smart Devices" into the classroom.

      Lets be honest, what students are bringing to school today are not just mere cell phones, but multi-functional sophisticated devices.  Smart devices include laptops, net books, smart phones, IPods, IPads, and tablets.  These devices have numerous functions and capabilities that can support classroom learning in many ways, shapes, and forms.  With the Internet providing unlimited information to people within a matter of seconds, it is imperative for educators to take advantage of this unlimited resource for learning.

      Sure, schools provide desktop computers, laptop carts, and even IPad carts, but the ease and quickness of students being able to pull out their own personal smart device and access something in mere seconds can not be ignored.  Many schools and school boards are encouraging students and parents to "Bring I.T." into school everyday.  Thousands of dollars have been spend in schools to increase the WiFi and bandwidth for Internet, so students can do just that.  Many companies have even stepped up to support schools and their use of personal devices in the classroom.  The GoKnow software company has worked to turn students' smart phones into computers, allowing students to use word processors, spreadsheets, and art programs, among others, on their cell phones.  ( Scholastic.com, "Lift the Cell Phone Ban" )

      Use of the Internet, and many tools and apps are available that can support learning in the classroom.  Here's a video demonstrating how smart device use in class, has benefited students attempting to solve difficult linear equation problems.




      Sure, there is always the issue of students pulling out their smart device when they are not suppose to, during teacher discussions and lectures.  That is why it is extremely important, to set the standards at the beginning of the school year with regards to smart device use.  In my classroom, there is a bin that students drop off their smart device into at the start of the day.  That way, they are not tempted to pull it out during a time that would hinder their attention and learning.  As activities commencing during different subjects, students ask to get their device (and I almost always allow them), so it can assist them with their tasks and projects.  A letter goes home at the beginning of the year for parents likewise, so they are kept in the know with regards to the policies and routines in the classroom when it comes to smart device use.  Here is a fun video to remind students on how to appropriately use a smart device within the classroom.



        Smart device and computer technology use in the classroom is revolutionising the way we educate our students.  It has lead to many classrooms moving toward a more Blended style of learning, incorporating technology into daily activities, and many classrooms are becoming Flipped, where learning happens at home on the computer, and homework and assignments occur at school.  As educators, we can not deny the unlimited potential that these devices can have and the benefits for students learning and development.  I still am against cell phone use in school, but I am all for smart device use for my students.