Technology has been slowly integrated into the classroom for many years now. Some maybe older than others, but they have all seemed to make the learning and teaching process much easier and effective. Computers were introduced to the curriculum to help students better understand data collection, research, and word processing and Power Points were even added to give visuals to lessons. Cell phones on the other hand have been given the cold shoulder, and even completely banned by some schools. According to the article, “Are We Dialing Up Disaster,” by George Engel and Tim Green, eighty-four percent of high school students report to owning a cell phone and that number continues to increase (Engel 39). Because students are distracted by the use of cell phones, schools around the country have made a stand to make sure they are not inhibiting the learning process. But do the bans really make a difference? Students seem to still be sending text messages in class. Legal issues have been questioned concerning the use of cell phones; do instructors or administrators have the rights to confiscate cell phones if used in class? Thomas Diamantes, of Wright State University, says, “In Tinker (Tinker v. Des Moines, 1969), the court established the "material and substantial disruption" test to protect freedom of speech and expression.” This court ruling, although not pertaining to cell phones, has helped to set the precedence for rulings concerning disruptive cell phone use and school rights. According to “Cell Phones in American High Schools: A National Survey,” by John Obringer and Kent Coffey, eighty-four percent of high schools have written policies regarding cell phones and forty-seven percent allow students to carry their p... ... middle of paper ... ... Works Cited Diamantes, Thomas. "Recent Court Rulings Regarding Student Use of Cell Phones in Today's Schools." Education 131.2 (2010): 404-406. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 07 October 2011. Engel, George, and Tim Green. “Cell Phones in the Classroom: Are We Dialing Up Distaster?” TechTrends: Linking Research and Practice to Improve Learning. 55.2 (March 2011): 39-45. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 16 October 2011. Obringer, S. John, and Kent Coffey. “Cell Phones in American High Schools: A National Survey.” Journal of Technology Studies 33.1/2 (2007): 41-47. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 15 October 2011. “Teachers vs. Texting.” American Morning. CNN. 21 April 2010. Web. 19 October 2011.
Many have debated if cell phones should be allowed in school. Elementary through middle school should not be allowed to have cell phones at their access at all time because they are children who need to focus solely on school. Cells for them would be a distraction. As for high school students, they have different needs for a phone. One of the reason is because of emergencies. Second reason is cell phones teach students responsibility. Thirdly, cell phones avoids the double standard of administration having, while student are forbidden. As a result, students should be allowed to have cell phones in high school.
In John Ekongo’s article “Cell phones at School: Good or Bad ?”, he admits how he thinks some schools use cell phones as a favor or privilege (1). Walking down the hall with ear buds or talking on the phone is considered a privilege. Cell phones are a great innovation that provides new skills to learners (1). Students will always have up to date access to information on the World Wide Web. “We are a part of the global technological world and embrace the use of information and communication technology in learning” (1).
It’s understandable that school board administrators and teachers are concerned about allowing cell phones in schools as many students already use their phones in inappropriate ways. Even more so, the article “Should schools allow Cell Phones Use During the School Day?” it explains that “Moreover, inappropriate use of the phones for cheating on tests has punishments ranging from reduction of the score by a particular percentage to automatic failure of the exam. Disrupting class with texting, playing video games, inappropriately using the photography feature, or receiving calls can affect students’ class participation grades as well.” But, there is a catch to this situation.
Have you ever heard of the gruesome Columbine High School massacre? This incident occurred on April 20th 1999 and involved two students embarking on a shooting rampage, killing twelve students, a teacher and wounding twenty three others. Unfortunately during this incident, the school's most easily accessible phone was on the other side of the school in the library. Perhaps some of these lives could have been saved if the students in this class had cell phones that they could've used to contact the authorities more quickly. The issue we are addressing today is the use of cellular devices in educational facilities. I believe that cell phone use is of extreme convenience, and has academically beneficial aspects, among it's so called "faults".
Cellphone use time and time again has been thought by teachers and adults to affect the learning ability and it distracts them but does it? Cellphone should left up to the students and no one else because if there assignments don't get done then its on the student and not the instructor. Many believe that if you ban the phones in schools and in learning areas then the students will learn but there is no substantial evidence. An article written by Kevin Hart said “Many teachers say cell phones have officially replaced chewing gum as the new classroom menace(Hart).” Millions have addressed banning the cellphone use, in learning areas such as school and work areas.
Campbell, Scott W. "Perceptions of mobile phones in college classrooms: Ringing, cheating, and classroom policies." Communication education 55.3 (2006): 280-294. Web. 30 Mar. 2014
Today’s cell phone is the front line technology at our fingertips. Keeping this in mind the use of cell phones have become an affair when it comes to allowing teens to use them in educational environments, such as schools. One part of society supports the use of cell phones while the other part of society disapproves the use of cell phones. I personally believe that cell phones should not only be allowed in school, but cell phones should be mandatory just like a textbook. Cell phones do not only allow students to stay united with friends and family, but cell phones are also a magnificent learning system, and they boost the liable use of technology.
Cell phones can be used as a useful tool in the classroom as there are advantages to using cell phones opposed to not using cell phones. “Cell phones also do offer advantages, the camera phone can have a number of educational benefits. The camera
More than 40% of teens are using their phones during school hours even though phone usage is prohibited. Of those teens, 43% are texting during class. Of those texting, a little under half of them are texting other students, in the same class, just a few feet away. Additionally, 66% of parents text their child while they are at school. Although schools impose consequences to discourage phones in school, they don't always work, so the pattern just starts over again where teens are using phones during school hours. Even though phones can be used as learning tools, cell phones should not be allowed in classes during school hours without permission of a teacher because they can be a tool for cheating, an educational disruption, and a platform
In conclusion, this essay has tried to argue that cell phones are valuable tools in schools. Many of us see cell phone pessimistically but really haven’t looked at them optimistically. We all know that "with every good, comes a bad, and with responsibilities, come consequences". By all means allowing cell phones in schools is a great idea, and students should start to learn the positive features of that new device. Overall, this essay has attempted to show that allowing cell phones in schools is not a bad idea.
29 Nov. 2010. http://ic.galegroup.com:80/ic/cic/MagazinesDetailsPage/MagazinesDetailsWindow?displayGroupName=Magazines&prodId=CIC&action=2&catId=&documentId=GALE%7CA155040283&userGroupName=ko_k12pr_d63&jsid=e01c 666854d7424fae8f8439d679ed5c>http://ic.gal Cohen Maya “Cell Phones at School: Should They Be Allowed?” Family Education. 2010 Web. -. 29 Nov. 2010. http://life.familyeducation.com/cellular- telephones / school /51264.html>
If students were allowed to use cell phones during school hours, then they might as well be told that they don’t have to pay attention during class. There are so many things that can be done with cell phones that honestly, are much more interesting than what the teacher may be lecturing about, or the assignment that was given. Students can use their cell phones to play a game, and they will be completely lost from what is being talked about in class. Music is also something that is provided with a cell phone, and students could just put their earphones in and not worry about what is going on in class. Texting is made possible with...
Can you see yourself without a cell phone today? This world has become so technologically dependent that it is hard for anyone to not use a cell phone, a computer, or some sort of device at least once during the day. Since technology has come so far, better education should be possible. Cell phones are a way of communication and can make people feel safe, so it is hard to believe that most schools ban them. It is time for schools to see that technology is the future and it is growing rapidly, along with educational and safety features.
"Using Cell Phones in the Classroom." UW Bothell Learning Technologies. UWB LT., 17 May 2011. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.
One thing about cellphones is that it’s taken everywhere, especially to school of course “EVERYWHERE”. Cell phones are the most important daily school supply for a student. Students have a tendency to use cellphones throughout the day, even at the most inconvenient time which is instructional time. Are you really listening and paying attention? Are you still passing? Does your teacher like or allow it? Is it beneficial for your education? Teachers say that cellphones ruin a student’s education. Cell phones are said to be a distraction for teachers while they are up teaching a lesson. 71 percent of students send or receive text messages on their cell phones in class. Schools that students have phones in school but not in classrooms had the percentages as high as 65 percent. Even the schools that ban cell phones entirely, the percentages were still indeed high at 58 percent. Some teachers prefer that cell phones should be a part of education because technology