CELL PHONES IN THE CLASSROOM Hang Up and Learn! Krissy Shaw
Quick Stats 22% of 6-9 year olds have a cell phone 54% of 8-12 year olds 84% of teens % of teens from schools that forbid cell phones use them during class anyway 31% of teens that take their cell phones to school send text messages during class everyday
PROS Yesterday’s calculator is today’s cell phone Internet Access, capability Contact parents easier; office staff receives fewer calls; free up phone lines Emergencies Some phones have memories able to hold entire books (think iPhone) Phones can act as MP3 players Built in cameras can record videos for projects
CONS Cell phones distract students Cheating Camera phones Bullying Potential for law suit Creates envy; unfair to less-well off students as privileged students experience benefits of cell phone usage Theft Influncz erly lang dvlopmnt
Solutions Setting limits Supplying emergency cell phones Prohibiting ringtones, music, sound effects Post school and classroom policies regarding cell phones and discuss these policies at the beginning of the year Embrace it.
Can cell phones serve as effective instructional tools?
Resources Fingal, D. (2010). Yesterday’s calculator is today’s cell phone. International Society for Technology in Education. Retrieved from Gilroy, M. (2004). Invasion of the classroom cell phones. Education Digest, 14, Kolb, L. (2005). From toy to tool: Connecting student cell phones to education. ISTE. Eugene, Oregon. Shaw, K. (2005). Students and cell phones: Controversy in the classroom. Retrieved from ts_and_cell_phones_controversy.html?cat=9 Vaishali, H. (2008). Cell phones in classrooms land teachers on online video sites. Education Digest, 73 (6),