Should Cell Phones Be Used During Class?
There are many different opinions about whether cell phones should be used during class. Some educators believe that allowing students to have phones in school is a distraction while others feel it could be beneficial to student learning.
The Pros of Having Cell Phones in Schools
There are plenty of reasons why cell phones should be allowed in schools. First of all, they provide access to a wide range of supplementary learning materials and tools. Secondly, they allow students to take notes easily and efficiently. In addition, they can be used to save reminders and alerts.
Third, they can provide students with additional information and a better understanding of what is going on in the world around them. This can be especially helpful for current events that have not yet been covered in the classroom.
Fourth, they can help teachers to keep track of what is being learned in the classroom and how well it is being understood. For example, poll questions are a great way to see what the entire class is understanding about a topic.
Fifth, they can be a great tool for students to use during class discussions. For instance, some teachers create twitter hashtags or message boards for students to post their thoughts and ideas during class.
The Cons of Having Cell Phones in Schools
Cell phones can be a major distraction and can be a source of cheating. For example, if a student is taking a test and has their cell phone with them, they may be able to look up answers to the questions on their phone and then exchange the texts with classmates so that they can get the answers without a teacher knowing about it. This can have serious consequences for their future academic success and it can be unfair to those who worked hard to learn the material.
In addition, if a student is using their cell phone to talk to their friends, it can disrupt the group discussion and make it difficult for students to follow what is being said in the classroom.
Finally, they can be a safety risk in the event of an emergency. During an evacuation or lockdown, a ringing or vibrating phone can alert a potential intruder where the children are hiding, and it can also interfere with the communication between parents and first responders.
In some cases, teachers have developed their own rules for cell phone use in the classroom that work best for them and their subject matter. For instance, Carrie Piegza, an eighth grade science teacher in Las Vegas, has a policy where her students are only allowed to use their cell phones during class when the class is moving forward with new content. She also requires students to sign a paper saying they are aware of the policy and that they will not disregard it.
