Why Banning Mobile Devices in Schools?
February 6, 2008 by Steve Yuen
Mobile devices are getting smaller and more powerful. They have the ability to deliver learning objects and provide access to online systems and services. Today, mobile devices such as cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), smart phones, Blackberry, iPods, MP3 and MP4 players are finding their way into classrooms in students’ pockets. These high tech gadgets are useful learning support tools for students. Unfortunately, many teachers and administrators have serious concerns about the use of these high tech gadgets in schools. Some schools are so afraid and go extreme to ban these mobile devices for security and other reasons. It is true that mobile devices could be disruptive and dangerous in schools. So can pencils and scissors, as Doug Johnson made his points in the article “A Proposal for Banning Pencils” as well as Wesley Fryer argued in his online article “Scissors and Cell Phones.” Banning these devices is not a good solution since the Internet is not going away, and neither are online social networks, cell phones, mp3 players, and other mobile devices.As teachers and educators, we should educate our students with the proper use of the mobile technologies. We should work together with our students who are digital natives to figure out how these devices can be used in authentically ways to enhance teaching and learning. Teachers and school administrators should embrace the rich learning enhancing possibilities that these mobile devices provides and will provide even more so in the future. Instead of banning these wonderful learning tools in schools, we must ensure that educational practices include the adoption of mobile technologies in productive ways.
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What are the most popular devices in the world now? That is correct, Mobile devices. These devices can be cell phones, PDAs, laptops, or anything that is small enough to carry around. Should mobile devices be banned from schools, well, that depends on what the device is. If it’s a cell phone, YES! It should be banned. Why? The bottom line, it’s a cheating device. Text messaging is the most highly notable form of cheating in schools today. Also, in the recent news, cell phones are unruly devices used in situations that sometimes can be unexplainable. I mean things that happen between a student and teacher that I am not going to get into that shouldn’t happen. That’s another reason for banning cell phones at high schools. The use of laptops and PDAs are ok, only if they have restrictions and filters on them that students wouldn’t be able to access material other than what they are assigned to. Its not arguable, it’s doable and this is speaking from experience.
For college students, having a mobile device shouldn’t be a major problem, especially with cheating, but it is. Students shouldn’t be allowed to access their cell phones in the classroom. But, they are grown and you couldn’t say much to the student. Except when it comes time for a test and the student is caught using their cell during test, then teachers should be allowed to take the phone. Oh that would be funny, a college student giving up their phone because they were caught cheating. It happens all the time. Laptops and PDAs are very useful to college students, but it is up to them to treat the teacher with respect.
I do agree that mobile devices use should not be banned in school. With the fast development of the modern technology and the mobile devices, they are more and more useful and available to the mobile learning. Mobile learning has its great benefits and I think no one is willing to deny this fact. Mobile learning will enable learners to learn anywhere, anytime. There can be greater student engagement, more effective collaboration and interaction and it could possibly draw back the students who have already lost the interest and enthusiasm in learning. Then when we move on to the use of mobile devices in schools, the issue becomes controversial. I think it is quite understandable. One great concern for it is that students may abuse the uses of mobile devices like cell phones, PDAs, smart phones, etc. I have to confess that I occasionally use cell phone to send SMS in college as an undergraduate, especially the class is a big one, with more than 150 students, and more especially if the content and the way teacher delivered is especially boring. For the small kids, I think they may even go further to wildly use the mobile devices without the teachers’ guidance and regulation. So I think the use of mobile devices in school should be conducted differently according to different audiences. For the small children, they can use the mobile devices under the monitoring of the teachers. If the class is small, everything will be under control, especially with application of suitable central controlling system (needs to be developed), the students can not abuse the use of the devices, and they can be directed in the right way and make full use of all the instructional materials and resources. For the adult who have more self-control and self-discipline, they can be encouraged to use all kinds of devices available and best profit from the mobile learning.
I think there’s a misconception that allowing cell phones, PDAs and other personal electronic devices automatically implies permission to misuse these devices. There will always be rules and there will always be those who violate rules. But keep in mind there are also those who will abide by rules. There will always be people who misuse technology but I believe we’re missing many opportunities by placing a blanket ban on personal electronics. By the way, my opinion on this issue was the exact opposite a year ago.
I think that some people look at the use of mobile technologies from a negative perspective instead of looking at them as being something that can have a positive effect on learning. I think it is a mistake to try to pinhole the new technologies available into the current method of instruction. It’s like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. But, on the other side I don’t thinks it’s appropriate to leave these technologies out of instruction all together. I think its time to come up with new and interesting ways to use this new technology to benefit our student’s education. If we are worried about student’s using them to cheat, maybe we aren’t appropriately assessing their ability. Aren’t there other ways to assess whether students are learning besides giving them paper and pencil tests? I agree with Mr. Johnson’s article, “A Proposal for Banning Pencils”, we can always find reasons not to use any instrument, whether it’s a pencil or some form of technology, but why not try and find reasons to use them instead.
There are always going to be bad influences in the world for us to protect our children from, but isn’t it better to teach them about what is available in the world and how to appropriately use it to learn and make the world a better place. Technology is changing faster than we can keep up with it. I would think it would be much better to let students learn from what is happening now by using the technology that they have access to rather than from what appears in a textbook that may be 5 to 10 years old and completely irrelevant to their life and learning experiences.
Technology has been the learning key for many students throughout the ages. There should be more classes about using mp3s, hand held computers, I-Pods, and other personal technology tools to help students better understand our world. The real world is moving forward faster every day. Instead of holding students back on a basis of fear, school officials should embrace the use of these objects and teach from them.
There are many ways to implement such technology in the classroom. One way is the cell phone. Many students have cell phones. The most common and popular use of the cell phone is not talking anymore; it is now text messaging. Students have gotten away from using proper English when communicating with others. By adding this technology in the classroom, teachers can teach the students how to use proper English on a level the students will understand.
Hand held computers such as the Blackberry or I-Phone have been a step forward for today’s world. Technology such as this is truly the meaning of “the world at your fingertips.” The internet has been a great learning tool for students by helping them broaden their minds through others all across the world. We have gone from an age to where the only source of knowledge was in the school library to an age where anything you would like to learn about is sourced from anywhere at any given time.
Teachers can use smaller devices such as these in the classroom to increase learning, participation, and test scores; in return it can decrease disruption and careless behaviors with rules and consequences set forth in use of mobile devices.
This is really a good topic because on one hand we should understand that these mobile devices did cause some negative problems on campus, on the other hand that educators and teachers really do not know how to deal with this in some areas. I think let the educators and teachers work together with students and help them with the usage of these devices is a good idea. But I am concerning another problem: do all the teachers or educators know how to help students to use these new devices?
I mean, as we all know that kids are so called digital natives which means they are born in technology environment and also means have higher level in technology than the educators who are so-called digital immigrants. So if the educators do not know how to use these devices or they are not good at these new technologies, how can they HELP? Even the educators and teachers try their hard we still cannot guarantee that all of them can keep up with these new generations. That is also the reason that why some schools use the extremely way to deal with this: banning. The thing is BANNING is wrong, then where is the right way?
In my opinion, I suggest the school districts should response for this and they have the abilities to do this. First, they can do some researches in their own districts and find out what are the real problems, what kinds of devices appearing and how they are distractive from study. Second, they can invite professionals to help teachers to solve these kinds of problems happening their districts. This will be better for letting teachers just go online to learn by themselves. I do not think this is an individual problem in a certain number of schools. So educators should work together to lead students for proper usage is a better way than just banning.
This is a great idea. I think that students in today’s world are constantly getting new technology, and are able to better use it than students of the past. If teachers can incorporate these advances into the educational setting, then it is one more way to better help their students. The use of MP3 devices can be very useful in school, because lectures and other discussions can be placed on them, and students could listen to them as many times as they may need to help them get the most out of the lecture. Laptops, and other devices that allow the user to connect to the internet, are all great learning devices, because it really puts the world just a touch/click away. Students can immediately look up information on the internet and not have to wait until later if they are interested at the moment. Although the use of cell phones in class can be a hindrance, they are a part of the world today, and it should be taught when the use of them is appropriate or not. Younger students can have their phones taken away, but they are also very common in colleges, and used by so many people. It is hard to say where they cross the line, because people do use their phones to keep assignments and other important dates on, so that they have it with them when necessary. I am a fan of the advanced technology being part of the classroom, because I think it is only a benefit to the students to use it, as long as it is used appropriately and in combination with the curriculum.
This subject can be very tricky. On one hand, phones and music devices are an incurable distraction. I believe that they will forever be used as entertainment first and foremost. Yes, I believe that if they were taught to be able to use them for education and knowledge purposes then they would, but not always. There are so many great ideas about using these devices in elementary, junior high and high school aged kids. Even parents can benefit from learning in this type of environment. They would be able to follow progress and assignments throughout the school year. I really enjoy the idea that they would be able to take practice tests or quizzes straight from anywhere and while they are doing anything. Today, a child does not have to be of a certain age to have a piece of the technology pie. A five year old is almost as likely to have a cell phone or mp3 player as an eighteen year old. Most kids these days have some sort of cellular phone device and either an iPod or mp3 player. And because of that, it makes perfect sense to incorporate education into these technological devices. If you don’t teach them what good productive things that they can learn and take away from it, then it will only be used for recreation and entertainment purposes. Schools are a place for learning and advancement, and this is an excellent time for educators and educational institutions to pick up the slack and move their students in the right direction. Technology isn’t going anywhere, and if they aren’t taught properly how to use it…what can we expect from them?
I wish that more educators shared the same mentality you do regarding technology in the classroom. So many who shy away from using “complicated” technological devices in their classroom do so because of their fear. They fear what they do not know; they fear change. School districts today are now being required to implement a certain level of technology in the curriculum as a result of NCLB, so many districts are scrambling to certify teachers and administrators in areas of technology.
The very technological devices that have been banned in the classrooms may very well be the saving grace of the educational technology requirements set forth by the NCLB Act. If educators would step out of their comfort zones long enough to get on this technological bandwagon, the students may overall experience surmountable academic success.
In my opinion, the major downfall of technologically motivated education is the cost associated with acquiring the devices and training the administrators.
ya man ur right keep up the good work
After reading this article, I was reminded of individuals that are set in their old ways. It is quite difficult to get certain individuals to look at matters from various points of views. As stated in the article, I do agree that both teachers and administrators should be educated regarding the benefits for students to have mobile devices. If school officials perceive mobile devices as a potential problem, I believe that a focus group should be assembled to diagnose the problem. After everything is said and done, the concerns may not be as complicated as it appears on surface. I am somewhat split in my decision for banning mobile devices. There is nothing wrong for students to have mobile devices as long as it does not become a distraction.
As a former teacher, I did not want for students to bring cellular phones or MP3 players into my classroom for fear that if it is missing, it would become that student focus for the entire period. It is easy for students to become distracted; therefore, my job was to minimize the distractions as much as possible. On the other hand, if I did not see the mobile devices, I did not have a problem because it was out of sight. I cannot speak on behalf of the many educators that are against having mobile devices in schools. My final thought of not having mobile devices in schools is to relieve many parents of having the burden of wanting school administrators to become investigators and expecting for the missing mobile device to magically reappear.
I think that schools need to embrace the use of mobile devices. It is true that they can be a distraction, a hinderance, and they can be used to cheat on exams. But this is a small minority of students, and I dont think that banning these devices is the best solution to the problem. Students can get a lot of educational use from PDAs and MP3 players, and banning them really doesn’t work. In my four years at a public highschool where cell phones and MP3 players were banned in class, there was always at least one person texting through a lecture. If we embraced these technologies and provided the children with files that can be downloaded to MP3 players, PDAs, or laptops then they can focus on the educational aspect, and since the lesson is presented in some way on technology that the students understand then they will probably enjoy the lesson more. Having access to the internet during class is also very nice, and I have found it useful on several accounts. Also by using such devices in instruction we are giving our students greater instruction on how to use the devices to their full potential, which will help them greatly in the future.
I agree with the quote by President Theodore Roosevelt, “There is nothing to fear but fear itself,” and it has been a long process to not let our fears run our lives. We must engage in dialogs to determine who and when can new technology be introduced into our classrooms. The educational system can no longer use ignorance of technology or price as a reason not to expose children to where the real world is going.
Currently, schools are investing money into cell phone zappers. Before long someone will invent a device to zap the zappers. This war of the generations could go on forever. I think we need to be proactive with technology. Let an instructional technologist help the classroom teacher design a lesson plan around the device. The same devices that are used in elementary school can be used in high schools with a focus on more advanced objectives.
In my school, the superintendent, the school board and the principles do not want cell phones in the school. Yet, each carries a cell phone. I believe several would have PDA’s if only they knew how to use them. The problem is not the technology. The problem is getting teachers and administrators up to speed with technology. Many teachers that are digital immigrants who do not want to learn some thing new. They think that they are about to retire and do not want to add more things on their to-do list, to get ready to class.
At one time, cell phones where feared by everyone. Currently, millions of people have given up landlines and only use cell phones. As we know, most students of all ages have cell phones. The same is true of computers; at one time, computers where awkward to use and expensive to buy. I have a two thousand dollar computer at home, it is at least eight years old, I also have a $1,00 desktop that is twice as powerful and only three years old. Technology changes things and people.
Yes, there are times when students will be off task. However, their grade will reflects their actions. If a student is truly disengaged, not having technology available is not going to make them any more interested in school.