The debate on cellphone usage in the classroom is one that has been argued for a while but is really prominent today. With schools like ones in Victoria, B.C banning cellphone usage for their students it begs the question, should cellphones be banned from elementary and high schools?
In a world where digital technologies are advancing it would be outrageous to try to attempt to take away cellphones in classrooms and turn a blind eye to the emerging role cell phones play in society; although it can be argued that they can be distracting, that is a just a bigger reason to integrate them into the classroom.
Once a teacher allows cell phones into their classroom they are able to discuss the positive and negative implications of cell phone usage with their students more openly.
In addition, using cellphones can enhance learning in many ways. There are various apps that have been developed specifically for classroom learning and these apps can be used to aid the teacher in displaying their concept in a refreshing way so their students stay more engaged with the material. Cellphones are also a great tool for collaboration. Humans are distinct from other species because of their ability to collaborate and we should welcome cellphones as a tool for that. Cell phones can be used for group projects and discussion forums. Discussion forums are becoming obsolete due to the emergence of social media, and with the integration of cell phones into the classroom students can be introduced to these discussion forums.
Furthermore, many schools do not have the budgets for IPads or computers for each of their students. With the integration of cellphones in classrooms students can do online work with various different learning sites and not feel as though they are left out of this new technological world because their school does not possess the budget.
In addition, it is easier to control cellphone usage when cell phones are allowed in classrooms. If cell phones are banned from classrooms then students will find ways to hide these phones while still using them in the classroom and therefore being more distracted. When cell phones are allowed in the classroom the teacher can have students place the cell phones on their desk or in a basket so the teacher is able to keep an eye on the cellphones and students will be told when they can use them. Students will not feel like they are completely banned from cell phones, but will be taught how to use them in a responsible way to make learning more fun.
A concern individuals have presented against the usage of cellphones in schools is increased cyber bullying. As someone who works in elementary and high schools, I have noticed that many schools are able to track what their students are doing while using school Wi-Fi. Students are aware of this and therefore state that they are more concerned with what they post as they know they are being watched. They are able to use technology more responsibly and not use it as a way to harm others.
Overall, in today’s society technology, specifically cellphones are a big part of the culture. If we ban cellphones from schools we are ignoring the positive and negative implications of them and acting as if they are not a major aspect of student’s lives. If schools are able to integrate cellphones into the classroom they will be able to better educate students on how to responsibly use cellphones and use them as a tool to advance education and learning.