Classrooms and Cell Phones

Both sides of this argument have valid points. Yes, cell phones are used for non-educational purposes. Yes, teachers need to prepare students to function in our technological proficient world. Yes, financially the required use of cell phones will create a burdon on our school districts. Yes, there are multiple potentcial educational uses for cell phones within the classroom. I think incorporating the use of cell phones into the classroom is not a financially viable, and easily managable tool within the classroom.

"When discussing the money that districts would spend on cell phones, don’t think about just purchasing the phone. You will also be paying for some type of plan that would probably include text messaging and Web access if you were to get the most out of what you have," said Josh Allen. This explains the financial pitfalls of cell phone use in the classroom. One thing that wasn't really wasn't discussed is the gap between studends financailly. Not all students and not all families can provide their children with phones that have text messages and web access...I can't even afford web access on my personal phone. We can not expect our students to complete assignments that require devices that are out of their financial grasp.

While yes students need to understand how to use technology to be prepared to funcion in a professional environmnet, they are going to use their phones to talk to their friends, send inappropriate pictures, and even start fights with other students. Because our students are so plugged in, they will have trouble focusing on using their phones for the assignments instead of answering the text messages their friends down the hall are sending. The pitfalls of using cell phones as a teaching tool out way the positive possibilities. Although, I have heard of some successful lesson plans using cell phones and text messages and I can see maybe constructing one lesson involving the use of cell phones to get students engaged with a seemingly dull topic...maybe, but you'd have to twist my arm a bit.