These days, more and more students are bringing cell phones into the classroom. Even elementary school students have cell phones in their pockets and backpacks. But one question always remains in the air: students must use cell phones at school?
This is a debate that many parents and teachers have throughout the process of teaching young people. Students check their phones in the classroom an average of more than 11 times a day. This can result in too much time being distracted from schoolwork.
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With students spending their time in class texting, emailing, and checking social media, it's no wonder that the cell phone debate in the classroom is alive and well. controversial.
Learn more about pros and cons of students bringing their cell phones into the classroom.
Strengths
- technology and learning
Smartphones give students access to tools and apps that can help them complete and stay on top of their assignments in class. These tools can also teach students to develop better study habits, manage their time better, and help them develop organizational skills.
- Digital teaching platforms
Using social media can keep students interested in lessons and encourage them to participate in discussions. Some teachers create Twitter hashtags or message boards that students can use during class discussions to share thoughts and ideas. This can be especially helpful for students who are not comfortable with public speaking.
- digital materials
Teachers can take advantage of cell phones by providing students with resources to find more information on a subject. This can include videos, news, and online discussion groups. Allowing students to access these resources can help encourage participation and discussion.
- access to information
Cell phones can give students access to more information, allowing them to research more about a topic while conducting classroom discussions. This is especially positive for current events that have not yet been portrayed in textbooks.
Negative points
- distractions
When students use their smartphones to check social media and send text messages to their friends in class, it creates distractions for those students and their peers alike.
- cyberbullying
Cell phones can also lead to increased problems with bullying in the school environment. O cyberbullying it can be more difficult to notice than other forms of bullying, making it difficult for teachers to identify and stop when it happens.
- fraud
Cell phones can be used by students to access information while taking a test. Even if a student is not picked up, it can lead to poor understanding of the material in the future and is unfair to students who have studied hard to do well.
- Lack of interest in face-to-face activities
Devices can lead to fewer discussions and fewer learning opportunities. Learning to work together with others is an important part of a student's education and can be lost if a young person is dependent on digital technologies.
So what is the solution for schools and parents?
Common sense must prevail as we leverage the strengths of technology and practice everything in moderation. Smartphone use will continue to be an ongoing issue for parents and schools, particularly in terms of content, what is considered appropriate and also how it should be managed.
Schools must be at the forefront of ensuring that cell phone usage policies and practices match current technologies. Institutions should ensure that they are addressing psychological, social and health issues associated with technology (e.g. lack of sleep due to late night phone use, cyberbullying, etc).
Both schools and parents have a role to play in setting boundaries, providing guidance on appropriate cell phone use, and teaching self-regulation and self-control skills. Parents can and should serve as role models for telephone use. This isn't to say that parents should only use their smartphones in private, but they should try to control usage while they're trying to teach their kids.
Knowing that certain behaviors are acceptable in some places but not in others is the crux of how to teach young people to better use cell phones at school.
