Journal 3: SHOULD CELL PHONES BE BANNED FROM CLASSROOMS?

In this article, Josh Allen and Liz Kolb give their opinions regarding the question on whether cell phones should be banned from the classroom or not. According to Allen cell phones should not be used as a teaching tool and should be banned from the classrooms. According to him, if schools were to accept cell phones as teaching tools not all students have the kind of cell phones with the features require in order to be used as educational tools. In the case that schools were to provide this kind of cell phones it would be better that the money were spent in more appropriate and advantageous tools as laptop or other technologies. According to Allen students already spent too much time using their cell phone for not educational purposes and if cell phones were to be used in the class room it would reduce the already reduced time students spent in the classroom setting.

On the other hand, Kolb is of the opinion that since cell phones is a technology many students already have, instead of wasting time and resources trying to ban it from school settings, teachers and administrators should try to find ways to use cell phones as educational tools. She mentions that cell phones can be used to construct knowledge, collect data and as a collaborative communication tool. And with the many features basic cell phones have, cell phones can be a good assistive technology for students with special needs special needs. Also since many cell phones can couple with free Web 2.0 tool students can create innovative class projects. Also cell phones can be used to keep constant communication with students and parents. And to resolve the issue of students being distracted by cell phones during class students can compromise to turn in their cell phones and pick them up when the class ends. According to Kolb currently students do not know cell phone etiquette and by allowing students to use their cell phones as educational tools teacher can teach them proper cell phone etiquette.

Should cell phones be banned from classrooms?
Before I read this article I probably would have said yes. After reading this article my answer has change to it depends on whether the students are willing to compromise to not use their cell phones during class since it not only distract them, but also his/her classmates and teachers. It also would take hard work from teachers and administrators to come up with good educational activities where students could use their cell phones. Another issue that I think should be taken in consideration when considering whether to ban cell phones in school settings is what is going to happen with those students that happens to not have cell phones or be able to afford Internet. After ensuring that all students have access to this technology, setting boundaries for the use in cell phones in the classroom and having educative lesson plan including this technology then I think it would be alright to use it in the classroom.

How would I see myself using this technology in my classroom?
Although I think I would’t allow my students to use the cell phone during my math class I think that if they have access to the Internet I think I would have a blog, wiki, or forum where students could ask questions about homework or questions about class notes. However, if there are students with special need, for example hearing impaired students I would allow these students to use the cell phone during class if they have a program like the one Kolb mention in the article that can record audio on a cell phone to create text-written e-mails which would actually facilitate their learning in class.