Cell Phones in the Classroom?

Allowing the use of cell phones in the classroom is a controversial issue. There are many challenges as well as opportunities that go along with permitting students to utilize cell phones in an educational environment. After researching this topic, I have included some of the positives and negatives for this issue.

In my opinion, there are many opportunities and benefits for students using their cell phones in school. First, a cell phone can provide a different modality for learners to use which could be helpful to maintain interest and improve organization. Also students would be able to have access to this technology perhaps more easily than a computer. Another opportunity is the quantity and usefulness of the applications that are available for cell phones is tremendous. On the other hand, there are also challenges to students using cell phones in the classrooms.

One of the biggest challenges would be that not all students have a cell phone. This would create limitations in the classroom and for those students without a phone. It is not like a teacher keeping extra supplies in the classroom for students to use, having extra cell phones available for student use would very difficult and costly. Another issue comes from the various types of phones, the applications they have access to, and the cost of usage. It would be difficult to make sure all students have the same or similar phones and applications to use in the classroom. This would require teachers to have an overwhelming knowledge of phones and applications. Also, a huge concern would be the misuse and possible violation of privacy that could come with freely allowing students to use their phones in school. As I watched some of the YouTube videos that students posted I was disturbed by the fact that these teachers were violated. I know they should not have conducted themselves in the manner in which they did, but within a couple of minutes of recording and a few touches to a screen they have their privacy violated. I personally know of a student doing something similar and I feel this is not something that should be taken lightly.

I do believe that the use of cell phone have many opportunities and can be beneficial, but probably not in classrooms with students any younger than high school age and preferably used by college aged students. As for the future, cell phones or some other similar type of technology may be used in a school setting, but for now there are too many issues that still need to be sorted out before allowing students to freely use their cell phones in the classroom.