By Leah Holliday
Everyone has seen the commercials where parents are talking to their children, but the kids are too preoccupied with their phones to even hear the parents. Though it is hard to admit it, it is absolutely true.
In class, students have a difficult time paying attention. Why not incorporate cell phones, which can keep our attention, into class while making it educational? There are so many ways to use cell phones in an educational environment. Polleverywhere.com is a web site that allows someone to make and send a poll, an alert or any of the other things it offers to selected people.
With this teachers can have their students participate more in class. This would reduce the amount of students that fall asleep in class. Students will also be able to retain more information because they will have something to link their knowledge, to so drawing it from their memory will be easier.
With all the applications on any phone, there are already added benefits that can be used in a classroom setting. When a student forgets their calculator at home, their phone can serve as another calculator. If presenting something to the class, students have the ability to record or take pictures in order to aid memory.
While attending a field trip, students can document the events or important things that are observed. This can be used to create artistic projects reflecting on the trip.
Internet access can provide students with research for in class projects instead of having to wait for a day when it is possible to go to the computer lab or get laptops into the class rooms.
Every single teenager I know could use a dictionary. If we had instant dictionaries in our hands then we would not have to waste time in order to look up words, and the papers that teachers grade will not have as many errors, resulting in not as many points deducted from assignments.
It is understandable that teachers fear students using the devices to cheat, but rules can be made to compensate for this. For example, teachers could make each student take out their cell phone before a test and turn it off, while keeping it on their desk for the entirety of the test. Then teachers could monitor the phones instead of assuming that we are using them.
If teachers want the best for their students, then we should be allowed to use the technology available to use for our benefit is class. This is the 21st century and technology is made to be used.
De'Alva Glaspie • May 26, 2012 at 10:52 am
As fast as technology is growing in this day in age, cell phones will eventually have to come into the school environment. Yes there should still be regulations and rules but teachers should understand that cell phones or PDA’s can help us. For instance when teachers upload notes on the computer instead of copying them down and getting confused we can load them on our phones and follow along while adding specifics as we go along. In the end technology is growing and the school needs to just accept it.
Nelson Leary • Mar 27, 2012 at 11:04 am
I will admit that technology does have its benefits that should be taken full advantage of, but sadly our school and most schools in general do not have the student body that is responsible enough to follow the regulations. It would be nice to have iPads and such to replace our books, because one is woould save on having to buy new current books and it would take weight out of the student’s back. Some classes, like Technical Drawing, have programs for the phone that are directly similar to the classroom’s computer programs and they are “free.” Sadly we can not have these benefits in schools becasue the majority of the student body is not responisible and trustworthy enough to give them that slack, becasue tthey would abuse that privladge and instead of doing what it is ment for they would text, twitter, and possibly cheat.
John Shumar • Jan 1, 2012 at 4:30 pm
Technology is steadily growing as we enter 2012. There is no denying the fact that as we grow older and enter the workplace, technology and knowing how to use it will be key to our success. Teachers can no longer ignore this. However, it is much more complicated than allowing students to use cellphones in class. Unfortunatly, I do not believe we could cope with the distraction (I couldn’t) and games would be more frequently visited than educational tools. Hopefully in the future school will be able to implement more technology into lessons and allow us to utilize this availabile resource. But for now, powerpoints and lectures will have to remain as the norm for a classroom.
Bradley Cooper • Jan 1, 2012 at 10:50 am
Unfortunately, some students would find a way to take advantage of this privilege, which would most likely lead to its downfall. Maybe if most students follow the rules and relegations, this can become a reality.
Matt Schneck • Dec 30, 2011 at 10:17 am
I completely agree with the idea that cell phones should be used as learning devices in the school community; however, I do not believe that students shoudl be able to use them with the freedom they have outside of school as it can become a learning distraction. Cell phones and other electronic devices such as iPads could create huge benefits for students. Many students carry backpacks full of textbooks that completely weigh them down. Sometimes, this excessive weight can be damaging to the body itself. This problem could be solved with one simple solution: allow electronic devices, like the above mentioned iPads, into school so student could use digital textbooks; this method would weigh much less and students would always have access to their school materials. I like the fact that the newspaper is encorporating ideas that could further benefit students.
Matt Schneck • Dec 30, 2011 at 10:16 am
I completely agree witht he idea that cell phones should be used as learning devices in the school community; however, I do not believe that students shoudl be able to use them with the freedom they have outside of school as it can become a learning distraction. Cell phones and other electronic devices such as iPads could create huge benefits for students. Many students carry backpacks full of textbooks that completely weigh them down. Sometimes, this excessive weight can be damaging to the body itself. This problem could be solved with one simple solution: allow electronic devices, like the above mentioned iPads, into school so student could use digital textbooks; this method would weigh much less and students would always have access to their school materials. I like the fact that the newspaper is encorporating ideas that could further benefit students.