I'll end this week as I started: the subject is cell phones in the schools. I found a really nice article from Glencoe online dealing with the cell phone issue in schools by Elizabeth Melville. It is not very long but touches on some of the problems I have previously alluded to (with some good links) as well as some of the educational benefits cell phones could provide, such as the function of "a calculator, digital camera, internet access, and dictionary." Of course, other more creative uses can be devised and some are referenced in the article.
What continues to ring out to me is that regardless of how far we advance as a society, especially from a technological standpoint, we appear to be going backwards in terms of teaching and requiring self-control from our students as well as keeping our human yearning for self-indulgence in check. The author refers to many school districts giving in altogether to the wishes of parents and students where the phones are concerned with some allowing unrestricted use and others asking that they be left off. One can only imagine how the latter scenario generally works out!
This type of nagging problem may well be the constant spawn of the union between schools and technology. I can recall how wonderful the first internet connection in our school was...right up until the first access of a site hosting explicit photos! Of course that battle is still constantly being waged with the victors alternating between tech support and innovative students. We must remember, however, that the first fiery crash did not spell the end of the automobile and I suppose the history of educational technology will closely mirror that of the auto industry. That is, the models will keep changing along with better performance and options and the safety features will evolve right alongside!
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Phones can be great. Parents can be reached in case of emergency, and I speak from experience when I say the calculator they all come with is such a help! I do think , however, that you are right on the money when you say we aren't requiring self-control from students. It's a societal problem, however. Everything is about over-indulgence. The food we eat, the clothes we wear, the money we spend...America has a problem with controlling itself. Even manners are missing (I notice this, and am bothered by it, even though I am only 23! I can't imagine how my older collegues feel.) I think until respect for teachers is reinstated, and until people stop over-indulging on everything, phones in school should be limited. I do like the idea we had about the Blackberry, because activities on those can be monitored in a way that they can't on a personal cellphone. I do know that certain phones allow parents to "spy" on their kid's activities. Perhaps teachers will one day be allowed to do the same thing (only during school hours, of course.)
I saw this post after I made my suggestion about the Blackberries yesterday. My idea came from choosing a piece of technology that is a part of every day life for most youngsters, cell phones. The saying that, if you can't beat them, join them, is definitely true. Now that cell phones become more advanced (i.e the Blackberry), it only makes sense to utilize them along with the technology that is already used in the classroom and at home (computers, iPods, digital cameras and camcorders, etc). As long as ground rules are in place regarding appropriate use, I think students will be extra motivated to use something they're already used to, but for educational purposes. I'm sure that most of you agree with me on this, when a student has a computer/laptop, cell phone, camera, iPod, or other "techie toy" in their hands, they are rarely off-task.
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