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= = **New Txt Msg: Hey Im in class rite now!****C**ellphones in the Classroom



**Introduction** At most schools, cell phones are prohibited and must be out of sight out of mind. School officials tell their students to turn off their mobile devices or at least silence them because all teachers assume students will still have them around. As technology continues to advance, so does cell phone features and almost everyone carries a cell phone. Knowing this, why won’t teachers use this to their advantage in the classroom and have cell phones be another tool to use? There are over 4 billion cell phone service subscribers around the world and students are a part of those numbers.

**Definition of Concept** The idea of having cell phones more involved in the classroom is becoming more of an option for teachers every day. It gives teachers more learning tactics for students. Schools will lift cell phone bans and allow teachers and students to be more equipped in the classroom. Cell phones could be used as calculators, take pictures, use Internet access and even use dictionaries. Teachers may think of it as a great low-cost tech tool that can be used in the classroom. This is becoming a push for educators to embrace Web 2.0 tools for teaching and learning. Other techniques or features to use are polling in the classroom, using QR codes, twitter and even eBooks from the library. This is all a lot to consider for schools and teachers because it can also interfere with learning, but that’s why more rules must be enforced over cell phone use in the classroom. Everyone must be on board for this to work.

**History** There is one invention that has put friends and family just a few seconds away no matter where you go, that invention is the cell phone. Martin Cooper placed the first cellular call in 1973, a pioneer of radio communications, whom was trying to find a way to use a mobile phone to call landlines (Marples). While the brick that Mr. Cooper used to place the first call to his competition weighed 30 ounces, today’s cellular communication devices may weigh as little as 3 ounces. The video below shows the transformation that cellphones have made. Due to the competitive technological sector there are many different styles, sizes, and colors of cellphones with varying abilities, and competing companies trying to have the next best thing. The generation of cellphones that currently dominate the market is called the SmartPhone generation. With a SmartPhone the user has a personal device that can be more powerful than computers! The cellular phone has become one of the most successful inventions ever.

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**Advantages and Disadvantages** Some schools chose to ban cell phone use all together, yet some schools take a different route. A new trend has been to embrace cell phones in the classroom and try to use them in beneficial ways. Of course there are advantages and disadvantages to using cell phones in the classroom.

//Advantages// In, “Pros of Cell Phones in School – Benefits of Phones for Students” Rebekah Richards explains how a cell phone in the classroom enhances learning. Cell phones, particularly smart phones, can be like laptops but more portable and less expensive. One example is using an interactive program by downloading it on their phones. Also when students are working in a lab they can take an actual picture rather than making a sketch. Phones with calendars and planner can be used instead of paper planners. Another advantage is that students are more unlikely to forget or lose their cell phones compared to their planners, homework, or laptops for example. Another great advantage is the convenient communication cell phones provide. Students can easily communicate with their parents in case of emergency or even to just let them know when to pick them up from a sports practice. One emerging program that is free online is Polleverywhere.com. With this program you can set up polls in question and answer form or multiple-choice form in your classroom. Students can text in their responses and it will show the results right away.

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//Disadvantages// Those schools that chose to ban cell phones however seem to focus on the negatives. Cell phones may contribute to cheating on tests. Students may put their cell phones on silent and text each other the answers. Also students may use the Internet on their phones to cheat. As well as texting during class can cause a major distraction and hinders learning instead of enhancing it. Instead of paying attention students may also be playing games, or browsing the Internet. Viewing inappropriate content is an issue schools may have a problem with when it comes to controlling the student’s cell phone use. Bullying is also a major concern. Unfortunately rumors may be spread through cell phones and quickly at that. While the thought of every child having a cell phone may seem like it keeps the child safe and the school safe, this may not be the situation. For example, in the event of an emergency, cell phone signals can become jammed if everyone attempts to contact people at once, which can make it difficult for teachers to contact the authorities. If students do successfully contact their parents, parents may all rush to the scene, which can conflict with evacuations or other responses. Lastly there is currently ongoing research about the effects cell phones may have on our health. If this is true children are more susceptible to these dangers because they are smaller and still growing (Richards).

**Future of Cellular phones** Mobile phones have become one of the world’s most popular products. With today’s cutting edge technology and new innovations, these handheld devices are showing up everywhere. One of the most common places is a classroom. A recent study done by Pew Internet and American Life Project says “approximately 75% of teens own a cellular phone which is an increase of over 45% since 2004 (Wakefield).” Due to the high number of users, text and picture messaging, and accessibility, many schools are starting to put in rules and bans on most mobile devices. These are a wide variety of rules, but the some of the most common new rules include: complete ban from the school, confiscation until the end of the day if rules aren’t followed; only allowed to be on in hallways and lockers, after school use only, or as simple as putting the phone back in their packets. There are many who still see these things are “a distraction rather than a learning tool (PBS).”

However, there are some schools that are embracing this trend of cellular phones in the classroom. Schools are starting to let some students carry their phones with them at all times. The students are using them for a variety of things including: setting reminders of when projects are due, texting in answers to tests, taking photographs of assignments, accessing books on-line, and use of calculators. Many cellular phone computers are starting to capitalize on this idea of using them in the classroom. Companies such as Apple and HTC are creating apps specifically for educational purposes. Many teachers are “realizing that cellular phones are enhancing learning (PBS).” With the accessibility of phones to most students, students are starting to look up information on their phones since most laptops in schools have “less processing power then the [devices] in their pockets (PBS).”

<span style="color: #4c8383; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 18.66px;">**Conclusion** <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">For next several years, there is going to be a debate on whether cellular phones should or should not be used in the classroom. One thing that remains the constant in this debate is that opinions will vary from student-to-student, parent-to-parent, and administrator-to-administrator on whether cellular phones should be allowed or not. As the technology becomes stronger and cellular phones more available, it is evident that “schools must come up with an acceptable use policy for cellular phones in the classroom (PBS).” Are educators ever going to accept the idea of cell phones in the class or are they going to stick to the tradition teaching styles that have been taught for so many years?

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 18.66px;">** References **

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Cell Phones in the Classroom (n.d.). In //Teaching Today//. Retrieved September 19, 2011, from []

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Fredrick, K. (2011). Calling All Cell Phone Users!. //School Library Monthly//, 27(6), 40-41. Retrieved from EBSCO//host//.

Marples, Gareth. The History of Cell Phones. N.p., 30 June 2008. Web. 20 Sept. 2011. <[]>.

O'Connell, Josh. The Buzz. N.p., 22 Sept. 2010. Web. 20 Sept. 2011. <[]>.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Public Broad Casting (PBS). (2011, August 23). Why Schools Should Stop Banning Cellular Phones, and Use Them for Learning. InMedia Shift. Retrieved September 15, 2011, from Google.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Richards, R. (2010, March 3). Cons of Cell Phones in Schools. In //Suite101//. Retrieved September 20, 2011

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Richards, R. (2010, April 24). Pros of Cell Phones in Schools. In //Suite101//. Retrieved September 20, 2011

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Wakefield, D. (2011, May 23). Cellular phones for teens present new advantages-and problems-. Retrieved September 16, 2011

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Watters, A. (2010, November 16). Cellphones in the Classroom: Distraction or Tool?. In //ReadWriteWeb//. Retrieved September 19, 2011, from []