Cell Phones in a High School Classroom
Cell phones have been a growing business for the past 10 plus years and that is not going away. As teachers we have to find ways to either use this technology or get students to put them down. The question is, should we get students to put down their cell phones and, by extension of that question, what are the pros and cons of cell phone usage in the classroom? This is an important question because in this day and age cell phone use is normal for all students. They have grown up with the technology unlike previous generations which makes it a major distraction for some students. As teachers (certainly Tech Teachers) we have to keep up with the new technology because the younger generations are often more familiar and therefore better equipped to use it better than we can. I will analyze all the information that I can find and will analyze what teachers should do at the end of the paper.
This question arose for me because I saw many students on their cell phones in the classroom during my short practicum. I was shocked by the blatant use of cell phones in the classroom, with no reason solution available to get students to put their cell phones down and turn their attention to the classroom activities. The first part of information that needs to be looked at is the pros and cons.
There are many beneficial reasons why students should be able to use cell phones in high school. Joe Mathewson has predicted that 2015 is the year that teachers will embrace cellphone use in their class rooms. In his article he states, “Teachers recognize the pattern among youngsters, but fighting against the tide is futile, and banning a device to which pupils are so emotionally connected is more destructive than helpful” (2015). One of the things he emphasizes in his article is the use of educational apps in high schools.
One of the new up and coming things is using education apps that focus on helping students learn and pay attention in class better. Using these educational apps and programs can also keep students in constant interaction with the class and teacher. Kahoot is an app that I have been looking up and seems like it could be a useful app that I could use in one of my classroom based environment as opposed to a shop class environment. The app would not be beneficial in a shop class because I find that cell phone use in a shop class is not a problem because students are more active in what they are doing. I find this app would help with interactive and hands-on learning. Through this app, teachers can easily find out their classes’ learning outcomes and what they know. On Kahoot’s website, it states its educational mission is to “motivate participation through game-based learning and rewards in a social setting” (Kahoot, 2014). The apps design allows you to formulate quizzes, discussions, and surveys on Kahoot’s website and through a projector students can answer the questions, discussions and surveys using their smart phones. You can also track an individual student’s progress with the use of Kahoot because through user names they will be answering the questions. The user names allow you to check which students are answering the questions and also which students are answering them correctly. Not all students have smart phones, but then you can get them teaming up and using one phone which leads to teamwork, socializing skills, and constructive conversation.
Other apps that we use even as adults, such as the agenda and the camera functions, are useful in the classroom. I have found through university that I don’t like taking notes off a power point. Sometimes teachers will not post their PowerPoints which can lead to wasting time, having to copy down everything on each slide. Then one day I saw someone take a photo of the screen and the light bulb struck me; why have I not ever thought of this idea before. Students are able to take a picture of work, homework, and notes so they can study or do work later. This make helps them because sometimes they do not need to write down every word and this would help them in studying for a test. Students should still write down everything a teacher says but this would help them focus on what the teacher is saying, rather than scrambling to quickly write down the details of the slides. The other way to use your phone is as an agenda so you can track important dates. Students tend to forget due dates on a constant basis, but when they are able to plug it into their phone, they have a reference point. This helps teachers and students out. Teachers will not get frustrated when students forget or repeatedly ask for due dates, and students know their due dates.
Another benefit of students using their phones is being able to quickly and efficiently research ideas during group and individual work. This helps students not have to do as much research at home and be more productive in the classroom. In a tech shop cell phones could be used to generate a thought process for project ideas which students can find on the internet. Having access to the internet during group work can be helpful because then you do not need the inconvenience of having to book a computer lab.
While the benefits of technology in the classroom have been well documented, there are also many complications to letting students use cell phones in the classroom. The fact that you are able to reach anyone in the world on a small device can be extremely distracting for some students. The number one reason to not allow cell phones use in a class is its tendency to become a constant distraction. Instead of paying attention to lectures, students will be on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Snapchat. In a recent article by Lauren Barack, she states, “Listening to music is another popular classroom activity, according to 93 percent of students, while 91 percent admitted to actually talking on their phones during class” (2014). Students would rather spend class time looking at what other people are doing then what they should be doing. Students are not shy about cell phone use either when they are out of class. When they are in class they will deny the use in fear of getting in trouble but after class they will tell you they were using it during your class.
In a study by the University of Michigan in 2010 they noted that 75% of teens had phones and would spend most of their time well on them doing the following things:
83% use their phones to take pictures.
64% share pictures with others.
60% play music on their phones.
46% play games on their phones.
32% exchange videos on their phones.
31% exchange instant messages on their phones.
27% go online for general purposes on their phones.
23% access social networking sites on their phones. (University of Michigan 2010)
These are the major things that students will be looking at instead of paying attention during instructional time. These are all things that I have witnessed students doing in a classroom. Students feel that they do not need to pay attention in class because they will be able to get the notes later from the textbook or from their friend’s notes.
The age group that I find is the most affected is grade 10. I have noticed a strong trend with grade 10 students using their phones for a variety of functions during class time more so than with grade 11/12 students. In the same article by Lauren Barack she admits that “Overall, 60 percent of students use their cell phones in class, with 10th graders the most aggressive cell phone users and 12th graders picking up their phones the least” (2014). Grade 10 students seem to care less about school because they know they have another three years in high school before they are going to be put out into the real world. Grade 12s understand they only have one more year and are trying to prepare for the transition to university and real life consequences. I have found that grade 10 is one of the worst years for students’ participation and listening. Many grade 10 students display examples of stronger attitude than found in the upper grades and lack maturity. These qualities gradually disappear as the students mature into grade 11 and they discover the amount of work needed to graduate and attend their preferred universities.
Not all students can afford cell phones which can lead to students displaying hostility between other students. Many families do not have the money to afford current technology or the most recent version; this disparity can disrupt classroom community, dynamics, and environment. In the 2014 article by the Health Research Funding.org stated that, “Only those students who can afford to have cell phones and this scenario creates social problems such as hierarchy jealously, ragging and thefts.” Not possessing the latest technology can also lead to theft and bullying problems within schools if not properly addressed. Smart phones are valued at around $200-300 depending on how new the technology is. When I was on my practicum a student had put his phone down for a short period of time to work in the metal shop, the phone was gone when he returned after his brief absence. The matter was addressed in the class, but remained unresolved because no one came forward with the phone or any information. As identified by Heath Research Funding, bullying is another major issue in schools these days because cell phones can be used in both verbal bullying and cyber bullying. “47% of Canadian parents report having a child victim of bullying” (Stats Canada, 2012). Having cell phone use can lead to students fighting over the fact that one student has a better phone then another student. Expand on bullying aspect)
The last con for cell phone usage has become a major issue in high school because they are closely linked to more sophisticated cheating. In the past, teachers worried about students coping off each other’s papers and talking to their neighbors, but now they must worry about students using cell phones and texting their friends next to them or outside of the class with the ability to access the answers. Cheating can happen in many forms with a cell phone. For example, students can use the internet function, text other outside the classroom, and some even use head phones to receive information through phone calls. This is a major issue if cell phones are being allowed within high schools. It seems to be harder to trust academic honesty these days with students willing to cheat instead of studying and get good grades.
My first part of researching how to discipline students started with examining a copy of the school agenda to see if I could locate the school’s policies and rulings on cell phone use. An excerpt from the schools agenda read:
“Students should store cellular phones in lockers or book bags during class time and should not use cellular phones during class time unless permitted to do so by his/her teacher. If there is an emergency and parents need to contact their son/daughter, they can call the main office and we will contact them. The school is not responsible for lost or stolen cell phones or electronic devices. Students may bring them to school at his or her own risk.”
I found even with this clear ruling, students do not follow these guidelines and most teachers do not take the time an effort to enforce them. This contradicts the idea that we need to get students to put their cellphones away and listen to what we are saying. Many students are very disrespectful when you tell them to put their cell phones down and some lie about their cell phone use because they do not want to get in trouble. I went on an adventure down to the principal’s office to see what the administration’s policy was on phones. I sat down with the principal of my practicum school to see what he had to say about students using cell phones and what to do about this use. The principal told me I should let them use it half way through class for 10 minutes. This could be seen as taking a mind break. Then I could also allow another 10 minute break at the end of class so students can send a couple texts and then get their minds back into their work. I experimented with this strategy, but found it only became a problem because many students would not return to work after 10 minutes; instead of alleviating the problem, the solution led to increased use more than anything else. I started researching this strategy online with shocking results, because I found many teachers use it in efforts to stop excessive cell phone use.
One tactic that I have used to counteract cellphone usage is threatening to take the phone away and also sending the students in question to the principal’s office. What I have found is to hide their phones students will put their bags on the table and hide their phones behind them. In my second week of my practicum I taught a lesson on university prep and ways to succeed in university. During this lesson I told a student to put their phone away four times and on the last time told him the next time he can go to the principal’s office. He proceeded to tune everything out and sat there not paying attention. I found through this experience that students do not respond well to threats like this. Instead, I must find a different way to discipline students for their cellphone usage.
Another tactic is taking their phone away which is the most common method that I feel would be the most effective. There is two ways of doing this. One is taking away their phone after three strikes. This is a common reaction, but the second way may be more effective than this one. The second method is taking their cell phones at the beginning of class putting them in plastic bags with their names on them and locking them away. One of my professors used this strategy when I was attending Kwantlen, and I found that it worked well because I was able to focus on my work because I did not have a phone to distract me. The only drawback of this plan is that it is 100% my fault if this phones go missing in either method. On average, these phones are $600 which is money that most teachers do not have to spare. It is a risky method but it can work. One idea to make this work better is extremely advantageous for those in the technology education field. Because I am a shop teacher, I can build a cabinet with a pad lock on it in which I can secure all the phones. Additionally I could secure it to the wall and put it behind my desk so students are not able to walk up to it without me seeing. This is a feasible and good idea to stop cell phone use in a secure fashion within the classroom if a teacher does not want to use them in the classroom.
Taking in all this information I can make a conclusion on cell phones in high schools. I have found that the cons out weigh the pros because there are more detriments for learning then for in class use. Students will have a harder time paying attention, and will often use them to cheat. These problems create a more difficult environment for educators because then we must explain theories, homework, and lessons repeatedly because students do not pay attention during class. Students need to learn that it is counterfactual to be on their phones all the time. If you are at work, will you be allowed on your phone all day? Would you keep your job if you did not do your work? What are you going to do when you do not have a job because you lost it because you were inattentive and on your phone? Students sometimes lack the maturity to understand the consequences that will occur in the real world. As a teacher, am I allowed to be on my phone everyday instead of teaching? No, I would lose my job because I am not doing what I am being paid to do. Students need to get ready for the real world and the process starts in high school.
If you want to allow students to use phones in class, the best option is allowing them a short period of time during each class to send a couple texts and closely monitor their usage. However, if you want to go the other way and ban them, I feel like the most feasible option for controlling cell phone use is to create a lockable cabinet to store all the phones in during instructional time. I could put this container in front of the class so the cell phones could be seen by the whole class, making theft highly unlikely. I could also add it to the student teacher contract that many students sign at the beginning of the school year. This would ensure that my methods were approved by students and parents because I would have signed permission form the each student’s parents.