Should students be allowed to have cell phones at school? Many parents and educators have traditionally answered that question with a resounding “no”- due to concerns about classroom distractions and disciplinary issues for teachers.
More recently, however, some school administrators are be picking up the call for students to use their own mobile technology and giving a different answer. According to this article, many educators are beginning to favor using cell phones and mobile devices for learning! Because teachers can synch learning apps or allow their students to use their phones during class educational activities, some educators now feel that it’s better to get students using their mobile devices for in the classroom, rather than trying to ban students from using the devices.
Of course, there are other issues that would need to be resolved before cell phones and mobile devices can be used in schools. For example, educators will want to make sure that all of their students have access to the same learning apps and decide who will cover the costs, before the technology can be used in the classroom.
But despite the issues of cost and access, the trend toward inviting students to use their phones to participate in class seems to be catching on.
So what do you think? Should cell phones be integrated or banned? Let us hear your thoughts!