I’m not necessarily saying they need to learn how the devices work (although some kids do). I’m more saying they need to learn how to use them, as in, when it is appropriate and effective to use their phone, and what they should be using it for. Scrolling through social media in class? Obviously not a good choice when you should be focusing on your learning. Using it as a calculator? Great! We have a calculator in our pocket for just that reason. Fact checking something to make sure what you’re writing in your essay is true? Great! Always back up your writing with sources!
Phones are just mini computers. We use computers in the classroom because we understand they’re a useful tool. Showing kids how to utilize those tools is important. The younger generation (myself included, although I graduated high school 7 years ago now) see cell phones as an extension of themselves. It’s a tool I use daily to find information, view traffic in real time, keep up to date on current events, and communicate with my family and friends. I use it all the time. I’m very strongly of the opinion that technology is never inherently bad. We just need to teach and model appropriate and effective use.
However, it’s still a big distraction. Smart phones are purposefully programmed to distract, get your attention and keep it. With all the apps that send push notifications making your phone buzz every minute, it’s hard to focus on anything else. I leave mine in “do not disturb” mode to stop getting distracted all the time, and even then I still see the god damn things pup up on screen and will change my attention from my work to my phone.
I really don’t think they have their place in the classroom just for that reason alone.
In my experience, kids who want to be distracted will find a way to do it. I’ve been in classrooms (as an adult) where phones and computers weren’t allowed. Most notably, I’ve observed a grade 7 class where with their social studies teacher, they weren’t allowed technology in the classroom, but with their math teacher, they were. There was not a different level of distraction between the two classrooms. The only difference was in the way kids chose to spend their time instead of working. In the room without technology, they would sit and stare off into space and not work, or distract their neighbour with a conversation, or doodle instead of doing their work. In the room with technology, they’d play a scratch game on their computer, or do work for a different class on Google Classroom (because that’s what they felt like working on at the moment, although they weren’t supposed to be), or doodle in Paint, or text a friend. However, through my observations of both classrooms, neither one of them had more distracted kids. The distraction was just different.
Maybe other people have different experiences in other classrooms, but my observations here have been pretty consistent across every classroom I’ve been in (and it’s been a lot of classrooms, because it’s part of my practicum to get my teaching degree). Teaching kids about respectful technology use and when it’s appropriate to use their phones as a tool in the classroom seems far more beneficial to me than just banning phones.
I’m not necessarily saying they need to learn how the devices work (although some kids do). I’m more saying they need to learn how to use them, as in, when it is appropriate and effective to use their phone, and what they should be using it for. Scrolling through social media in class? Obviously not a good choice when you should be focusing on your learning. Using it as a calculator? Great! We have a calculator in our pocket for just that reason. Fact checking something to make sure what you’re writing in your essay is true? Great! Always back up your writing with sources!
Phones are just mini computers. We use computers in the classroom because we understand they’re a useful tool. Showing kids how to utilize those tools is important. The younger generation (myself included, although I graduated high school 7 years ago now) see cell phones as an extension of themselves. It’s a tool I use daily to find information, view traffic in real time, keep up to date on current events, and communicate with my family and friends. I use it all the time. I’m very strongly of the opinion that technology is never inherently bad. We just need to teach and model appropriate and effective use.
I get your point and it’s very valid.
However, it’s still a big distraction. Smart phones are purposefully programmed to distract, get your attention and keep it. With all the apps that send push notifications making your phone buzz every minute, it’s hard to focus on anything else. I leave mine in “do not disturb” mode to stop getting distracted all the time, and even then I still see the god damn things pup up on screen and will change my attention from my work to my phone.
I really don’t think they have their place in the classroom just for that reason alone.
In my experience, kids who want to be distracted will find a way to do it. I’ve been in classrooms (as an adult) where phones and computers weren’t allowed. Most notably, I’ve observed a grade 7 class where with their social studies teacher, they weren’t allowed technology in the classroom, but with their math teacher, they were. There was not a different level of distraction between the two classrooms. The only difference was in the way kids chose to spend their time instead of working. In the room without technology, they would sit and stare off into space and not work, or distract their neighbour with a conversation, or doodle instead of doing their work. In the room with technology, they’d play a scratch game on their computer, or do work for a different class on Google Classroom (because that’s what they felt like working on at the moment, although they weren’t supposed to be), or doodle in Paint, or text a friend. However, through my observations of both classrooms, neither one of them had more distracted kids. The distraction was just different.
Maybe other people have different experiences in other classrooms, but my observations here have been pretty consistent across every classroom I’ve been in (and it’s been a lot of classrooms, because it’s part of my practicum to get my teaching degree). Teaching kids about respectful technology use and when it’s appropriate to use their phones as a tool in the classroom seems far more beneficial to me than just banning phones.