The Mind Shift blog is one that "explores the future of learning in all its dimensions". After browsing their blog, it is obvious that the blog posts focuses on using technology on the classroom, reflections of teachers who have used technology, and other important classroom issues. A challenge I have been facing with students is the use of cell phones. The high school I am placed in has a cell phone policy where students are discouraged from using cell phones in the class. They are forbidden from using a phone unless it is by a teacher's approval. So my mentor teacher and I spend a lot of time asking students to put their phones away and paying attention to the class. Students are generally only allowed the students to use their cell phones if they want to look something up, or if they have extra time after finishing a task. However, I haven't seen cell phones being used strategically yet. When devices are needed, students are directed to the computers at the back of the room.
These daily classroom struggles with cell phone usage is why this article caught my attention. The article talks about creating a community of trust where students can make judgements about technology use. I think this is such an important issue because with the way technology is spreading today, I don't see any chance to "banning" cell phones from the classroom. Since we can't get rid of them, we should really try to make the most out of it. This article outlines a really great scenario that would be great to reproduce in more schools. Cell phones are powerful tools, and we should empower students to become technology producers and consumers. The fact of the matter is, as students grow older, they have to learn how to manage cell phone usage anyways. When they go to college, or are have a job, they cannot be on their phones constantly. So why not start providing them with practice early on? Furthermore, the article emphasizes the role of trust in developing this type of community. I believe trust is important for learning in general and not just in shaping digital citizenship. So building trust in the school will benefit students in more than just nurturing digital citizenship. Finally,, we've learned that as teachers, we need to have high academic expectations for our students that they can rise up to. Lowering expectations will send students the implicit message that this is all they are capable of. I think this concept can be extended to having high trust expectations of students. By treating students like they can be trusted, students will rise to the occasion and develop into trustworthy, responsible individuals.
Tahani,
ReplyDeleteYou raised some excellent points in your blog. My mentor teacher sometimes allows cell phones and laptops for "good" purposes such as looking up answers to worksheets. She tells students not to use their technology for "evil" purposes. It's such a temptation for them and often a distraction. There have been times in the class when I observe students texting and playing games on their computer and I tell ask them "Is that good or evil?". However, I agree that we also have to allow students the freedom to make responsible decisions. When they are in college, for example, they will have to pay attention in class because they are responsible for their own education. I like your attitude that giving them high expectations will allow them to rise to the occasion. It's an important life lesson that students will have to learn.
Tahani,
ReplyDeleteIm right there with you when trying to figure out this whole cell phone use within the classroom. The problem with my school is that it is actually ok for students to have their cellphones within the class as long as they aren't charging them. As I thought about this I thought back to the countless discussions that we have had probably in all of our classes about classroom norms and routines. What if we had students at the beginning of the hour actually use their cellphones for some quick bell work and then at the end for an exit ticket. Perhaps by having it embedded within the curriculum, students will on a subconscious level pick up on when they can and cannot use their cellphones. Incorporating technology but at the same time making sure that it isn't a distraction.
Thoughts?
Muneer,
ReplyDeleteThat's a really good point! Currently, we do allow students to use phones to look things up sometimes (not often), but even then, it doesn't seem to prevent students from getting off task. A suggestion I've heard that I would be curious to try is: students are allowed to use phones in specific times during the period, and once that is over, instead of having students put the phones away, they have to put them on the desk in front of them. I'm intrigued by this strategy because when we ask students to put phones away they still find ways to use it sneakily under the desk. But when they have to put it on the table, it becomes really obvious when there's no phone on the table.