Over the last year I have engaged many educators on the topic of using “Cellphones” as learning tools in the classroom. I would say that in most of these discussions, the leading reason given not to have “Cellphones” in a classroom is that they are a distraction.
For the purpose of this post, I am placing some Webster definitions here:
Telephone: an instrument for reproducing sounds at a distance; specifically: one in which sound is converted into electrical impulses for transmission (as by wire or radio waves)
Cell Phone: a portable usually cordless telephone for use in a cellular system.
Smartphone: a cell phone that includes additional software functions (as e-mail or an Internet browser).
Personal Computer: : a general-purpose computer equipped with a microprocessor and designed to run especially commercial software (as a word processor or Internet browser) for an individual user.
Distraction: 1. the act of distracting or the state of being distracted; especially: mental confusion <driven to distraction>
2. something that distracts; especially: amusement <a harmless distraction>
Now with the terms defined by Webster, we can all have a clear understanding. Few people would dispute the advantages technology has given us as a result of the advent and evolution of computers. Technology, although not always visible, is evident or influential in almost everything that we do in our society today. It has had an immeasurable effect on our culture and will continue to as it evolves. The personal computer has enabled individuals to apply many of these advantages in their everyday lives. This however has taken both training, teaching, and learning on the part of the users.
Most educators have noted that technology has had a profound effect on teaching and learning. I think it is safe to say that with technology’s influence; many things have changed in education since the 19th Century (not rows of course). Education has adapted to technology, albeit ever too slowly for some, over the years. Technology will always move faster than education will accept it, because as a system, the conservative nature of education seems very slow to act on change and technology and tides wait for no man, or woman.
I remember a time when telephones were not even in a classroom for a teacher to use. The idea of telephones in the classroom is a fairly recent movement in education terms. Many school buildings built in previous centuries have found it difficult or impossible to accommodate telephones in the classroom. Ironically, for years districts refused to put them in classrooms with the belief that telephones would be a distraction for the teachers.
What is more distracting to a teacher and learning than the PA SYSTEM BLARING ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO THE MAIN OFFICE DURING THE PERIOD THAT LEARNING IS TAKING PLACE? How about: the cutting of the grass with the industrial mowers outside the window of the classroom, a Warm day, a hot day, a snow day, a dress up day, a dress down day, a Pajama day, someone walking in the hallway, a class returning from a field trip, fire drills. TESTING DAY, assemblies. These are all distractions. Teachers and students deal with them.
Now, if students had telephones in class and were receiving and making calls for the purpose of talking, that would be a distraction. It is not an appropriate time for such conversations. Teachers learned that when they were given telephones in their rooms, so why not expect the same from kids. Additionally, teachers have been taught classroom management strategies. They can put in place procedures and consequences to manage the potential problems of telephone conversations in class. That is not the distraction everyone talks about.
Beyond talking, there is texting. That is sneaky, stealthy talking. It is the digital form of sending notes. Note-passing is the bane of a teacher’s existence and this method is technological. Again, there are procedures in place for passing notes. The teacher needs only to now stipulate written or digital; problem solved.
Here is the rub. These kids are going beyond the limitations of voice and texting of the Cellphone, and are using Smartphones. They are doing things that can’t be done on a telephone. There must be more afoot here. The smartphone adds a new level of sophistication to deal with. The smartphone has the capability of a personal computer. That changes the dynamic in the classroom.
Additionally, kids can now look stuff up on the phones. They have access to Google and can actually check facts to dispute what the teacher might be saying. Kids can view stuff on their phone during a teacher’s lecture that removes them from where they should be, paying attention for a test. They can take a picture of the “Blackboard” for notes. They can video or audio record a teacher’s presentation. They can creatively do many things in the classroom that could not be done a year ago. They have control because they own the device that does all of this. That is scary to many educators. What many viewed as a toy-like telephone has evolved into a learning tool that can not only communicate, but can publish to the world. That is a powerful device.
If this is such a powerful learning tool, why hasn’t it been embraced by educators universally? Smartphones, after all, are actually personal computers with phone capabilities. It would seem, with many schools dedicating their computers, and computer labs to test preparation, and test-taking, that personal learning devices for students would fill a gap. Smartphones are powerful, mobile, personal learning devices. But of course, there is that damned control issue thing.
Here is a novel idea. Since we hold kid’s accountable for what they do on the internet with all devices anyway, why not teach them how to do it right. Why not teach them how to maximize their learning. We can’t expect them to use the technology appropriately if they “learn it on the streets”. Teachers have procedures in place and methods to use that can take the distraction factor out. Teachers must be open to doing this because the tech will never go backwards. Administrators must accept that control is less of an issue than responsibility. Teaching and learning will always be a better alternative to banning. Learning new ways to do things can be a very big distraction from the old ways. Relevance will always be a distraction from obsolescence!
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First comment, YES! Tom, I love your list of possible daily distractions in the middle of the post. My favorite in school was always the lawn mower. Especially when they came really close to the window and the grass clippings flew in. Always a great day as a 4th grader.
There is nothing more to say other than what you laid out so well above. I wish I had a picture of my son’s current classroom environment. I walk in, as a parent, and am amazed at the over-stimulated environment in which he sits 5 days a week. There isn’t one inch of wall space that does not have something hanging or strung across from wall to wall. Inundated with imagery, letters, phrases, words, and projects proudly on display. Yet, those things are never seen as daily distractions.
My only response was commented here:
http://sachem.patch.com/articles/from-the-desk-of-sachem-north-principal-john-dolan
Keep pushing, Tom.
“Keep pushing Tom.” Exactly. I loved this – especially the description of the true distractions!
And I’d add most cluttered classrooms are quite ugly.
Completely agree with your point of view here Tom. We are working on creating a BYOD policy at our school. I feel that we need to help the teachers learn how to teach WITH the technology rather than AGAINST the technology. We shouldn’t be worried about giving up control to the devices that students are bringing into our classroom.
Awesome post Tom!
Thank you for sharing.
I agree with you wholeheartedly and am trying to find ways of applying this but it is not so easy in less developed countries where internet access is expensive and our kids come from such a wide range of economic backgrounds.
Many teachers learn their technology use “on the streets” and do not see the possibilities. On every school staff there is a digital divide that doesn’t have to do with access.
On a bright note, I heard a technology leader in a district near me say that the parents in his area were starting to push back against school regulations against digital devices. Many students received Kindle Fires for Christmas and parents complained when schools told the kids to put them away. To me, this is a hopeful story because communities are learning about the potential of these tools together. BYOD becomes much easier to envision when parents see the tools as an essential part of learning today.
The Canadian province of Nova Scotia has just declared “war” on the “insidious problem” of cyberbullying in and around the schools. The Cyberbullying Task Force report, written by Wayne MacKay, contained a recommendation to impose a temporary ban on cellphones and digital devices in the classrooms.
Banning cell phones and digital devices in classrooms, even on a short-term basis, proved to be “dead on arrival” with high school students. Seventeen-year-old Allison Taylor of Sir John A. Macdonald High School, featured on the cover of the report, reacted swiftly, saying that banning them “simply won’t work.”
My News Report highlighted the critical issue: http://halifax.openfile.ca/halifax/text/cyberbullying-report-calls-p-12-pilot-ban-cell-phones-and-digital-divices
That story has been debated on hotline News Radio and generated a national online chat (#OFchat) this past week.
Nova Scotia’s Minister of Education Ramona Jennex quickly rejected the cellphone ban and that sparked the furious public debate. I defended her position on air, but you are far more persuasive in your argument.
We find ourselves defending the use of “powerful learning tools” in schools supposedly dedicated to teaching and learning. I’m tempted to say, once again, that when it comes to tapping into online learning “the Sky Has Limits” in our schools.
Excellent article-more administrators & school boards need to understand the importance of smartphones in the classroom; fear of not being “in control” is the main issue it seems. If classroom mgmnt is the issue, I’m sure that that same teacher has other problems and the phone shouldn’t be seen as the culprit.
I wholeheartedly agree that announcements and testing weeks are much more of a distraction than a phone that sits out on the corner of the desk. At first it is a distraction, but with time, usage parameters and understanding, they will find their niche in the class and will be embraced-I guarantee it. I am lucky to have an Administrator and Tech Coordinator who challenges us as educators to try, fail, and try again. And I enjoy taking on the role as guinea pig, as do my students, THEY are the pioneers of our program, we are just the facilitators. Thanks Tom for your insight…..
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Thanks for this post about distractions. I am someone that gets distracted at the drop of hat ;). I think it should be called ‘going off task’ (off the original task that is). I want to be doing 5 things at once, maybe that is a time pressure thing or maybe it is that I physically cannot focus on one thing at one time.
We all talk about how students today are incredible multitaskers. It might not be that we can be making dinner, writing an essay and having a conversation but we most certainly can be tweeting, blogging, talking on Skype and checking emails all at once, so is it a case of mental multitasking, rather than physical?
At EARCOS 2012 one of the speakers Cathy Davidson said something that held great resonance with me. Our brains are constantly multitasking. We are thinking about whether we are hungry, what that sound is, the smells around us, what we will do that evening, where something is, all at the same time. We are constantly synthesizing information and with the advent of laptops and other mobile devices, having all of these “distractions” all in one place makes multitasking easy.
I agree with you completely that we as educators need to be using these tools in class and finding appropriate uses for them or teaching students correct and appropriate uses for mobile devices. The days of “no mobile devices in class” changed to ” no mobile devices on in class”. It now needs to change to ” use your mobile devices effectively in class”.
[…] “Cellphones are a Distraction” « My Island View–I would say that in most of these discussions, the leading reason given not to have “Cellphones” in a classroom is that they are a distraction. […]
Definitely an interesting and innovative take on cell phones, absolutely agree. Society and technology are evolving, and it is our responsibility as educators to do so as well. This means allowing students to learn in ways that interest and motivate them, incorporate that technology in the classroom wether it is cell phones or video games, and teaching students to use the technology appropriately and effectively to learn.
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[…] And to round up – its not just laptops see this post for an idea on the effects of smartphones and some sensible advice on what to do about it https://tomwhitby.wordpress.com/2012/03/30/cellphones-are-a-distraction/ […]