Teach100 Mentor: Cellphones in Schools
For anyone who’s ever fought (and lost) the “gum” battle in a classroom, warring against the ubiquity of smartphones can seem especially exhausting.
That is, unless you take the “if you can’t beat em, join ‘em” approach. Teachers polled for this month’s Teach100 Mentor Survey seem to have made peace with students’ devices, even incorporating them into lesson plans and recommending in-class apps. But considerations like keeping an even playing field among students without phones--or without a data plan--are important. So is keeping an eye on “inappropriate use,” or more dangerous, potential cyber bullying.
Here’s how Teach100 Mentor teachers work with, not against, smartphones in their classrooms:
Christopher J. Nesi, House of #EdTech Podcast
What's your school's policy on phones, and do you agree with it?
“The on paper policy is that cell phones are not permitted in the building. I definitely DO NOT agree with this policy. There's a better way to empower the students and not move backward.”
How often do you see students using cell phones while in class?
“Daily.”
How would you be interested in having your students use their cell phones in class?
- Texting in questions they’re too shy to ask out loud
- Texting in answers for a review lesson
- Using their phones to do quick research while in class
- Calculator purposes
- Recording lectures/taking pictures of examples
- Taking class polls
Have you recommended any education apps to your students?
“Yes.”
Do you have concerns with letting students use cell phones in class?
“None.”
Have you ever had a positive experience while letting students use their phones in class?
“Yes! I've had students in a former school use their phones to shoot video and take audio in addition to the equipment the school provided.”
Have you ever tried and failed to incorporate devices into your lesson plan? What went wrong?
“Not everyone had a phone. In subsequent lessons, I modified to account for this.”
Starr Sackstein, Work in Progress
What's your school's policy on phones, and do you agree with it?
“My school allows students to have cell phones on them. In previous schools, we were allowed to use them with permission. I have always allowed my students to use their phones, but I insist on teaching them how to use them for learning. They are powerful tools that can often fill the gaps of technology if the school doesn't have enough for students.”
How often do you see students using cell phones while in class?
“Daily."
How would you be interested in having your students use their cell phones in class?
- Texting in questions they’re too shy to ask out loud
- Texting in answers for a review lesson
- Using their phones to do quick research while in class
- Calculator purposes
- Recording lectures/taking pictures of examples
- Taking class polls
- Using Twitter for class discussion and other related apps for developing projects
Have you recommended any education apps to your students? Which ones?
"Yes. Twitter, Google Drive, Voxer, iMovie, Wordpress, Instagram, Webster Dictionary app, EasyBib, Dropbox, Skype/Google Hangouts/FaceTime, Prezi/Haikudeck."
What are your concerns with letting students use cell phones in class?
- Distraction
- Exclusion of those who don’t bring cell phones to school
- Inappropriate use
Have you ever had a positive experience while letting students use their phones in class?
“I have had many great experiences. My journalism students used to live tweet from events as well as record interviews and gather research.”
Have you ever tried and failed to incorporate devices into your lesson plan? What went wrong?
“Yes, early on when I wasn't sure how to help students use them in class for collaboration - it wasn't integrated well - just adding on.”
Melanie Link Taylor, MzTeachuh
What's your school's policy on phones, and do you agree with it?
“Cell phones are allowed for safety reasons. I think that is appropriate.”
How often do you see students using cell phones while in class?
“Once a week."
How would you be interested in having your students use their cell phones in class?
- Texting in questions they’re too shy to ask out loud
- Texting in answers for a review lesson
- Using their phones to do quick research while in class
- Calculator purposes
- Recording lectures/taking pictures of examples
- Taking class polls
Have you recommended any education apps to your students?
“No, but I would like to.”
Why have you not recommended apps before?
“We can encourage students in their coding expertise, but first have to get the district to agree.”
What are your concerns with letting students use cell phones in class?
- Distraction
- Bullying
- Exclusion of those who don’t bring cell phones to school
- Inappropriate use
Have you ever had a positive experience while letting students use their phones in class?
“Yes, we used the Weather Channel app to graph the temperature for a week.”
Have you ever tried and failed to incorporate devices into your lesson plan? What went wrong?
“It is a challenge to get middle schoolers to focus using a device they associate with social uses or gaming."
Lisa Mims, Diary of a Public School Teacher
What's your school's policy on phones, and do you agree with it?
“We are a BYOD district, Bring Your Own Device. I agree with it wholeheartedly and my 5th graders have used their phones in school for the last 3-4 years. This policy was a lifesaver when I did not have enough devices in my room. Now that I do, many times the students prefer to use their phones to participate in a lesson, game etc.”
How often do you see students using cell phones while in class?
“A few times a month."
How would you be interested in having your students use their cell phones in class?
- Using their phones to do quick research while in class
- Calculator purposes
- Recording lectures/taking pictures of examples
- Taking class polls
- Joining in on a game (e.g Quizizz)
Have you recommended any education apps to your students? Which ones?
“Yes. I use many apps. However our LMS is Schoology, so they use that a lot.”
What are your concerns with letting students use cell phones in class?
- Distraction
- Inappropriate use
Have you ever had a positive experience while letting students use their phones in class?
“All the time! One of the experiences is when students use their phones to join in on digital formative assessments and have a great time doing so (e.g Kahoot, Quizizz, Socrative)!”
Have you ever tried and failed to incorporate devices into your lesson plan? What went wrong?
“Thank goodness, I have not had a failure yet. If I did, I would definitely try again.”
Ross Parker, RossParker.org
What's your school's policy on phones, and do you agree with it?
“Phones are allowed in schools, but are not to be used for non-educational purposes, except for lunch in one part of school. It is an imperfect compromise, with any edge cases, but it gives us a useful framework to operate within.”
How often do you see students using cell phones while in class?
“Daily."
Would you be interested in having your students use their cell phones in class?
We are 1:1 with laptops, and these are so much more effective in most cases, that I am not really keen to see phones at all. Often I don't want to see the laptops either, unless the use case is well thought through and adds value.
Have you recommended any education apps to your students? Which ones?
“Yes. Mostly around mindfulness/sleep: Headspace, Pzizz.”
What are your concerns with letting students use cell phones in class?
- Distraction
- Bullying
- Exclusion of those who don’t bring cell phones to school
- Inappropriate use
Have you ever had a positive experience while letting students use their phones in class?
“Students can take great photos and quickly shoot video for editing on a laptop, and it is cheap and accessible.”
Have you ever tried and failed to incorporate devices into your lesson plan? What went wrong?
“Not something I have plans to do, given the 1:1 laptop programme we have in place. Without laptops, yes, I would be using phones for a range of purposes.”
Todd Bloch, Sweat to Inspire
What's your school's policy on phones, and do you agree with it?
“Teachers are allowed to have own classroom policies. Building Policy is no phones out in hallways or common areas. This policy seems to work here and gives the flexibility for staff to allow usage for educational purposes in the classroom.”
How often do you see students using cell phones while in class?
“Daily."
How would you be interested in having your students use their cell phones in class?
- Texting in questions they’re too shy to ask out loud
- Texting in answers for a review lesson
- Using their phones to do quick research while in class
- Calculator purposes
- Recording lectures/taking pictures of examples
- Taking class polls
Have you recommended any education apps to your students? Which ones?
“Yes. Remind, Kahoot, Poll Anywhere, Socrative."
What are your concerns with letting students use cell phones in class?
- Distraction
- Bullying
- Inappropriate use
Have you ever had a positive experience while letting students use their phones in class?
“In my science classroom, I have had student post pictures of the phenomenon they see on Instagram. Tagging me in pictures has lead to great discussions in the classroom. Students have told me they often review for quizzes and tests by looking at my post to different social media tools.”
Have you ever tried and failed to incorporate devices into your lesson plan? What went wrong?
“The first time my class tried Kahoot, I had access issues since not every student has a phone or data plans that can handle activity. As a teacher, you need to take these things into account and have backup plans for these students.”
Marcia, Learning in Bliss
What's your school's policy on phones, and do you agree with it?
“Our policy is phones off in lockers upon entering the building. I can live with it because I am a 1:1 iPad classroom. If I were not, I would get permission for in class use to help get technology in the hands of students.”
How often do you see students using cell phones while in class?
“Rarely."
How would you be interested in having your students use their cell phones in class?
- Texting in questions they’re too shy to ask out loud
- Texting in answers for a review lesson
- Using their phones to do quick research while in class
- Calculator purposes
- Recording lectures/taking pictures of examples
- Taking class polls
Have you recommended any education apps to your students?
“No.”
Why not?
“We have iPads. Many add the apps we use in class.”
What are your concerns with letting students use cell phones in class?
- Bullying
- Exclusion of those who don’t bring cell phones to school
Have you ever had a positive experience while letting students use their phones in class?
“We use district devices, not phones.”
Have you ever tried and failed to incorporate devices into your lesson plan? What went wrong?
“Not really. I try new things all the time.”
Carissa Peck, mELTing Teacher
What's your school's policy on phones, and do you agree with it?
“Cell phones are permitted with teacher permission.”
How often do you see students using cell phones while in class?
“A few times a month."
Would you be interested in having your students use their cell phones in class?
“Because my students have laptops most [things] can be accomplished with their school laptop.”
Have you recommended any education apps to your students? Which ones?
“Yes. Duolingo, Quizlet, Remind, Instagram, Twitter.”
What are your concerns with letting students use cell phones in class?
- Exclusion of those who don’t bring cell phones to school
- Inappropriate use
Have you ever had a positive experience while letting students use their phones in class?
“Every once in a while when a computer is having issues it's faster for students to complete tasks on their phones. I have also used a few apps I've had the chance to use in class like VR apps with Google cardboard or GooseChase for vocabulary.”
Have you ever tried and failed to incorporate devices into your lesson plan? What went wrong?
“Things can always go astray, but there's usually a plan B close at hand. Earlier this month Amazon servers went down and that meant my students couldn't access their assignment. We re-maneuvered things, tweeted links and all was well! Technology is great, but fallible.”