Why Cell Phones Should Be Used Sparingly in School

Cell phones are holding students hostage in school classrooms. Cell phone technology has advanced in great leaps and bounds recently. In schools, cell phone use has become a major concern and the usage of the gadget in the classroom is a hotly debated topic. Although they are an efficient way to communicate and can act as a useful learning tool, they are also a distraction for students who are not using their time properly to learn. explore, and discover things without them.

Schools have policies regarding the usage of cell phones. but they are not always obeyed. There are many arguments as to whether or not the use of cellphones in schools should be allowed, and under what circumstances they may be used if allowed. Research evidence from the sources tend to point in the following direction.

Although students should not be allowed to use their cellphones in in the classroom as a rule. school wide and classrooms policies should include studies that indicate the benefits of cell phone technology and focus on allowing their use when they are clearly an asset to the learning experience and learning environment.

Decisions about cellphone use in the classrooms should be developed by school administrators, teachers, parents, students and government officials to create better learning environments. An analysis of the potential benefits and harms of cellphone use in classroom is crucial to the development of new school policy. Some of the articles make the point that school wide policies on cell phone use must include studies that point to the benefits of cell phone use in schools.

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Teachers allow students to use their cell phones to use the internet to go on “resources and digital tools that support teaching and learning [and] increase opportunities for learning, [especially for those] who find learning on a tablet more personal and easily accessible…”

Cell-phones also make learning more interactive and engaging there are many software applications produced that allow students to receive assistance access their homework tasks and assignments, and submit or share files via for example. Google Classroom. Students can contact their teacher and are able to receive feedback. Furthermore, some cell phones are given to students by their parents for safety reasons. For example, when students travel to school by themselves, they need to let their parents know that they are safe and sound. Another case scenario could be when there is a lockdown occurs at school, students can contact their parents or guardians to let them know what has happened. Most of all, students with life-threatening conditions can call 911 if emergency occurs. They want immediate communication. Also. teachers can allow students to use their phones to listen to music through their headphones while they do their work.

Many students “concentrate better on schoolwork when listening to music” (Earl). Many teachers give permission to students based on this reasoning, therefore, in special situations, cell-phone use in schools is warranted. On the other hand many of the articles point to the fact that cell phone use is not allowed as a rule in a maiority of schools in the United States and some schools in Canada because they are considered as a negative distraction and deterrent to learning. Many teachers and parents in the United States have raised their concerns about cell phones. Most school administrators and teachers often regard cell phone usage and possession as a “negative distraction and [discouragement] to learning rather than as an educational learning tool” (Humble-Thaden 10). Students spend their time texting, using social media, listening to music and playing games during class times where they are not supposed to.

Notification sounds from phones are an inappropriate disruption in classrooms. Teachers often have a hard time asking their students to “turn off their phones and [pay attention]”, which they do not do. and it has become very frustrating for teachers to not have students obey their commands. Every school has a rule regarding cell phones, which limits their use in the classroom. Most of the time teachers warn students to put them aside or they will confiscate them. However, less than half of the teachers believe that the “policies are easy to enforce” (Mupinga 73). The main problem appears to be that “whenever new school policies on using mobile devices are developed, there is a need to ensure that all stakeholders are on the same page and understand the policy. Students have become extremely attached to their cell phones. “when they are separated from their gadgets it can cause anxiety and other issues. Nomophobia, [a fear of not possessing a mobile phone] has become very common and is considered worse among high school and college students”.

The anxiety arises at school when students “lose their phones, run out of charge or having no network coverage”. Another major concern is that some students attempt to cheat on tests and exams. They hide their devices and text their classmates asking for answers, or they use the internet to find answers. According to Common Sense Media. 35% of teens admitted to cheat using cell phones. Moreover. once they get caught, even though they face serious consequences, they continue to use their devices because the “policies regarding mobile devices were not specific enough to allow easy enforcements by teachers [and the administration]”. In the article by Anita 5. Charles. l’all teachers and students recognize that teachers rules about cell phones are different”. Some teachers had “a non- negotiable response to upholding the no cell phone policy. If they saw the [device] under any circumstance, they [would confiscate it]”. Other teachers applied “less restrictive [rules that seemed] to include several different approaches”. For example, Mrs. Andrews from the article states that teachers ” just carve out what we can live with and abide by, and carve out the intent of the rule”.

There are many good reasons why cell phone use in classrooms should not be allowed as a general rule. Most of all, cell phones in schools have affected relationships in classrooms. Relationships between students and teachers have been affected both positively and negatively because of cellphone usage in the classroom. The positive side of this relationship from a student’s point of view is that “students and [younger] teachers can frequently negotiate [boundaries] through relationships [built] on trust and respect” (Charles). When teachers and students communicate via technology it can help to strengthen their relationships. Although students are prohibited from using cellphones teachers can still make use of them in their classroom lessons from time to time. Through educational quiz games like Kahoot, teachers can make classroom learning more enjoyable.

According to one teacher, “90% of education is [trust, from the educators], but [at the same time] it’s respect from the students” (Charles 12). If teachers and students develop a bond, and cell phone policies are obeyed, it can make things much easier. Last but not least. it also helps some get along with each other due to the technology. The negative side of the classroom relationship occurs when teachers tell students who are using their devices during prohibited times to put it aside. There are some students that react harshly towards such teachers, and some who simply ignore their warnings. This makes the student-teacher relationships become rather bitter. Also. when students have to get together to work on group assignments or projects, some do not engage because of their addiction to their cell phones, which results in minor conflicts or a lack of participation in the group. There are some students who communicate with their phones only, and do not take the time to communicate in person with their classmates. This is a problem that is occurring all too often.

Therefore, school wide policies should not allow cell phone use as a rule unless studies have shown their use to be of benefit. This should help teachers apply the rule in a more balanced way in their classrooms cell phones can easily take control of the minds of young students. Although cell phones can be beneficial, there are also serious issues to address such as how they have created addictions, serious distractions and deterrents to learning in the classroom. The usage of cell phones in the classroom can be challenging for students and teachers to negotiate. The sources point towards the fact that cell phone use should not be allowed in classrooms as a rule. However, school wide and classrooms policies should include studies that indicate the benefits of cell phone technology in the classroom and focus on allowing their use when they have clearly been shown to be an asset to the learning experience and learning environment. These changes must come from negotiations between school administrators. teachers, parents, and students.