Introduction

It is rare that a day will go by in school that someone's cell phone does not go off. Catchy and irritating ring tones are a disruption to professors and students. Lectures and learning inevitably come to a halt as a student shuffles in their bag to turn their cell phone on silent. However, with the increasing capability of cell phones is there a way they can productively be used in the classroom? Are they a necessity or a menace? You may see them and hear them everywhere in years to come. According to Karen Henke it's because "technologies that are flexible, small and affordable are going to be dominant in the classroom in the future"(Electronic Education Report, 2005, p. 1). With more and more students having access to cell phones and younger and younger children (St. Gerard, 2006, p. 44) the question inevitably arises, do they have a place in the classroom?

Disadvantages

To begin, the most common argument is that cell phones cause stress for teachers, students and administrators (Honawar, 2008, p. 29). Recently with the phenomenon of popular sites such as face book, my-space, and you-tube teachers have found themselves the punch line of cruel jokes (Honawar, 2008, p. 29). Teachers no longer have privacy rights to their own classrooms as the fear of being taped has changed how teachers interact with their students (Honawar, 2008, p. 31). It’s not only teachers that are affected by embarrassing pictures and video taken with cell phones. Students also come to school with the fear of being taped, recorded and later mocked, it has deterred students from participating in class discussions as well as other areas of school (Honawar, 2008, p. 31). With a constant internet connection available on cell phones, cyber bullying is made easier and more accessible (Obringer, 2007, p 41). Cell phones are taken everywhere, into locker rooms, bathrooms, and other locations where their operation can violate the rights of fellow students (St. Gerard, 2006, p. 45), bringing to light sexual harassment issues. Students are able to downloaded inappropriate pictures, video, share it with other cell phone users, and post it on the web (Williams, 2006, p. 13).
In addition to disruptions cell phone capabilities have now have made cheating an issue. Cell phones with calculators and texting plans have allowed students the ability to solve questions and exchange answers with others. Phones with cameras allow students to take pictures of exams/tests and post information or pass it along to fellow students (Obringer, 2007, p. 41).
In the past, cell phones were banned as a result of their association with the drug trade (St. Gerard, 2006, p. 44), and times have not changed. Administrators are finding students still use cell phones to coordinate drug deals (Williams, 2006, p. 13). Students and members of rival gang groups call each other via cell phone when arguments and problems ensue creating a safety concern for all students (Williams, 2006, p. 13).

Advantages

One of the advantages of allowing cell phones into a classroom was never more evident till soon after the shooting at Columbine High School on April 20th 1999. The first phone calls to 911 came from students in the school using their cell phones (St. Gerard, 2006, p.44). This leads to perhaps one of the main arguments parents have allowing cell phone use in schools. Cell phones are the best way and sometimes the only way to reach students especially older children (Fischman, 2007, para 12). Parents want the ability to contact their children and have children reach their parents and 911 in the case of an emergency (Honawar, 2008, p. 33). In addition to emergency situations, busy parents enjoy the convenience of being notified and notifying children of family schedules (St. Gerard, 2006, p. 44) after school clubs, and detentions instead of leaving messages with a school secretary (NEA Today, 2001, p. 11).
Camera capabilities can have a positive impact on students and their school work. With cameras and video tools on cell phones students can capture pictures or record school notes if on a school field trip or in class. These videos and pictures can be used to enhance school assignments and learning potential (Obringer, 2007, p. 41).

Policy

While some divisions in Manitoba have a cell phone policy others have none. Certain measures have been taken in regards to regulating cell phone usage in our schools. Some policies ask students to not bring any electronic device on to school properties (St James School Division, 2008, p.1) or simply to turn their cell phones off and put them in their lockers during school hours. Penalties associated with the misuse of a cell phone on school property ranges from detention, suspension from school and its activities, to confiscation (Pembina Trails School Division, 2008, p.1). Students who are caught using their cells during school hours may have them taken away and must later be picked up by a guardian (St. Gerard, 2006, p. 45, St James School Division, 2008, p. 1). One community college in the United States has found a solution to the problem of cell phones going off in class. A professor announced there would be a pop quiz every time a cell phone rang, when a student leaves class to answer their cell phone or make a call it results in an unexcused absence (Gilroy, 2004, p. 57).

Cell phone bans and policies mostly address students but what about school faculty members? Many schools allow teachers to use their cell phones (Obringer, 2007, p. 44). Some principals have found that teachers also use their cell phones for non work related purposes (Obringer, 2007, p. 44). If it is acceptable that teachers use their cell phones during free periods why not students? Principals that participated in a study by The Journal of Technology Studies, discovered that instructional time was not lost while faculty members used their cell phones, and that school safety could be improved in the event of an accident teachers could call for help (Obringer, 2007, p. 41). It is naive to think that in some way non school related phone calls by a teacher would not impact their instruction. Unsubstantiated evidence has suggested that some faculty members receive and make phone calls during scheduled class time (Obringer, 2007, p. 45).

Success in the classroom

In the United States a unique project called "Project K-Nect" recently began in North Carolina to address declining math and science skills with grade nine students. This free program allows teachers to distribute problems to students and gives them a chance to solve each using their mobile devices. Students who cannot solve equations are able to seek help from peers or access tutors for additional help (Ramaswami, 2008, para 4-6).
"Studywiz Spark", another initiative is a learning management system that is customized for I phones and I pods. Used in only one school in Canada (Kelowna Christian Open School) and over twenty-one other countries around the world, the program allows students from grades K - 12 access to resources such as RSS feeds, podcasts, e bulletins, multimedia, discussion, on line polls, and testing to name a few. It has allowed parents, teachers, and students to collaborate and personalize projects, participate in chat forums and connect students to a constant feed of updated information (Ramaswami, 2008, para 4-6).
To ensure that all students have access to and can afford a cell phone, some universities have partnered with a wireless carrier. The university sells mobile devices for less than the regular rates and includes text messaging and mobile web browser (Fischmann, 2007, para 12).

Conclusion

At the beginning of the year students are given an agenda to manage their schedules but are unable to use their blackberries to stay organized (Ramaswami, 2008, para 4-6). It hardly seems fair that as technology develops we are not able to utilize the power they have. Cell phones are like mini computers, many provide the same capabilities yet many schools are reluctant to allow them on school property. Based on current Manitoba School Policies it seems that for the time being the disadvantages out weigh the benefits. One can argue either way, and while other schools have adopted a 'can't beat em join em' mentality, here in Manitoba we wait for the problems of this new technology to be ironed out. Vote below! Do you believe that cell phones should be allowed in the classroom?

Slide Show

Please feel free to use this slide show presentation in your classroom!

http://docs.google.com/Presentation?id=dfrcv3xw_9gs9285dq

References

(2005). Companies Look At Educational Potential of Cell Phones, But Questions Linger. Electronic Education Report. Vol. 12(6).

Fischman, Josh. (2007). The Campus in the Palm of Your Hand. Chronicle of Higher Education. Vol. 53(36)

Gilroy, Marilyn. (2004). Invasion of the Classroom Cell Phones. Education Digest. Vol. 69(6)

Honawar, Vaishali. (2008). Cell Phones in Classrooms Land Teachers on Online Video Sites. Education Digest. Vol 73(6)

Manzo, K. Kennedyx. (2008). The Cell Phone: Turning it into a Teaching Tool. Education Week. Vol. 28(3)

Obringer, S. John., Coffey, Kent. (2007). Cell Phones in American High Schools: A National Survey. Journal of Technology Studies. Vol. 33(1/2)

Pembina Trails School Division. Retrieved October 15, 2008, http://www.pembinatrails.ca/shaftesbury/documents/NEWELECTRONICDEVICESPOLICY_001.pdf

Ramaswami, Rama. (2008). Fill 'er up! T H E Journal. Vol. 35(5)

(2001). Should Cell Phones and Pagers Be Allowed In School? NEA Today. Vol. 19(6)

St. Gerard, Vanessa. (2006). Updating Policy on Latest Risks for Students with Cell Phones in the School, Education Digest. Vol. 72(4)

St James School Division. Retrieved October 15,2008, from http://polmanual.sjsd.net/

William, Armstrong. (2006). Classrooms are No Place for Cell Phones. New York Amsterdam News. Vol 97(27)