Cell Phones in the Classroom:
Educational Tool or
Distractional
Device?
Dr. Kenneth I. Daniels
INTRODUCTION
The advent of science and
Technology has ushered into classrooms, a novel tool in instructional
techniques. Since the events in New York City, The Pentagon and in
Pennsylvania, called 9-11, the public seems to be suggesting that parents
need to be in a position to contact their children at all times. Cellular Telephones
have therefore been given to school children allegedly for the purpose of
maintaining a closer contact with parents.
Nationwide, school
districts are varied in their approval of the presence of these devices in the
class room. Some schools have banned their presence even in the building, while
others have restricted their usage to outside the rooms of instruction,
confiscating them until parents collect them from the school deans, at the end
of the week.
Teenagers, we know, will
always seek the faintest ray of opportunity through which they can demonstrate
their challenge to the orthodox rules and regulation which provide an
environment conducive to a high standard of learning. The ringing of cell
phones during teacher instructions in the rooms set aside for learning, has
been used as a time of contact between students, or as a weapon by which class
harmony can be disrupted. Loud music is intentionally played to entertain and
encourage class participation by a few students.
Are we capable of enforcing
the Do not use in the class room rule?
Are students mature enough
to restrict their indulgence to use same, or,
Should there be a Ban on
the presence of all cell phones in the school premises?
TASK
You
are to follow the Public Policy Analyst to document: (a) The facts in relation
to the use of cell phones in schools; (b) The rules and regulations of the use
of cell phones in school; (c) The technological benefits to the students; (d)
The distractions of using these devices in the school building; (e) The
distractions of using these devices in the class rooms; and to provide (f) a
policy that would provide a learning environment with a high academic
standard
You
will then present your findings using graphs, posters in the format of (a) a
five-minute oral report; (b) an appropriate power point presentation of 5-7
slides and (c) a written report.
PROCESS
1. You will work in groups of two.
Each member of the group is equally responsible for the groups
performance.
2. Complete TIPS PPA worksheets 1-6.
A. Define the Problem: Worksheet #1
B. Gather Evidence of the Problem: Worksheet # 2
C. Identify Causes of the Problem: Worksheet # 3
D. Evaluate a Policy: Worksheet # 4
E. Develop Your Own Solutions: Worksheet # 5
F. Select the Beste Solution:
Worksheet # 6
(You may use the worksheets linked above or the printed
worksheets below.)
3.
Following
your research, create a two-page typewritten report summarizing your
findings. Use the PPA format to
structure your report.
4. Use the information and ideas in your report to create a 5-7-slide
PowerPoint presentation. This should
include interesting visuals (graphs, pictures, cartoons) along with the major
findings of your research.
RESOURCES
Use
the following Internet websites to help you in your research:
http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/006210.htm
http://forums.ibsys.com/viemessages.cfm?sitekey=no&Forum=79&Topic=5579
Should cellphones should be allowed in schools?
http://www.electronic-school.com/2000/09/0900/shot.html
disruption vs. safety
http://www.schoolsecurity.org/trends/cell_phones.html
School safety, Cell phones, Camera phones, & Pagers.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2004/06/16/schools_see_cellpho
Cheating.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/29/national/29cellphone.html?ei=5090&en=6b53e30d57
Relax
Bans?
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/story/136337p-121274c.html
Cell
phones flunked
http://www.wtnh.com/global/story.asp?s=2207043&ClientType=print
School
review cell phones.
EVALUATION
10 Points Title is clear and informative
10
points The
background color. Text and font coordinate
10
points There
are links to PPA steps
10
points Information is properly cited
15
Points The
hyperlinks are all relevant and workable
15
Points The
slides are well presented in a logical order
10
Points Pictures/Graphics/Animation/Sound
are appropriate
20
Points Your
presentation consist of a minimum of 10 slides
CONCLUSION
Having
completed this WebQuest, you should now be able to recognize the issues
involved with helping keep students up-to-date with technology, and the
challenges of maintaining adequate control of the educational environment in
our technologically sophisticated age.
With this awareness, you should be able to apply high ethical standards
to your experience as a student in a disruptive classroom. In so doing, you will be well on the road to
a responsible adulthood.
PRINTED WORKSHEETS
Cell Phones in the Class Room, Educational Tool or
Distractional Device?
Work sheet # 1. Defining
the problem
http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/006210.htm
http://www.wtnh.com/global/story.asp?s=2207043&ClientType=
1.
In one or two sentences, explain the nature of the problem your
group will research.
......................................................................................................................................
2.
Is the presence and use of cell phones
in schools, a local or national problem?
3.
According to Teenage Research
Unlimited, what proportion of teenagers own a cell phone?
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................
Cell Phones in the Class Room, Educational Tool or
Distractional Device?
WORKSHEET # 2 : Gathering the EVIDENCE.
http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/006210.htm
http://www.education-world.com/a_issues270.shtml
1.
List The restrictions under which various schools allowed the presence
of cell phones in schools
a)
..
.
b)
.
..
.
.
c)
..
..
..
d)
.
..
.
.
......................................................................................................................................
Cell Phones in the Class Room, Educational Tool or
Distractional Device?
http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/006210.htm
http://www.electronic-school.com/2000/09/0900sbot.html
WORKSHEET # 3 : Identifying the Distractions
4.
Give three examples of the situations
in which students abuse the use of cell phones.
a)
..
b)
..
c)
..
Cell Phones in the Class Room, Educational Tool or
Distractional Device?
WORKSHEET # 4 : Evaluating the
Policy.
What are the safety issues
involved in the use of cell phones in the classroom ?
http://www.electronic-school.com/2000/09/0900.html
http://www.nydailynews.com/ews/local/story/13633p-12124c.html
1.
What is the policy of the Education Department relating to cell phone use in
schools?
1. Name the instances in which cell phones, in
school, were used in a beneficial safety manner.
a)
b)
c)
d)
Cell Phones in the Class Room, Educational Tool or
Distractional Device?
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Cell Phones in the Class Room, Educational Tool or
Distractional Device?
WORKSHEET # 5 Developing Solutions :
Solution 1
......................................................................................................................................
Solution 2.
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Solution
3.