AdaptiveMobile Blogs
Boo or Boost?
5th September 2008
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Topic: Technology
School’s back and with the opening bell comes the question of mobile phones: are they appropriate in the classroom? Researchers in the UK
Despite fears that mobiles and MP3 players are a huge distraction, it is claimed schools can get the most out of pupils by giving them full-time access to the latest gadgets.
Academics said mobiles could be used for a wide range of educational purposes, including creating short movies, setting homework reminders, recording a teacher reading a poem and timing science experiments.
New-style "smartphones", which can connect to the internet, also allowed pupils to access revision websites, log into the school email system, or transfer electronic files between school and home.
This suggestion is a stretch for a number of reasons. First of all, how often are students filming movies or recording a teacher reading passages? Yes, they record video clips with their phones, but they are a few minutes long at best and honestly, how much of the school day include lessons where students are making movies?
And setting homework reminders? For decades pen and paper worked just fine and if a student wants to time a science experiment, they can probably use a watch.
The article mentions concerns expressed by school officials and law enforcement:
It is claimed that the technology is a distraction from pupils' work and fuels "cyber-bullying" - as children take compromising pictures and video clips of teachers or pupils and distribute them to friends.
Police also warn that carrying mobile phones heightens the risk of being mugged.
These consequences far outweigh the benefits that the researchers listed. And when you really think about it, what percentage of the average student population is carrying high-end smartphones? Not a big one. The devices alone can cost hundreds and there’s the added monthly data fee on top of the general operator plan.
While technology certainly has enhanced the school experience, not every single innovation is appropriate for the classroom.
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