Speak Out!
Cell Phones in the Classroom
Sun, 03/29/2009 - 20:42 | EducationThe New York Times reported that a wireless industry trade group plans to start making its case for the educational value of cellphones.
But proponents of selling cellphones to schools counter that they are simply making the same kind of pitch that the computer industry has been profitably making to educators since the 1980s.The only difference now between smartphones and laptops, they say, is that cellphones are smaller, cheaper and more coveted by students.“This is a device kids have, it’s a device they are familiar with and want to take advantage of,” said Shawn Gross, director of Digital Millennial Consulting, which received a $1 million grant from Qualcomm to conduct the research.Critics point out that access to such communications usually detracts from the overall time students spent thinking about studies. That is why at least 10 states, and many other school districts, have outright bans on cellphones on school premises.
Would having cell phones in the classroom improve students' math skills or a self-serving maneuver for the industry to break into the educational market?
Keeping the Faith
Comments
I think that such devices
I think that such devices like cell phones or iPhones should be banned in children school. The main reason why I say it is that children having these things cannot concentrate on their lessons and during them they play games with their phones. I have my own child and I know what is happening. But I am not against mobile phones, because my job is related with them. I think that cell phone should be given for child who is responsible and know where he can use it or where not. But it is only my opinion. Anyway thanks for the interesting post.
Regards,
Billy Peterson from iphone development
Cell phones
A digital camera can take better photos than a cell phone and the flash chip is easily plugged into a laptop for downloading, editing, cropping and printing or sending as an attachment in an email. A laptop can handle email better, has keys one can use easily, a spell and grammar checker, translation of languages and a hard drive for record keeping, editing, transferring and networking better than than any cell phone. A laptop can send faxes better than a cell phone. A laptop can make phone calls with a wireless cell phone adapter or VOIP. A laptop can video conference and with its built in camera and and has built in wireless and TV tuners not to mention a screen you don't have to squint at.
Most people could get by with a laptop and not a cell phone though its not as easy to put in one's pocket. Other than making phone calls from something one can carry in a pocket, a cell phone is a convenience item.
Using valuable public education money for cell phones is to use scared money on a convenience which is not an educational tool.