I never thought mobile phone usage in the classroom would be a considered option, but as the technology grows mobile phones are becoming more children friendly. If mobile phones were used for educational purposes than that’s fine, but we all know that wouldn't be the case. I know if I was given a phone in school I would be doing what I wanted just like I did in IT classes at school.
I believe if you are old enough to have a job, earn your own money and are capable of the responsibility to pay for your phone than you should be allowed to own a phone but kids are kids and they don't understand the value or the responsibility yet. Most parents get their children phones because they are nagged enough by their child or they want to be able to contact their child whenever they want. I know from experience that my step brothers both got mobile phone at the age of 11 & 14 and never did they have the phone switched on, on them or have any credit in case of an emergency.
If we allow mobile phones to be in the classroom/school it just gives children another way for bullying and peer pressure. When I was at school it was, what bag brand and pencil case you had but now it will be what brand bag and pencil case and oooh do you only have the $50 phone? I want to know why kids are taking their phone to school if they aren't allowed to use it. What purpose will a mobile phone offer that a computer won’t?
I don't agree on phones in the classroom or children even having a mobile phone but this is our technology world, and we are either going to have to be acceptant of it and somehow introduce it in a positive way or keep locking up phones during school hours.
Karla Turvey
Hi Karla, Did you add your comments to the wiki? If not you still can. Then you can blog about using a wiki and how easy/hard it was and if you would use it with your students. You can blog about DeBono's six hats as well - was the framework useful in helping you think through the issue? Would you use this with students - why/ why not?
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