The Idaho Statesman published an article last week about the change in policy in the Meridian School District concerning the use of cell phones and smart phones during school hours. While it is still left to the discretion of the teacher during class, students are allowed to use their phones in the hallways and common areas. After years of trying to stop their use, the school district realized the ongoing disciplinary problems they were having with no clear solution. Instead of trying to limit their use, they are choosing to embrace it.Teachers are given the final say as to what and when the devices are used during class. While no teachers are allowing texting or calls during class, many have decided to leverage the technology and incorporate the use in the curriculum. For example students take pictures of chemistry experiments to use in Power Point presentations, they are able to use the calculator function for algebra or calculus, and translate foreign languages using the Google translator.
What do you think of the new policy in Meridian? How do you think it would be possible to incorporate smart phone technology in the classroom? What problems would teachers and students need to overcome?
Katie H.- I think this new policy is good and bad. It will be very helpful when someone to use it for educational purposes. But I still think some people may abuse this privlage and text and call during class. To overcome these problems teachers should monitor the students use of their phones so they don't have a distraction in class.
ReplyDeleteMatea(tea):) - I think that it is bad. It's cool that our phones can do that, but not for school. it's not hard to just open a dictionary or buy a calculator. Go on the internet when you get home and then translate the word. It is not like you have to work so hard to do those things. It's really easy to do those things. Some of the kids could be playing games and just tell their teacher that they are looking up something. They could also be texting. In technolagy class they could bring in their phones. If they are in a class and don't know the word so they look it up. The teachers and students would need to trust each other and both follow the rules that are set for them. :)
ReplyDeleteAaron- I think this is agood thing. I think that because it gives students some trust to use. Like it says you could use the calc to do math problems. The teachers would have to trust the students but if the students are caught red handed texting or playing games then the students would have there phones tooken away until further notice. I think we should incorporate this into our school.
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ReplyDeleteNiko
ReplyDeleteThis new law is incredibly a good idea. People would have to overcome the temptation of playing games and texting while in class. This can benefit people by making it easier to do everyday things such as using the calculatOr, reading or even typing in class.
trekster ^_^ (nissa)- I think this is a really bad idea. You can buy a calculator, buy a dictionary, etc. I personally cannot be in the same room with my iPod without wanting to just mess with it, so it's (most likely) going to be a nightmare for adults at the schools, wrangling all the cheating people texting and those playing games like angry birds during class. I mean, taking pics of class projects for later on is great, but that's what digital cameras, computer labs, and flash drives are for. I don't think this will work out in the end, just being a frustration for staff and students alike.
ReplyDeleteNatalia-i think this is good and bad.its good because they get to use the technology they have for school and then they dont have to spend a bunch of money buying certain stuff that is already on thir phone. it htinks its bad because people still might text, call, or play games during school when their not supposed to and get a bad grade on an assignment because they were messing around on their phone.they could incorporate it by instead of using a computer to look something up they could use their phone or use ther phone instead of a calculator. teachers would have to trust the students that they are doing what they are supposed to do. students need to overcome the temptaion to text instead of doing their schoolwork on their phone.
ReplyDeleteAmaia- I think it could either be a great benefit to a students academics or it could be a complete distraction. I personally would not allow them because how are you supposed to monitor 30 or so smart phones at time. I think if we could resist the temptation to not misuse the perivlige of using cell phones in class then I could see the infenent learning possibilities with them. I think they could make looking up things and making things easer to understand. You could use them as calculators, dictionaries, or even as textbooks. You would have to be able to really trust your students to use them for what they are supposed to be used for.
ReplyDeleteSena- I think that students should leave their phones in their backpacks or lockers. Phones can be a very big distraction. Most students just play games like temple run or words with friends. I think that no matter what the teachers say, there should be NO phones in school! If we incorporate smart phone technology and use it to help educate students that would be a good use. Teachers and students really need to use there phones in class correctly. They should only be allowed to use it for educational puposes. If they are doing otherwise their phone should be confiscated. They should only use them when needed!
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ReplyDeleteI don't think it was a good idea to let kids use their phones in school. They would probably mess around and play games rather then do homework. Plus o don't know how one teacher could monitor 30 phones. One way smart phones could be incorporated into school would be to.use them for technology class. Teachers could have kids use smart phones instead of spending thousands of dollars on computers. Some difficulties teachers and students could face would be kids texting and playing games than doing homework like they be. If students are caught they should have their phones taken away. Some smart phone usage could inhance learning too much could stop it.
Gabi- i think this policy could be really good. but it could also be bad students would have the temptation of txting or calling but if they dont do that there phones could really help them. i think we could incorporate them into our class by letting kids use them to help with there studies or like the post said taking pictures in science for a power point. so i think letting kids use their smart phones in class could be a really good idea.
ReplyDeleteRyan-This new rule is cool but, there is a bad side to this rule.This rule would be good if you need to show a power point and you forgot the flash drive but, must people don't forget the there phone if they have this.The reason this could go bad because kids could be texting during a test or homework that is meant to be done alone.They could incorporate bye letting them use the calculator or show power point.So its like a small computer. I think there should be a limit the use of the phone. LIke no going on the internet if so there would be a consequence.This could be a good idea it all depends on the staff and students.
ReplyDeletebelle- i think for sure NO because i see kids at the mall walk into a wall becuse their heads are shoved into their phones i think this would happen if we did this. i do like conors idea of bringing them to `tecnology becaus ethe word has started to revolve around phones so i think it wuld be cool to learn about what these things can actully do
ReplyDeleterobert- its alright but does it really matter we already have flash drives and calculators kids just want a reason to break the rules by saying they were using it for a school activity when truly they were using it to cheat on a test. its pretty stupid idea if u ask me to let students use smartphones.
ReplyDeleteThe Freight Train of Awesomeness (Dan)- I like the new policy in Meridian. I think it will help students with their homework and it will enhance their learning. I do think this new policy has a bad side though. The policy will make texting and calling a bigger problem in classes. It will cause distractions in classes because you could pretend like you are using the calculator on your phone, but you are actually just texting someone. I think it would be possible to incorporate smart phones in classroom's if somehow a computer could monitor what you are doing on your smartphone. Then if the computer catches you off topic from actual school work then the computer will automatically inform your teacher and then your teacher will take away your phone. The problems students and teachers would need to overcome is that students will be tempted to use their phones for something that is not related to school and teachers will have to be able to deal with the distractions that block the students from learning.
ReplyDeleteJacob_ I think that using smartphones in between classes is not a good idea.I think people will text during this time ans misuse the priviledge. i think that people could use their smartphones as calculaters. Teachers and students would need to overcome the temptation of using the smartphones incorrectly in the students case, and getting used to seeing kids with iphones in class for the teachers.
ReplyDeleteJacqueline; In ways I think the new policy is smart, but a little risky. I think it would be cool to have your cell phone with you , but bad because kids could miss use the privilege. I think smart phones could be incorporated into the class by using it as a learning tool. It could be used as a calculator, help quickly search the web, and give kids a chance to explore the different possibilities with different apps. Texting would have to be a big thing to overcome. Also, learning to not abuse the internet might be n issue, but I think that with the right discipline and a little effort and self control, this could make a great learning experience.
ReplyDeletep.s. sorry I couldn't answer the blog any earlier. I just got back from a trip and where I was it wouldn't let me log into the blog. Sorry :(
Vince-i think it is good if there are restrictions on them like: no internet, no messaging, and there should be high security on what you are able to do on it. they could eliminate text books and add smart phone technology to have books on. They could also use them to do homework instead of using paper. they would have to overcome lots of difficulties like: it would take alot of learning to use them, cheating, it would be a little destracting to have all of that technology around in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteVinceP.S. same thing jacob said in his P.S.
DeletePeter-I think that it is just plain crazy. Not one person is going to listen to that rule. The are going to find a way to text in class such as Siri on the new iPhone 4s. When I went to public school I've seen people text in class.They will not use the smart phones as calculators. It is NOT a learning tool. Teachers and students will never get along using this method.
ReplyDeleteCatie-I think that that rule is sort of stupid. Do they really expect the kids to not text in classes or something? Nobody's going to be paying attention in class anymore. I think it would be just plain silly to try to incorporate the smartphone technology in class. We do perfectly fine without it. I think that there will be many student-teacher conflicts with this rule.
ReplyDeleteHinks(cody) i think that it would be awsome to be able to use my phone in the middle of school but it proble does help with paying attention.I know of some apps that you can project cells for science but thats just about it.Students would need to fine a way of learning what they need to but still have a little fun.
ReplyDeleteAlice*-OOOOOhhhhhh....I don't think that Meridian school chose the right thing because now they're going to still have the problem of getting kids off when you want them to. If a teacher was trying to teach and the kids are getting texts and pictures or checking facebook, the teacher is going to have a pretty tough time trying to get them off. But there are some up sides, it would eliminate the problem of big computers for students and phones are extremely portable making it easy to use. The students are going to have to find the fight times to use the privilege, and when the wrong time to use it is. And the teachers are going to have to adapt to not be so strict with phones, and embrace the new rule.
ReplyDeleteAzi the ghost adventures freak- I think they shouldn't have phones in school because it can become a very bad problem like cheating on test or playing games in class or not paying attention. Just so many problems can happen in class since it's better to learn the old fashion way and get unhooked from electronics. So I think the rule is stupid and lame not trying to hurt anyones feelings.
ReplyDeleteEmma- I do not like the new policy in Meridian. To many kids have an obsession over there phones. Letting kids have their phones in class can lead to major disassters!! If all of the kids in a classroom were busy txting and on facebook or getting news updates and things in class like that the teachers would have a tough time trying to get 25-35 kids off of their phones! In some cases their is a reason to have this rule. The school comity wouldn't have to pay for big computers or other technology devices, and cell phones are easy to have around and to just pull out of your pocket if needed.
ReplyDeleteDillon - I don't think that it is a good thing because students should not be allowed to use their cell phones or smart phones in class at all. I think that they could incorporate smart phones in class by letting kids use the internet to look up quick stuff, like what a word means. Some of the problems that they would have to overcome are inappropriate stuff on the internet, and calling and texting in class.
ReplyDeleteTaylor- I think kids shouldn't be allowed to use their phones in school. Sure they could use it for science and math, but what about the kids that don't have a phone? Or the ones that do, but not a smartphone? They would probably feel really left out and think they were the nerdy kids in school. Phones would also be a big distraction and kids might play games during class instead of using them for school. But teachers could use them for screen projections and schedules and stuff like that. Problems would be the phones running out of battery and having them not hook up to the computers properly. They would probably be one of the biggest distractions in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteCaleigh- I think it will be good over all there might be some issues with going on the internet like Facebook and twitter to much. Like with a learning exercise they could use their phones to find information to use and also calculators for math or whatever. Some issues will be like trust like trusting the kids wont go on the internet and not doing what they are supposed to.
ReplyDeleteStephanie. I think that using cell phones in class is not a good idea. Teachers might try and prevent texting during class but if everyone has their phones out how will they know who's really working or texting? They could use their phones to look up things on the internet or take notes but I don't think it's a hood idea . Issues would be keeping the kids focused and on task
ReplyDeleteStephanie. I think that using cell phones in class is not a good idea. Teachers might try and prevent texting during class but if everyone has their phones out how will they know who's really working or texting? They could use their phones to look up things on the internet or take notes but I don't think it's a hood idea . Issues would be keeping the kids focused and on task
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