Introduction & Rationale...
Attitudes Around Cell Phones...
Typically amongst teachers, there is a generally negative opinion of students and cell phones. During my PS II practicum, the PL group I was a part of was the anti-cell phone committee, who's primary purpose was to complain about how much students are on their phones. While at Wilson, I have heard time and time again that "Cell phones might work at other schools, but here it just doesn't work with our students".
Many teachers hold the opinion that cell phones are distractions, that students are addicted to their phones and can't handle them in class, or that cell phones disrupt learning. All of these claims are founded in truth, and there are many circumstances that cell phones and other devices are a disruption. However, I firmly hold the belief that when the focus is shifted from cell phones as a distraction to seeing cell phones as a tool, they can greatly enhance the education of students.
What Does the Research Say?...
Over the summer, I spent some time researching this, and there was a lot of evidence to back up that cell phones are a distraction when students use them without guidelines, but with clear intent and expectations, they could be used as a valuable resource. I have compiled my findings in the following argument through Google Slides:
With the belief that cell phones could be used effectively as an educational tool, my work was cut out for me. I needed to see if using cell phones with middle schoolers was a feasible option. My plan was to find a variety of ways to integrate this technology into the classroom and to do so meaningfully, so that when we were using cell phones it was always enhancing the lesson rather than distracting from it.
Why Switch to Cell Phones?...
The risk of distractions with cell phones is high, so why even bother trying to switch? Haven't lecturing, textbook work, worksheets, hands on activities, and discussion been getting the job done so far? Well, yes. Most traditional teaching styles do get the job done. But I'm a New Media CTS major, tech is my whole thing!
But if you're still wondering why you should switch to using cell phones in your class, there are some pretty big advantages right off the bat:
- Students have access to more resources through the internet.
- Students buy into cell phone activities immediately (even if it isn't Kahoot!).
- Cell phones are a favoured activity, so doing an activity that can use them optionally is an effective reward.
Expectations...
The key to being successful with my plan was to have clear expectations and purpose every time I used cell phones in my classroom. It was clear from my research and from conversations I had had with other teachers that students needed to know that our cell phones were going to be used for learning and nothing else.
My Two Rules:...
I have two rules for managing cell phones in my classroom, and so far in my experience these two rules have resulted in successful cell phone activities.
- Students must always follow my instructions for why they are using their cell phones. If I tell them to go to a website, then the only thing I should see them doing is being on that website. If they are doing anything else, then they are breaking rule number 1.
- Thumbs down means no phone, thumbs up means phone. I have a plastic thumb that I 3D printed that I magnetically stuck to my board (although a paper one would work just fine). When the thumb is up, we currently are doing a cell phone activity, their phones can be out. If the thumb is down, and I see their phone, they are breaking rule number 2.
If a student breaks either of these rules, then I confiscate their phone until the very end of the day. There are no warnings, it just happens. The reason I feel this consequence is fair is because every class I review our cell phone expectations and consequences. The first day and the second day I took a total of 3 devices. I have not had to take any since.
Support for the Rules...
Some students require some additional support to use their devices appropriately at school I offer the following supports to students to help them be as successful as possible.
- Between device based learning activities, if a student does not feel like they will be able to resist the urge to use their phone when it's "thumbs down", then they may voluntarily keep their phone at the front table. I have a handful of students who choose to use this support.
- I never use cell phones as a free time activity. This blurs the vision I have in my classroom of using cell phones as a tool for learning.
- For many cell phone activities, I use some kind of visual timer on the board. This helps with students being urgent during an activity as well as transitioning at the end of the activity.
- I announce clearly when I am changing the position of the thumb. I always give instructions before turning it to "thumbs up" and I always give a 10 second countdown after turning it to "thumbs down".
Well What Do You Even Do With Cell Phones?...
Excellent question! I use them for four main purposes in my classroom!
- Student Responses
- Interactive Presentations
- Independent Research
- Gamified Review
To find out more, click here!
