In Practice

Larry Ferlazzo recently wrote here about Cellphones In Class and expressed skepticism about including this technology in an his particular education setting. Just to give some background, some of those headlines about cell phones being used to phone in fights, could have come from Larry’s school site a few years back (I know because I heard some of them from colleagues). The district we both work in has eased the cell phone policy to “concealed carry” policy. You can have a cell phone for emergencies, but you better not use it or have it visible. School sites can have more “liberal” policies at the administrators discretion. This came about at the DEMAND of parents after a multi-hour lockdown at another high school. Parents wanted to be able to contact their children (and vice-versa) in emergencies. The powers that be had no choice but to bow to the inevitable.

Larry’s school has just gotten control of the cell phone abuse at his site. I think this might be just the time slowly implemented plan for a well thought out policy to use cell phones for education. Here is my argument why. Larry has already conceded that it was possible to effectively use these tools in other school settings. But, if poor schools are banning cell phone use, and richer schools are using them, who is going to learn to use them both effectively, and appropriately? What workplace will they be getting prepared for?

First, we have McDonalds. I think we can agree that this is a work environment where you would probably NOT be able to use your cell phone. First, it’s rude to be on your cell when serving customers, and next, you might drop it in the fryer. I remember once seeing an employee on her cell at a McDonalds and being shocked, until I realized she was going off shift. The type of jobs that will not let you use your cell are few, and at the lower end of the food chain. While lawyers and judges must turn off phones in court, they are some of the biggest Crackberry addicts in the halls of justice. I worked at a school site that “banned” teachers from using cells around students, but I often had to pull out my cell to call parents because the district phone system blocked calls out to numbers with cell phone pre-fixes. I now use my cell for documentation, etc. so much that It’s often out with students.

Next, we have professional jobs that almost require cell phone usage. I know that we as adults do not always use them appropriately (back channel IMs being used to snark about presenters at meetings come to mind). Maybe if they were used in the classroom, we would have an opportunity to teach students how to use them effectively. Banning cell phones doesn’t stop off-task, inappropriate behavior from anyone. Students pass notes, I’ve been in trainings where teachers are doing crosswords, and I’ve been known to pass comments in staff meetings that were not always “on topic”. On the other hand, I’ve asked for clarification and background from neighbors in those notes too.

So what are we going to do? They won’t learn how to use them appropriately and effectively if we just give them a cell phone?

Photo Credits:

Zombie Ordering at McDonald’s on Flickr – Photo Sharing!

Photo_010208_002.jpg on Flickr – Photo Sharing!

Crackberry Addict on Flickr – Photo Sharing!