Smartphones in Classrooms?

According to a news article in from Global today, the Toronto District School Board is lifting it’s cell phone ban in classrooms starting in September.

Trustees of the Toronto District School Board approved a motion Wednesday night lifting the ban on using cell phones and other mobile devices in city classrooms.

In a statement released early Thursday morning, the board said students may use cell phones and PDA devices in classrooms and hallways, “provided it does not distract from student learning or school activities.” Teachers will ultimately have the final say on the use of electronic devices in their classrooms.

The changes to the policy will take effect starting in September.

The ban was implemented in 2007 over fears from trustees that cell phones distract students and cause disruptions in classrooms.

While the article makes it sound like the Toronto District School Board is finally making its way into the current century, the humour of it all is that the actual decision is being left up to individual teachers.

Yes, I’m sure there will be forward thinking educators who recognize the value of having access to mobile technology and smartphones, but many will still continue to restrict the use of the phones all together.

The argument over cellular phones volleys back and forth across two thoughts; that cell phones are distracting, and that smartphones are useful.

As an educator I firmly believe smartphones are incredibly useful and an integrated part of our daily lives.However—I also believe they have their place.

My in classroom sessions usually run for 3 hours and are divided up into three blocks covering a lecture portion, group work, then an open class discussion. During the initial lecture portion, my rule has always been, and will always be, “laptops closed and phones on silent”. Once the group work begins, laptops and phone usage is allowed, so long as the usage is topic related. Do I expect that everything done is class related? Hell no. But as long as it’s not disruptive, and the work is completed, I honestly see no reason why students should not be allowed to have access to the technology.

Over the year I have had several students complete group research using their smartphone (instead of a laptop), which to me is the perfect example of how cell phones can be used properly and within limitations in a classroom setting. The reason this fact is important to mention is because my classes—part of a computer or media based program—take place in rooms with no computers other than the one powering the display projector.

The main topic I teach centres around digital society, yet the classrooms have no access to technology other than what the students themselves bring.

I believe this situation is reflective across the board, and that is exactly why I applaud the Toronto District School Board for raising the ban. I hope my fellow educators can see past the distraction and find a way to compromise for the technology.

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