002+Cell+Phones



**Cell Phones in Classrooms** Since cell phones have become popular, schools have been trying to ban the use of them in classrooms. Educators see cell phones as a huge distraction to students, but research is showing that cell phones can be a useful tool in the classroom. Teachers are finding new ways to utilize ell phones as learning devices. Teachers are finding ways to work with the technology that students enjoy and understand the most. Cell phones can successfully be integrated into the classroom and some teachers and companies are already standing behind this use of technology. Educators are finding more and more positive aspects to using cell phones in the classroom. In our world today, almost everyone has a cell phone. One principal stated, “We would be burying our heads in the sand if we said that cell phones were not part of everyday life” (Rapp). He also said, “They are using this stuff anyway- let’s teach them how to use it productively” (Rapp). This is a very good point. Because most children today do have cell phones by the timethey reach school, maybe we should embrace them instead of disregard them. As long as guidelines and rules are set, why not make use of the phones in class? Children love cell phones, so using them in class would definitely keep children engaged. Cell phones can be transformed into low-cost, hand-held computers that students can use. There are programs that allow cell phones to transform into response systems. Teachers can collect information from each student, and the class as a whole. Many schools decide to install clicker-response systems in classrooms which can take a big chunk out of the school budget. By using cell phones, teachers can use free software online to collect student responses, at no cost to the school. This would be the cheapest way to do one-on-one computing (Bafile, 2009). The possibilities for teachers to incorporate cell phones in the class is endless. Students can capture images and videos of their work during class and at home, and send it to their teachers. This allows for teachers to observe each and every child’s/group’s work, especially if it is hard for them to do so during class time. Lastly, cell phones allow for parents to remain involved in student work while at home. Students can show different pictures, videos, charts, etc… that were done during class to their parents. Parents can then work with their children at home on homework, and then document it for the child to take to school the next day. Although there are some who oppose the use of cell phones in the classroom, there are definitely many positive ways to use them and incorporate them ineveryday classwork. “From urgent text messages flying across the room to lessons interrupted by rap song ringtones, these gadgets {cell phones} are responsible for nationwide frustration among educators” (Rapp, D. n.d.). However, seizing cell phones can be a hassle, sometimes it may be easier to ignore the action (Armario, C. 2009). The problem is very wide spread, with seventy five percent of children aged 12-17 in possession ofa cell phone (Ferriter, W. 2010). As technology improves, cellphones are getting easier to hide in the classroom (McGraw-Hill n.d.). Over half of all teenagers have reported to texting while in class, with a quarter admitting to making phone calls in class Ferriter, W. (2010). The main cause for concern is cheating, with more than 35 percent of teens admitting to have done so at some point in their lives (Armario, C. 2009). Sending inappropriate content, whether sexting or cyberbullying, creates a negative atmosphere in the school (McGraw-Hill n.d.). How are students expected to learn in such an environment? “How do we keep them {students} safe, how do we prevent real-time cyberbullying, how do we even keep their attention in class when competing with messaging, gaming, and surfing” (Bjerede, M. 2010). Teachers should not tolerate cell phone use in the classroom unless it is in an educational manner. Students who are allowed to text during class are not learning to their fullest potential and are negatively affecting others in the classroom. Is it not the teacher’s job to give each and every child the best education possible? Students should not be allowed to do as they please inthe classroom, the teacher is in control. Though cell phones are often deemed a distraction in schools, teachers around the country are beginning to explore ways to allow cell phones into the classrooms in a positive way. “Most teenagers already have cell phones, so it seems only natural for teachers to want to exploit the technology that their students know best” (Wylie 2011). Teachers are starting to use certain software that allows them to interact with the students through the phones. Texting the answer to the teacher has become a great way to poll a class and get the students involved. Teachers are also using text messaging to help with vocabulary and grammar lessons (Wylie 2011). Cell phones can also be used as calculators, digital cameras, internet use, and as portable dictionaries (McGraw-Hill). It is important to play on the students’ field every now and then. A Spanish teacher in Florida has found a way to teach his students vocabulary that keeps them interested: “The divided into groups and [the teacher] began sending messages in Spanish: Find something green. Go to the cafeteria. Take a picture with the school secretary” (Armario 2009). The use of cell phones in the classroom allows students a way to learn with thetechnologiesthat engulf their everyday lives. Companies are beginning to support the use of cellular phones in education. Wireless Reach is a company that tries to help ensure that students are able to have access to educational content through mobile devices 24/7 (Bjerede 2010). Wireless Reach began funding a program called Project K-Nect. Project K-Nect provided cell phones for students in rural North Carolina. Students who used the mobile devices showed a higher level of proficiency on exams. Project K-Nect focused on helping students improve their math skills by using the provide cell phones (Bjerede 2010). Verizon Wireless has joined forces with educators to help provide cell phones for students (Bafile 2009). Verizon provides the cellular service, HTC provides the phones, and Microsoft Mobile helps with software. Elliot, Solloway, and Cathleen Norris created a software called GoKnow that is specifically designed for students (Bafile 2009). From the support shown, it is evident that companies are willing to work with educators to create software for phones that teachers and students will use. Although cell phones have the potentional to be distracting, children understand how to use them and can effectively do so in an educational setting. Teachers have found ways to engage students on a different level other than lecture and textbook. With the help of companies like Project K-Nect, HTC, and Verizon schools can take advantage of this up and coming technological tool. Therefore, by integrating cell phones into classrooms, teachers can connect with students on a level that students can relate to.
 * Pros to use of cell phones in the classroom (Samantha Smith)**
 * Cons: Cell Phones in the Classroom (Kristal Villa)**
 * Incorporating Cell Phones in the Classroom (Kate Molander)**
 * Companies Supporting the Use of Cell Phones (Carrie Maust)**


 * Resources**

Armario, C. (2009, November 27). Teachers begin using cell phones for class lessons.

//Psychorg.com.// Retrieved from []

Bafile., C. (2009). //Mobile technology////goes to school//.Retrieved from

[]

Bjerede, M. (2010, March 4). Cell phones in the classroom. //O’Reilly Radar.// Retrieved from

//McGraw-Hill Cell phones in the classroom//. (n.d.). Retrieved from

[] Ferriter, W. (2010). Cell phones as teaching tools. //Educational Leadership//. Retrieved from [] Phones-as-Teaching-Tools.aspx Rapp., D. (n.d.). //Lift the cell phone ban//. Retrieved from [] Wylie, J. (2011, December 15). How cell phones can be classroom learning tools. //Bright Hub// //Education.// Retrieved from http://www.brighthubeducation.com/teaching-methods- tips/68100-how-to-use-cell-phones-in-the-classroom/





**Incorporating Cell Phones in the Classroom** -Kate Molander

Though cell phones are often deemed a distraction in schools, teachers around the country arebeginning to explore ways to allow cell phones into the classrooms in a positive way. “Most teenagers already have cell phones, so it seems only natural for teachers to want to exploit the technology that their students know best” (Wylie 2011). Teachers are starting to use certain software that allows them to interact with the students through the phones. Texting the answer to the teacher has become a great way to poll a class and get the students involved. Teachers are also using text messaging to help with vocabulary and grammar lessons (Wylie 2011). Cell phones can also be used as calculators, digital cameras, internet use, and as portable dictionaries (McGraw-Hill). It is important to play on the students’ field every now and then. A Spanish teacher in Florida has found a way to teach his students vocabulary that keeps them interested: “The divided into groups and [the teacher] began sending messages in Spanish: Find something green. Go to the cafeteria. Take a picture with the school secretary” (Armario 2009). The use of cell phones in the classroom allows students a way to learn with the technologies that engulf their everyday lives.

Photo by Scallop Holden available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/s...280231658/

Pros to use of cell phones in the classroom (Samantha Smith)

Educators are finding more and more positive aspects to using cell phones in the classroom. In our world today, almost everyone has a cell phone. One principal stated, “We would be burying our heads in the sand if we said that cell phones were not part of everyday life” (Rapp). He also said, “They are using this stuff anyway- let’s teach them how to use it productively” (Rapp). This is a very good point. Because most children today do have cell phones by the time they reach school, maybe we should embrace them instead of disregard them. As long as guidelines and rules are set, why not make use of the phones in class? Children love cell phones, so using them in class would definitely keep children engaged. Cell phones can be transformed into low-cost, hand-held computers that students can use. There are programs that allow cell phones to transform into response systems. Teachers can collect information from each student, and the class as a whole. Many schools decide to install clicker-response systems in classrooms which can take a big chunk out of the school budget. By using cell phones, teachers can use free software online to collect student responses, at no cost to the school. This would be the cheapest way to do one-on-one computing (Bafile, 2009). The possibilities for teachers to incorporate cell phones in the class is endless. Students can capture images and videos of their work during class and at home, and send it to their teachers. This allows for teachers to observe each and every child’s/group’s work, especially if it is hard for them to do so during class time. Lastly, cell phones allow for parents to remain involved in student work while at home. Students can show different pictures, videos, charts, etc… that were done during class to their parents. Parents can then work with their children at home on homework, and then document it for the child to take to school the next day. Although there are some who oppose the use of cell phones in the classroom, there are definitely many positive ways to use them and incorporate them in everyday classwork.



Companies Supporting the Use of Cell Phones- Carrie Maust Companies are beginning to support the use of cellular phones in education. Wireless Reach is a company that tries to help ensure that students are able to have access to educational content through mobile devices 24/7 (Bjerede 2010). Wireless Reach began funding a program called Project K-Nect. Project K-Nect provided cell phones for students in rural North Carolina. Students who used the mobile devices showed a higher level of proficiency on exams. Project K-Nect focused on helping students improve their math skills by using the provide cell phones (Bjerede 2010). Verizon Wireless has joined forces with educators to help provide cell phones for students (Bafile 2009). Verizon provides the cellular service, HTC provides the phones, and Microsoft Mobile helps with software. Elliot, Solloway, and Cathleen Norris created a software called GoKnow that is specifically designed for students (Bafile 2009). From the support shown, it is evident that companies are willing to work with educators to create software for phones that teachers and students will use.

Picture by Azureon2 available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/shadowmancer76/2731276420/sizes/s/in/photostream/

Cons: Cell Phones in the Classroom-Kristal Villa

“From urgent text messages flying across the room to lessons interrupted by rap song ringtones, these gadgets {cell phones} are responsible for nationwide frustration among educators” Rapp, D. (n.d.). However, seizing cell phones can be a hassle, sometimes it may be easier to ignore the action Armario, C. (2009). The problem is very wide spread, with seventy five percent of children aged 12-17 in possession of a cell phone Ferriter, W. (2010). As technology improves, cellphones are getting easier to hide in the classroom //Cellphones in the classroom// (n.d.). Over half of all teenagers have reported to texting while in class, with a quarter admitting to making phone calls in class Ferriter, W. (2010). The main cause for concern is cheating, with more than 35 percent of teens admitting to have done so at some point in their lives Armario, C. (2009). Sending inappropriate content, whether sexting or cyberbullying, creates a negative atmosphere in the school //Cellphones in the classroom// (n.d.). How are students expected to learn in such an environment? “How do we keep them {students} safe, how do we prevent real-time cyberbullying, how do we even keep their attention in class when competing with messaging, gaming, and surfing” Bjerede, M. (2010). Teachers should not tolerate cell phone use in the classroom unless it is in an educational manner. Students who are allowed to text during class are not learning to their fullest potential and are negatively affecting others in the classroom. Is it not the teacher’s job to give each and every child the best education possible? Students should not be allowed to do as they please in the classroom, the teacher is in control.



Kristal Villa Article 1: The following information has been copied from http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp? id=3751073 Rapp, D. (n.d.). Lift the cell phone ban. //Scholastic.// Retrieved from http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp? id=3751073 David Rapp (n.d.) noted of cell phone use in the classroom “It’s a stereotype of teenagers—that you can’t trust them with a cell phone. Our experience was that if you give them the opportunity to use them, and you give them guidelines to go with that use, you won’t have problems.” Rapp (n.d.) emphasizes “If cell phones in classrooms do catch on, the schools would, in effect, be getting low-cost computers into their students’ hands.” “The more we discover what we can do with them, the more valuable they are. If you can harness what students are interested in, you have massive amounts of potential. And if you can get that into the classroom, you’re set” stated Rapp (n.d.).

Article 2: The following information has been copied from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/28/te achers-using-cell-phone_n_372710.html Armario, C. (2009). Teachers Using Cell Phones For Class Lessons, Homework. //The Huffington Post//. Retrieved from [] ? Christine Armario (2009) notes of cell phone use as a learning device "It really is taking advantage of the love affair that kids have with technology today…The kids are much more motivated to use their cell phone in an educational manner." Armario (2009) stated that “Seventy-one percent of teens had a cell phone by early 2008, according to a survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.” “Teachers who have incorporated cell phones into their classes say that most students abide by the rules. They note that cheating and bullying exist with or without the phones, and that once they are allowed, the inclination to use them for bad behavior dissipates” explains Armario (2009).

Article 3: The following information has been copied from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/oct10/vol68/num02/Cell-Phones-as-Teaching-Tools.aspx Ferriter, W. (2010). Cell phones as teaching tools. //Educational Leadership//. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/oct10/vol68/num02/Cell-Phones-as-Teaching-Tools.aspx William Ferriter (2010) noted “Despite the fact that 75 percent of all kids ages 12–17 have cell phones, educators have done their best to aggressively erase this tool from their classrooms. In fact, less than 12 percent of students attend schools where cell phones can be accessed at any time—and almost 70 percent attend schools where cell phones are banned from the classroom.” “Cell phones can be a real disruption to learning when used improperly. With almost 60 percent of teens reporting that they've sent and received text messages and 25 percent reporting that they've made phone calls //while in class//, the disruptions are real” stated Ferriter (2010). Considering how important efficiently collecting data has become in today's classroom—and that 75 percent of all students with cell phones have unlimited texting plans—services like Poll Everywhere should be an instant hit in most schools stated Ferriter (2010).

Carrie Maust's Assignment 2 Geary, M. (2008). Supporting cell phone use in the classroom. //Florida Educational Leadership//, Retrieved from http://www.homepages.dsu.edu/mgeary/vita/cell_phones.pdf Geary, an educator, discusses ways that cell phones can be used to help students in the classroom (2008). In classrooms students can use google sms as a dictionary and a way to get answers to their questions, they can create podcasts to create to discuss thoughts, and they can “call in” their answers to the instructors questions (Geary 2008). Evidence showing that cell phones helped at risk students as well as students with learning disabilities was given (Geary 2008). Bjerede, M. (2010, Marc 04). //Cell phones in the classroom//. Retrieved from http://radar.oreilly.com/2010/03/cell-phones-in-classrooms.html Bjerede discusses the use of cell phones in school (2010). A program called Project K-Nect started giving cell phones to students in rural North Carolina. This proved to significantly improve the proficiency rate on the end of course exams (Bjerede 2010). Students were give math problems electronically and were able to communicate with their teachers through blogs and instant messages (Bjerede 2010). Koebler, J. (2011, October 26). //Teachers use cellphones in the classroom//. Retrieved from http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/high-school-notes/2011/10/26/teachers-use-cell-phones-in-the-classroom Koebler discusses how various teachers use a phone with text messaging to interact with their students and their parents (2011). The teacher polls students and sends homework reminders to students and parents via text message (Koebler 2011). Students are also able to define words and look up facts by simply using a phone that is enabled with text messaging (Koebler 2011). Cell phones are more cost effective than most gadgets that are placed in schools (Koebler 2011).
 * Article 1**
 * Article 2**
 * Article 3**


 * Kate Molander's Assignment 2 Notes:**

__Article 1:__ Armario, C. (2009, November 27). Teachers begin using cell phones for class lessons. //Psychorg.com.// Retrieved from []

-“The teens pulled out an array of colorful flip phones, iPhones and SideKicks. They divided into groups and Leonard began sending them text messages in Spanish: Find something green. Go to the cafeteria. Take a picture with the school secretary. Leonard's class at Wiregrass Ranch High School in Wesley Chapel, a middle-class Florida suburb about 30 miles north of Tampa, is one of a growing number around the country that are abandoning traditional policies of cell phone prohibition and incorporating them into class lessons. Spanish vocabulary becomes a digital scavenger hunt. Notes are copied with a cell phone camera. Text messages serve as homework reminders.” -“Jimbo Lamb, a math teacher at Annville-Cleona School District in south-central Pennsylvania, has students use their phones to answer questions set up through a polling Web site. Instantly, he's able to tell how many students understood the lesson.” -“Teachers who have incorporated cell phones into their classes say that most students abide by the rules. They note that cheating and bullying exist with or without the phones, and that once they are allowed, the inclination to use them for bad behavior dissipates.”

__Article 2:__ Wylie, J. (2011, December 15). How cell phones can be classroom learning tools. //Bright Hub Education.// Retrieved from []

-“Most teenagers already have cell phones, so it seems only natural for teachers to want to exploit the technology that their students know best. The following ideas represent some of the best uses of cell phones in an educational setting.” -“Apple, BlackBerry, Google, Palm and others have their own 'app stores' for cell phones. More and more of these applications have found their ways into the classroom curriculum, whether it is as a scientific calculator, a note taker, a voice recorder, or something more exotic. Apple, in particular, has a large number of education apps for the classroom.” -“In cases like this, more and more teachers are turning to web based solutions like polleverywhere.com. The teacher places an assessment or discussion question online, and the students can text their responses to it for an immediate survey of a class opinion. “

__Article 3:__ Bjerede, M. (2010, March 4). Cell phones in the classroom. //O’Reilly Radar.// Retrieved from []

-“During the 2007-2008 school year, Wireless Reach began funding Project K-Nect, a pilot project in rural North Carolina where high school students received supplemental algebra problem sets on smartphones (the phones were provided by the project). The outcomes are promising -- classes using the smartphones have consistently achieved significantly higher proficiency rates on their end of course exams.” -“Another difference is that digital content is personalized. In this case, that just means that different students get the same problem (how long will it take a space ship to catch up with a space probe?) but with different numbers plugged in (the velocity might be given as 40,000 mph for one student and 37,500 mph for another). The result is that students can't simply compare answers - they need to compare solutions. ‘How did you get that’ replaces ‘what did you get?’” -“A third difference is that, unlike the traditional practice where each student works on textbook problems in isolation, the learning environment in Project K-Nect is participative. Students are asked to record their solutions on a shared blog and are encouraged to both post and comment.”

**Samantha Smith Assignment 2 notes:**
//Cell phones in the classroom//. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://teachingtoday.glencoe.com/howtoarticles/cell-phones-in-the-classroom
 * McGraw-Hill website:**


 * //Calculators.//Although most schools have them in math class, other classes that don't have them on hand for students can benefit from number crunching. For example, social studies students studying elections can quickly determine percentages of electoral votes or other scenarios. Science classrooms can use them to perform calculations related to fieldwork.
 * //Digital cameras.//Not all schools or classrooms are outfitted with digital cameras, although many can benefit from them. For example, students can use them to document a variety of things for multimedia presentations or reports. Fieldtrips can be documented and incorporated into digital travelogues.
 * //Internet access.//Many phones have wireless Internet access, thus opening up a world of possibilities for class use. Science students might conduct fieldwork and submit their observations or data to either an internal or external data gathering site. Students can subscribe to podcasts that you produce or offered by a multitude of other sources.
 * //Dictionaries.// Students in literature and language arts classes can benefit from being able to quickly query the definition of a word. Additionally, students who are English learners especially can benefit from translation dictionaries which are becoming available on cell phones.

Rapp., D. (n.d.). //Lift the cell phone ban//. Retrieved from []
 * Scholastic Website:**

Previously, she found it difficult to monitor each of the different groups simultaneously. But kids who had video functions on their phones could record their discussions then Bluetooth it to Dolman’s phone, and she could watch each individual discussion, without missing a moment.

As for the kids, they loved using the phones for class work, but parents in the district have had mixed reactions, says Taylor. “Some thought we were crazy, and were very strongly opposed to it, and some embraced the idea initially. As time went on, about 90 percent came to say it was a good idea. They didn’t see it as a gadget, or as a replacement for learning, they saw it as a tool for learning.”Taylor’s colleagues have been more enthusiastic. “In our school division there are about 90 principals and about 600 teachers, and I would say that out of the principals, there were about 15 to 20 that really were gung-ho and wanted to know what we were doing.” The rest, Taylor says, thought the program was innovative and at least worth a try. “There were no negative thoughts on it whatsoever.”

“We would be burying our heads in the sand if we said that cell phones were not a part of everyday life,” he says. “I don’t know a businessman out there who doesn’t carry a cell phone. I don’t know a lawyer or accountant out there who doesn’t carry a cell phone. Why wouldn’t we have them in schools?”

“There are some teachers who have never sent a text message, so the fear of their students knowing more than them about a tool in the classroom is often very inhibiting.”

At the end of the day, the students can upload all their work online. “The kids sync their phone up to the server. The parents can look at the work they’ve done, and the teachers can make annotations and grade the work, all online,” says Cook.

Bafile., C. (2009). //Mobile technology goes to school//. Retrieved from []
 * Education World Website:**

Now, Cook's fifth graders use their cell phones on a daily basis to collaborate by sharing information; to gather data; and to work with Microsoft Word and Excel. They can review material with PowerPoint, communicate about projects, and capture images of their work with the cell phone cameras. GoKnow provides applications that students use every day, such as Sketchy, an animation/drawing tool, and MyProjects, which enables students to access a project home page and organize multiple resources. "As a teacher, I use GoManage to push out applications and files to the phones as the kids wireless sync," explained Cook. "We also use Gaggle for e-mail communications with the kids. It is safe and filtered." The phones are not voice or text enabled, but Cook's students are encouraged to explore other ways to use the phones to enhance their learning. GOKNOW


 * Teaching history website:**

Kuloweic., G. (n.d.). //Cell phones as classroom tools//. Retrieved from []

There are two outstanding online resources that can turn student cell phones and smartphones into classroom response systems, [|__Poll Everywhere__] and [|__Socrative__]. With an LCD projector, classroom computer, and student cell phones, teachers can take advantage of either one of these online platforms to begin collecting feedback from students through cell phone responses.

Socrative offers a unique take on transforming smartphones into classroom response systems. From the Socrative teacher interface, multiple choice, true/false, open response, and “ [|__exit ticket__] ” polls can be quickly deployed with one click. Teachers can also create multi-question quizzes that are stored in their account and can be deployed to a class at any point. The Socrative system provides a control dashboard for teachers at [|__this portal__]. Here, teachers can customize their virtual room number, and when students visit the Socrative [|__log-in page__] and enter the number, any question or quiz the teacher selects will automatically be pushed out onto student smartphones, handheld devices, tablets, laptops, or computers.can replace the use of clickers and inevitably save money media type="custom" key="12920032"media type="custom" key="12920094" media type="custom" key="12920150" media type="custom" key="12920206"

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