SCHOOL FOR THOUGHT

Zap that App in the Bud

Following up on Malkin’s post about “smart” phone use in the classroom, I came across this editorial written by an IT teacher.  What may surprise you is that he is against the idea because he knows that they will be a distraction and a time-waster:

“The simple truth is adolescent students overwhelmingly use personal electronic devices as entertainment and a distraction away from their duty to concentrate and learn in school.

I have never confiscated an iPhone or BlackBerry in the classroom and found the student was taking in a few lines of Chaucer or trying to get the latest news on what is happening in the world.

But I have certainly stumbled on material completely and utterly unrelated to what was going on in class.

I have caught students cheating on tests by trying to access classroom notes from their iPhone.”

and he points out:

“Whether it be at the local fast-food restaurant or clothing store, I have never seen any of my students text message, access their iPhone apps, or listen to music on their mp3 player while on duty at their part-time jobs. Could it be the “real world of business” also believes these devices are counterproductive and a distraction?”

I would add, when videos of teachers in various unflattering situations pop up on the web, you may see this policy zapped faster than you can text the words  “dumb and dumber”.