The Idaho Statesman published an article last week about the change in policy in the Meridian School District concerning the use of cell phones and smart phones during school hours. While it is still left to the discretion of the teacher during class, students are allowed to use their phones in the hallways and common areas. After years of trying to stop their use, the school district realized the ongoing disciplinary problems they were having with no clear solution. Instead of trying to limit their use, they are choosing to embrace it.Teachers are given the final say as to what and when the devices are used during class. While no teachers are allowing texting or calls during class, many have decided to leverage the technology and incorporate the use in the curriculum. For example students take pictures of chemistry experiments to use in Power Point presentations, they are able to use the calculator function for algebra or calculus, and translate foreign languages using the Google translator.
What do you think of the new policy in Meridian? How do you think it would be possible to incorporate smart phone technology in the classroom? What problems would teachers and students need to overcome?
Cristina- IM FIRST FOR ONCE!!!!! ok so i dont really like the new policy in meridian. the students are just probuly texting or looking at there notifications on facebook. and if there excuse is that they are on the internet, then use a laptop!! the technology is pretty impressive these days and its cool that they can use it because i would love to use my phone in school but i know im totally not allowed to! one problem is that they are pushing the envolope and it goingto go farther and farther.
ReplyDeleteDanielle- I think that u should be aloud to text rite after school not in school. If its absolutely an emergency, dont do it in class, do it at reeces. I do not think u should use cell phones in class. Like cristina said use a laptop for school technology.
ReplyDeleteLuke- (I'll take bronze), But i think that you should be able to use a phone during class. I think that at break or after school or maybe even in between classes but not in class. I think computers do just fine for technology but there is no need for phones. Just dont have your phone out in class that the problem to over come.
ReplyDeleteAbby- I think it is really stupid to let kids use their phones for technology class. It would be way too distracting. I think kids wouldn't even be listening in class if they where aloud to use phones. I think it is fine to have your phone out during break, in between classes, and after school. I would rather use a computer for technology than a phone.
ReplyDeleteAnn- i think that using smart phones in class can be good and bad. it can be good to go on the internet and look up things about the topic but if a kid goes on the internet they will probably end up on Facebook or something like that. that would be a challenge for everyone, the teachers because they have to keep everybody on task, and for the students because they have to use it for school purposes when it is so tempting to be texting or in Facebook.
ReplyDeleteRYAN-PERSONALLY I DO NOT AGREE WITH THE NEW POLICY BECAUSE YOU NEED TO FOCUS ON YOUR WORK WHEN YOU ARE AT SCHOOL.I THINK THAT THIS MIGHT DISTRACT SOME STUDENTS AND THEIR GRADES MIGHT LOWER.TO INCORPORATE SMART PHONES INTO THE TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM IS POSSIBLE BUT IT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE YOU CAN NOT BLOCK CERTAIN THINGS FROM THEM AND COMPUTERS WORK PERFECTLY WELL IF NOT BETTER. SOME PROBLEMS WOULD BE NOT ALL STUDENTS WOULD HAVE THE SAME SMART PHONES. ALSO THESE SMART PHONES ARE NOT ABLE TO DOWNLOAD SOFTWARE LIKE MICROSOFT OR ANY PC SOFTWARE. SURE THERE IS APPS BUT THOSE AREN'T ALWAYS WHAT YOU THINK THEY ARE SOMETIMES THEY ARE A COMPLETE RIPOFF.
ReplyDeleteAngie- I actually don't like using so much technology in class. This policy sort of concerns me. Phones are such a distraction during class. I heard that they're thinking of getting rid of books and getting kindles and nooks instead. First of all I think that looking at screens all day really hurts our eyes. I know that it'd bother me while I was reading. Getting rid of books would be terrible. I think honestly that the new policy will fail. At least one student in the classroom would play on their phone during class.
ReplyDeletePeter- I really like Meridian's new policy. The iPhone is the greatest educational tool we have in this day and age if you're not using it for Temple Run or something. There are many educational applications that can be incorporated into class very easily and it's a good idea to do so. Teachers and students will probably have problems with Temple Run or something.
ReplyDeleteIsabelle- I actually like the new policy Meridian is putting in their schools. While there might be some problems, I think the positive outweighs the negative. Phones these days have many tools that can be useful to students and teachers. You can use a camera to take pictures, the internet to look up things,or a calculator. There are endless tools that are available to enhance student's learning. It would be easy to incorporate because we would still be using books and everything, we would just be using technology to further our education. Problems would be texting and playing games bahind teachers backs, but if they kept a close eye, they may be able to manage that.
ReplyDeleteAlly- I can't say that it's the brightest idea to let students use their phones during class. Almost anything you can do on a smartphone you can do on a computer, besides texting and calling which was said will not be allowed in class anyways. Students would get way too distracted with their phones.
ReplyDeleteIt's not such a bad idea to let students use their phones before school, at break, between classes, or after school though. We should look into it...
Marya- i think that it's a great idea!!!!! i wouldn't recommend students to use their phones in class, but in between classes would be ok. like ally said, we should look into it... what if you forgot something and need to text your mom? or you need to tell your friend at another school something important? i think that cellphones during break are fine
ReplyDeleteMadison- I think it might be a good idea. I don't think there is really anything on a phone that isn't on a laptop, but I've heard of school books on phones for students to use. Teachers would definitely have to make sure the kids weren't listening to music and playing on other apps instead of doing their work. During breaks I think students should be allowed to use phones to check time or just play on them because it doesn't affect the school then.
ReplyDeleteHalle- I think that in some ways phones can be very useful in the classroom. Sometimes when you allow more use of the phones like the Meridian district did, then it isn't has big as a problem. However, it can also be a bad idea. Kids could come so used to having their phones in class that it can create problems. Just because they say you can't text in class doesn't mean they won't text. the phones can become a distraction and Some kids may play games or something during class too. Iphones can do lots of things and it can contribute to school work. But then again kids can abuse their freedom they have with their phones. Texting in class, playing temple run, and checking facebook could be some problems they have. I agree with Madison and Marya when they say that cell phone use at break is fine because it isn't affecting class- same with after school or in the morning.
ReplyDeletePhillip- I think it’s cool that the teachers get to choose if there students can use smart phones. The only real reason I could think to use them for is calculators in math. One big problem that they would encounter is money. Not all kids would be able to afford smartphones. Giving the richer kids a bigger advantage.
ReplyDeleteAtticus-I think that the new rule is kinda dumb but i see why it would be nessary. Well there is only really one reasons that I can think of that would be productive in using smart phones in the class room and that is (like phillip said) calculaters in math class. Teachers would need to find some way to block texting and facebooking and the peincipal would need to do the same for the teacher. Over all I think that this is a bad idea and it will soon become big problem.
ReplyDeletejosu- i think it is a good idea but there would need to be some boundaries because not all people will use their phones for school purposes. tell me that you wouldn't play a game or go onto Facebook if you were allowed to have your phone during school. The concept is smart but there are many flaws in this rule. i think that using technology in classrooms would be a great help, but after a while teachers will rely on technology to teach their students. a little bit of technology in classrooms will help.
ReplyDeletegabby-i think that it go either way. some teachers may be able to incorporate technology into there class. but other teachers might not use technology and still teach just fine. i think that you do a good job incorporating technology in our class; with us doing the blog and watching videos in class. mrs russell also has the elmo and the smart slate working which are really cool. a problem that might occur is that teachers have very little way to know what the kids are doing on their phones. i have a feeling that some kids will work very well with the new policy while others will find ways to cheat a lot easier.
ReplyDeleteKaed- i dont really care for the rule for the Meridian schools because i dont bring my electronics to school because i dont think that it is that safe. But for teachers, they might need electronics to be able to teach in class. But for students i dont see any reason for electrons at school because if the classrooms have their own laptops, i think they will be fine. Also for kids to have electronics in the class, the students can easily do something that they are not supposed to. For example text, play games, cheat.. etc.
ReplyDeleteCooper- I like the policy because you can find stuff on the internet that is useful for school but it can also be a distraction. I don't think it would be possible because there are to many distractions on smart phones. Having the students not bring their phones in class.
ReplyDeleteNerea- Im not against using the phones in between class breaks ect.....but in classes idk because you could be easily distraced to cheat or play with your phone and that could discract you from your education. i guess i would have to look into it more.
ReplyDeleteSophia-I don't think it's a very good idea to use phones in the classroom. They can distract you and people can cheat easily with them. Also, people could be having conversations by texting and not listening and learning. I think that was a bad decision on Meridian's part, but I'm curious to see how it turns out. It's definitely a different approach.
ReplyDeleteKEndall- I dont think that that in cell phones are a good idea for school. Most cell phones are smart phones these days and kids can go on facebook or just text their friends across the room. I dont think cell phones would be possible to be useful in class really because most kids would just use them for the wrong reasons and not to help their education. Kids and teachers wouldnt have the same interaction with learning because their cell phones would just take over with the internet capabilities.
ReplyDeleteNolen- I dont think that cell phone use in schools is a bad thing but its not the best thing either. Its not bad becuase if you want to talk to a friend all the way on the other side of school but you cant because you dont want to be late for class then you could just oull out your phone and text them. The bad thing about this is that kids would probably want to take it to the next step and text in class and all that suff.
ReplyDeleteJACK-I DONT REALLY THINK THAT HAVING CELL PHONE USE IN CLASS BEING TOLERATED WOULD REALLY DO ANYTHING FOR THE CLASS. IF YOU NEED TO USE THE INTERNET, JUST USE A LAPTOP. I THINK KIDS WOULD PROBABLY JUST SEND TEXTS IN CLASS AND SOCIALIZE WITH OTHERS. IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE WHILE THE TEACHER IS TRYING TO TEACH THE CLASS ABOUT THE SUBJECT, PEOPLE WILL JUST BE TEXTING AWAY ON THEIR PHONES AND NOT GET THE NEEDED INFO.
ReplyDeleteAriana- I dont think that having smart phones in classs is a good idea. I think that it will probably end up in kids going on facebook, texting, or playing games while they are in class. I also think that teachers would have thier hands full trying to watch so many kids all on their phones at once, and that kids would take advantage of that.
ReplyDeleteZach- I think that the new policy gets it. most tkids just wan't to use their smart phones at least between classes, nwo that is allowed, so they wno't be on their phones during class. This will also prevent phone theft since they will not have to leave their phone alone and will prevent kids from getting distracted about worrying about their phene.
ReplyDeleteMarcos- The rule is okay. Its not like i support the idea. Because, you have a short time to use the phone between periods. Teens probably have 2 minutes to text someone on there phones and then leave to there next class. The problems of having smart phones to teachers is teens being told questions probably on a test or quiz. And the teens looking up answers on the internet so they won't fail. And teachers seeing teens looking at there phone and seeing that they are cheating. Which is a mistake of having them using smart phones.
ReplyDeleteBrooke~ I really like the new policy! I think that we could use things in ready like the online dictionary (which would make it easier to look up stuff than in a real dictionary) and books on iBooks and stuff like that. Trasnlaters would come in handy to. One obvious problem that students and teachers would have to overcome is student texting and using facebook and playing games in class. Other than that, I like the Meridian policy.
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