Tech Banned in the Classroom

Thu May 4, 2006 9:43PM EDT

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Yesterday, as I was watching the six o'clock news, I caught a story about schools banning cellphone use during school hours. At first it didn't make much sense to me, but after reading Pam Dixon's column, I realized that students were using their phones for things like " text messaging test answers, taking inappropriate pictures in bathrooms and their ringing phones were interrupting class." Those are valid points, especially the bathroom part—are they taking pics of themselves or other kids? Either way, it sounds like cell phone use has really overwhelmed schools.

Today I read this article about Professors banning laptops in University classrooms, and this other article that may explain why. Instead of taking notes during class, students were surfing the Web and "shopping for clothes at Eddie Bauer, looking for apartments to rent... and reading the New York Times." It's going to be interesting to see the outcome of these issues, and how schools will handle technology in the classroom moving forward.

So what could be some options for schools? Block wireless access? Phones with no texting or camera-phone capabilities? What do you think?

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  • 1 Posted by jays04191976 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am in a class right now reading this artical....irony surrenders!

  • 2 Posted by red_love_puppy on Tue May 16, 2006 8:44AM EDT Report Abuse

    well some kids dont know what kind of trouble that there getting into,i did the same tihng and i learned,just dont alow your kid to take there phone to school and see how it goes from there.

  • 3 Posted by chad_guyer on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    Old education models are dead. I think it will be up to the schools to integrate this technology into cirriculum. Why do kids do this anyway? They're bored...education moves too slow. Instead of conforming our kids to 20th Century models, we need a complete shift to incorporate this technology and the capabilities of those who use it. Perhaps the social aspects of going to a school "house" should simply be social only. Lessons could be driven technologically, at home or in alternative classrooms. I think that schools could save a lot of money on paper intensive supplies. Audio books and/or file downloads are appropriate alternatives (why have we always valued the use of "vision -reading" over "hearing - listening"?)to costly text books. A little brainstorming could go a long way...

  • 4 Posted by jdoehring on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    I personally do not believe in giving kids cell phones. I did not have a cell phone growing up, and quite frankly, I think that cell phones are making the family model today much worse. I do not believe in parents tracking their kids either. I do believe in laptops being used in classrooms. While one is in class, then can turn the WiFi connection off, so the child would have to listen to their lecture. Parents who give their children every piece of technology spoils their child rotten. Let us concentrate on educating, not text messaging. At the same time, parents should learn to loosen the rope a little bit on their kids. Not allowing your kids to have experiences, does not allow your child to grow up. And finally, example may not be the best way to learn, it is the ONLY WAY!!!

  • 5 Posted by geananottabeana on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:07PM EDT Report Abuse

    Wasn't it not too long ago, this issue was all about beepers? I do understand JD's reasoning above, but I disagree that children shouldn't have something because we didn't have it growing up. Face it, if it was there... a family could afford it, we would have it. It's a tech world and "no child should be left behind," despite the fact that, yes, we can do without. Parents should use more discretion purchasing cell phones with the basics only for children. If/when manufacturers decide to include all features in every phone, they should program these so that parents can lock certain features as the camera and text messaging. Monitor the children as we do on the internet -- "parental controls." School systems need to continue to do the same. Yes, ban phones and other personal communication gadgets during the school day. Yes, continue to block all sites as MySpace, etc. from their school internet providers.

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