English course - Essay and Argument Structure Discussion

Cell Phones in Classrooms

While there has been mounting research that shows that the use, and overuse, of cell phones can lead to issues like distraction, addiction, and even cyber bullying, this does not mean that cell phones should be banned from all classrooms. Students can be distracted by what they see outside of windows or bully other students by throwing pencils or paper, but we are not banning windows, pencils, or paper from classrooms. The reason why is that we understand the value they have in the classroom. If we can understand the value of cell phones in the classroom, we also will not want to ban them.

First, cell phones are important in case of an emergency, and this relates to both outgoing and incoming communication. Imagine if a student were to fall in an empty school restroom during a class period. Without a cell phone that student would have to wait for another student to enter the restroom to get help, but with a cell phone the student could immediately contact someone else. In a more serious situation, such as a lockdown because of an active shooter, students can also use their phones to contact authorities for help or to inform them about the situation within the school. They can also use their phones to let their families know they are safe. Finally, for adult learners, the ability to receive an emergency call during a class is also important. What if their has fallen ill or been hurt? Or what if their partner has gone into labor? If cell phones were banned, or required to be turned off in the classroom, they wouldn’t be able to get these messages.

Second, cell phones provide new opportunities for learning in the classroom. If a teacher is instructing students on how to find viable information on the internet, it will be easier to explain this concept if students have cell phones than if they do not because cell phones would allow them to try out the techniques the teacher was demonstrating. In addition, cell phones allow for different types of participation in the classroom. Shy or anxious students who may normally not speak up can have other ways to share their thoughts with a cell phone. It would allow them to respond to polls or questions, post information on a live class discussion, or add to a communal document. And of course, there are educational game available on phone that could also help with student engagement. Students might get bored with a teacher simply talking or writing on the board, but a game could keep them focused and allow them to practice what they’ve learned.

Finally, cell phones should not be banned from class rooms because they provide accommodations that students might not otherwise have access to. Cell phones can help English language learners to translate information in a class taught in English, can allow students who struggle to focus to record classes in order to review them later, and can even vision or hearing impaired students to receive information in a different format that works for them. Taking away cell phones would take away these opportunities.

Cell phones can cause issues in classrooms and can negatively impact learning, but they should not be banned from classrooms because they also provide benefits. What is important to consider then is how to best use cell phones in particular classroom. The opposite of “banning” is not constant and free use, so even though cell phones can be helpful there should still be guidelines in place for when and how they can be used in the classroom.