Cool Cat Teacher Blog - Latest Comments in Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Making the Case for Cell Phones in Schools

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Making the Case for Cell Phones in Schools

jojo — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 17:49:18 -0000

thanks for your Imformation it helped me out a lot for my clase im gonna get an A plus.

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Making the Case for Cell Phones in Schools

Jessica Frank — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:38:12 -0000

I absolutely love this article, so many things you blog about I find myself shaking my head in agreement. Cell phones are definitely are a losing battle, especially in the high school setting. The more you try to police students technology use, the more they will use it...We all know it is happening everyday in our classrooms, so why not embrace it and use it for educational purposes in the classroom?!

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Making the Case for Cell Phones in Schools

Colleen Pribyl — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 17:14:28 -0000

This is a great post! I have never thought of cell phones in this manner. We fight with kids so much over texting in class when they shouldn't be, but we fail to realize the benefits of having that phone there. I think it would be especially useful in helping to alleviate the strain on our system. Too often, we go to log on all the kids at once, and no one can get on the overloaded system.

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Making the Case for Cell Phones in Schools

coolcatteacher — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:59:16 -0000

My students take pictures of my notes and record lectures. They study with their phones. I am glad they have them!

www.coolcatteacher.com

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Making the Case for Cell Phones in Schools

Aurora Yeh — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 21:04:23 -0000

Just because it's a loosing battle doesn't mean we're not gonna fight it.
"Just because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win."

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Making the Case for Cell Phones in Schools

coolcatteacher — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 16:51:36 -0000

Thanks Carolyn - of course this was written some time a go but it is still a discussion that seems to be raging and blog post that continues to invite conversation.

Vicki A. Davis
www.coolcatteacher.com Blog: http://coolcatteacher.blogs... Twitter: @coolcatteacher <http: www.twitter.com="" coolcatteacher="">
Flat Classroom® Project co-founder www.flatclassroomproject.net *co-author, Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds *www.flatclassroombook.com If you want to know more about the email netiquette I follow see the Email charter. <http: emailcharter.org="" index.html="">

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Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Making the Case for Cell Phones in Schools

Carolyn Foote — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 10:39:37 -0000

Vicki-- Another reason to think about authorizing use across the school, not just in a few classrooms--because classrooms across the country ARE using them, and other devices freely within their school--and by disallowing use, you are widening the digital divide for your own students and disadvantaging them from learning possibilities. Why would we want to hold our own students back? I find it amazing in this day and age that this is still a discussion and that some schools still don't allow phone use in classrooms. Thanks for outlining why!

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Making the Case for Cell Phones in Schools

natalie hunter — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 12:28:27 -0000

I totally agree for cell phones to be used in the classroom. We are living in a technological age and times as change. People have become more modernized and are currently updated with the changing time. The cellphone does have it's advantages and disadvantages but it is the proprtion or the extent of the matter. technology is just a finger tip just one click and your work is complete. students use the cellphone to do assignments, pay bills,for other purposes which is more faster, quicker and easier.
Say for instance a child is in danger if that child does not have a cellphone he or she hope is lost. The other day a similar case like this took place and the child could only say "help" and the phone hang up. The police immediately investigated in the matter and thank goodness the child is safe with her parents once again.
while on the other hand the cellphone use to attrack scammers, thieves especially if it is one of those hi phone.
i believe we must know when and not to abuse the usage of the cellphone and do not over use the cellphone by attaching it to your ears. the radiation is not healthy for you.

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Making the Case for Cell Phones in Schools

coolcatteacher — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 10:11:57 -0000

Remember that an ipod touch can do many of the same things as cell phones. Not everyone can afford it and my own children don't have smartphones - they do have ipod touches. yes, it can widen the gap, the thing is that since this article was written some time a go, many of these features are now available in tablet devices. Just know that many parents do demand that their kids have cell phones for safety reasons, but it shouldn't imply that parents without the money aren't responsible. Not everyone can afford such things.

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Making the Case for Cell Phones in Schools

Sheila Naylor — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 16:58:11 -0000

I disagree with your statement that every responsible parent will demand
that their child have a cell phone with them at all times. I do understand the importance of students
having cell phones to correspond with adults for school activities, etc. I also understand that students having
unrestricted access to technology is not going away. However, what about the responsible parents
that can’t afford cellphones and smartphones for their children? Or the responsible parents that chose not to
allow their students to have unsupervised access to this technology yet? In some of your previous blogs, you talk
about how you can use cell phones in the class as lessons. Unless schools plan to provide cell phones to
those that don’t have them, aren’t we just further widening the socioeconomic
gap? Highlighting those who have and
have not with using cell phones for class lessons and having them with students
at all time. Educators are supposed to provide equitable experiences in the
classroom. Unless everyone has it, or is
provided access to it, it isn’t equitable.

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Making the Case for Cell Phones in Schools

Todd — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 10:29:01 -0000

Vicki, your #10 "you're fighting a losing battle" is even more relevant now four years after your initial post. I've been in schools where we fought this losing battle and had nothing but negative interactions with students. I now teach and think differently. I see cell phone usage as a teaching opportunity. We talk a lot about professionalism and when the appropriate times are to be using the technology. We talk a lot about tool vs toy. I know it has sunk in because of what happened a few weeks ago:

We had a large group of state leaders in our school for a meeting with the state ed commissioner and then a tour of our building. As one of my students was giving a tour she noticed that many of the group she was leading were on their cell phones the whole time. She started to get frustrated, so she stopped the tour and politely said, "one thing we learn at this school is the importance of knowing when it is appropriate to have your cell phone out, and when it is not appropriate." The tour members looked up at her and all put their cell phones back in their pockets. I loved it!

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Making the Case for Cell Phones in Schools

jenkaiser — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 09:14:12 -0000

I agree that students not being able to have their phones on them could be a liability/safety issue. Most phones today have a tracking feature that parents or law enforcement could use to find the child that is in trouble and I think that it's something school boards should definitely look at.

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Making the Case for Cell Phones in Schools

lori boldt — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 20:10:01 -0000

I’m hoping you can help me answer a few questions for a graduate class that I am taking. Please be aware that the answers will be documented for educational purposes.

What is your school’s policy?
Do you have parental involvement?
Have you received any feedback from the parents?
What have been your biggest challenges, both technical and policy related?

Thanks in advance! Hopefully you will have time to respond.:)

Anyone reading this blog can feel free to respond...the more the better!!!

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Making the Case for Cell Phones in Schools

coolcatteacher — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:07:21 -0000

I'll see what I can do to test it. Thanks.

Vicki Davis
www.coolcatteacher.com
Sent from my iPad

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Making the Case for Cell Phones in Schools

Kfinklestein — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:14:08 -0000

I have used nearpod - it IS really cool!

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Making the Case for Cell Phones in Schools

coolcatteacher — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:02:41 -0000

Nearpod seems very cool. We'll see how it pans out.

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Making the Case for Cell Phones in Schools

Austin Duggan — Wed, 23 May 2012 10:47:42 -0000

Well... Cell phones can be tricky as students can use their calculator but it the end they may end up playing and not doing what they have to do. Anyway, when used properly they can be very helpful. I'm using an app for the classroom called Nearpod in which I make presentations and deliver the content on each of the students ipad or iphone and it's really engaging, has anyone tried it? Awesome way of using iphones in class :) (and you can see who's not logged in to the presentation!)

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Making the Case for Cell Phones in Schools

Squirtiblecheese — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:19:47 -0000

We are doing a debate at our school over cell phones, and I found this site to be very helpful. It showed some good information that will help us. It also helped me to be believe that cell phones should be allowed in schools, I was wanting to be on the negative Side, but know I'm happy to be on the affirmative side. Thank you so much for this site and I agree, the people who disagree are fighting a losing battle!!

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Making the Case for Cell Phones in Schools

coolcatteacher — Sun, 06 May 2012 20:23:34 -0000

Yes, just like the calculator battle.

Vicki Davis
www.coolcatteacher.com
Sent from my iPad

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Making the Case for Cell Phones in Schools

Tanyadvaughn — Sun, 06 May 2012 19:23:15 -0000

It is currently my school's policy to take phones away from students when using them in class without permission. I have heard of schools in my area that are now allowing phones in the classroom. It seems like they have given up on the fight we will never win.

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Making the Case for Cell Phones in Schools

coolcatteacher — Fri, 04 May 2012 07:03:32 -0000

It is pretty easy to tell when a student is using it to text and doesn't have permission.Mulittasking is a myth and I know when I've asked students to use it. I just take them away (like I did yesterday) and put them on my desk.

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Making the Case for Cell Phones in Schools

Tanyadvaughn — Wed, 02 May 2012 21:54:21 -0000

Although this post is now three years old, it still relates to today's classrooms. Cell phones are a big problem in my school. Students get detention for using their phones in class. I wonder what would happen if we changed the rules and allowed students to use their phones for academic purposes. My only concern is how do you monitor what students are doing on their phone? My students use their phones to text each other or to go on Facebook and Twitter.

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Making the Case for Cell Phones in Schools

coolcatteacher — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 19:01:01 -0000

I think there is a time and place for everything. Tethered means it is out all the time. Cell phones aren't like breath or food - we don't have to have them ALL the time - we should and must unplug. However, in a cash-strapped society - I think it doesn't make sense to buy devices for internet access when they have them in their pockets. There is a place for a cell phone just not everywhere all the time. There is a time for no cell phones -- but not all the time. We need balance in everything we do. Right now, most schools err on the side of not having any use for them and I think this is wrong.

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Making the Case for Cell Phones in Schools

Paul Barnwell — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 09:45:46 -0000

I wrote a Commentary Piece for Education Week titled "Class, Take Out Your Cellphones!" a few years ago, but I've backtracked on my position. I have several reasons--first and foremost, we need to create space without digital distractions. Students can be connected 24-7 if they wish, and I don't buy the idea that it's a losing battle. Students lose the ability to communicate and interact in real-time if they are tethered to their devices. Check out my latest post at mindfulstew.wordpress.com.

Re: Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Making the Case for Cell Phones in Schools

coolcatteacher — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 19:23:35 -0000

Agreed! They are great tools!