Smartphones in the Classroom

Sometimes I feel like I am way behind on technology. I don’t have a smart phone, a tablet, fancy video game systems (besides the one I got when I was five), and I’ve had the same mp3 player since 2006.  I do have a laptop. That’s about as far as my technological savviness goes.  Along with the advances in technology that are constantly occurring (have you seen the new iPhone 5 updates??), attitudes regarding technology have also changed.  In high school, cell phones were taken away if a teacher saw someone using it.  Now, some schools embrace the use of cell phones, tablets, and other technology in the classroom and even incorporate it in their daily lessons.

I did I quick search regarding the use of smartphones in the classroom and came upon this article by the National Education Association about using smartphones to support students.  Teachers and students can use apps such as Remind 101 to help teachers stay in communication with students about upcoming assignments.  This app helps keep students organized and ensures that they remember information about tests, homework, and other important information, especially since many of them are constantly attached to their phones.  Of course, incorporating smartphones in the classroom would only be practical if the majority of students had access to a smartphone, but I personally like the idea of being able to stay connected with students and families to help them stay focused on their education when they are outside of the classroom.

So, why don’t I have a smartphone?  I’ve considered it.  I even owned one for a brief period of time before going back to my old phone.  First off, I’m extremely clumsy.  I’m fairly certain my current phone is indestructible.  It’s been thrown, dropped, lost, probably sat on… and it has persevered.  Smartphones probably could not withstand that much abuse.  My phone is also not in demand.  No one would ever want to steal my phone unless they were very desperate (in which case—it’s yours, my friend.  Your situation must be dire).  Mostly, I’m afraid of the social media bombardment/addiction.  I already spend too much time on my computer, surfing the web, hanging out on social media, responding to e-mails.  What would happen if I could access all of this all of the time?!? How can our students focus when they have the world at their fingertips at every moment?  Maybe taking away the use of phones in school would be a useful break and opportunity for them to refocus on school. I think that apps like Remind 101 could be beneficial to students to quickly remind them of school responsibilities when they are outside of the school environment, but the use of smartphones in school is still a questionable topic for me.  If possible, using tablet computers provide the same access to apps with bigger screens and therefore easier application.  For schools that do not have a selection of tablets for students to use in the classroom, teachers could incorporate student-owned smartphones if necessary. 

In terms of working with English language learners, smartphones provide students with immediate access to translator apps and websites.  This can be a blessing or a curse for the teachers and students.  Translators can be the "easy way out," limiting the necessity for students to figure out new terms and vocabulary on their own, using context clues, background knowledge, etc.  At the same time, it can help in communicative situations outside of the classroom where there is a language barrier.  Teachers should determine when students are able to use the smartphones, and monitor how students are using them.  For example, ELLs in mainstream content classrooms may occasionally be lost in understanding the curricular content.  If students are allowed to research the content, in their native language or in English, they may be better able to stay afloat in their studies.  

Most of all, I believe that students should be given opportunities to explore various technologies in school.  Because students may not have technology at home, allowing them to practice using it at school would be extremely beneficial.  Almost all of what I know about programs such as Microsoft Word was learned through exploring, pushing buttons and seeing what happens.  Even if it seems like students are not always focusing on a specified task, much of learning is simply the process of experimenting with the given tools. 

Perhaps someday I will join the world of smartphone users (That day will most likely come when my current phone dies).  Until then, I would encourage students when they are in school to take a break from the world of texting, facebook, twitter, and the world wide web to focus their attention—their full attention—on the teacher’s lesson.  If other technology sources are available, I would be more prone to use them in place of smartphones.  Still, this discomfort with using smartphones in class may stem from my own unfamiliarity with them.  I might just have to wait for the next installation of iPhone to truly find out.