Facebook

I love facebook I think it is a great way to network. I have concerns about teachers using this as an extension of the classroom. I think that students should not be encouraged to spend more time on computers at home. Children are already always wired to computers, video games and TV. Don't misunderstand me that I think all this technology is great and can help in many ways in the classroom. But I feel that we should encourage students to use time out of the classroom to play outside and away from TV and monitor screens.

Random Thoughts

I read several of these articles and just had some random thoughts about some of the statements.

One of the articles mentions the different features that are available on cell phones such as a calculator, camera, audio recorder, video recorder, calculator, and texting that are now being used for different projects in schools. These projects include class blogs, creating reports, answering quizzes/exams, and solving math problems. While I think these are great tools to utilize, I'm not sure I'm ready to have cell phones in my class because I think the students might abuse their use of them. If the students have their cell phone they're gonna text! This is something that as a new teacher I would have to give a great deal of thought.

I thought the use of cell phones for the scavenger hunt at a museam was a great idea!

Lastly, I thought it was funny that one of the articles said "laptops are very 90's". What does that say about me-I have only had mine for two years!!!

Technology vs. Cellphones

I read the article cellphones as teacher and was not sure how I felt about it. It seems completely for having kids bring their phones to school, and I am opposed to that. As I watch children and teenagers with their cellphones, I see them as a complete disruption to all other forms of life. When someone is involved in a active texting session, you cannot peel their eyes, or brains from their cellphone screen. I think cellphones are of use when they have the internet and are accessible to their school work, but lets face it, how many students actually use their phones for that purpose. Two weeks ago I was in Logan at a conference, I saw my aunt using her phone to check her facebook page, I was terribly behind on my homework, but the last thought to enter my mind when taking her cellphone was "lets check my blackboard page" instead I quickly dived into a facebook session. So do I think cellphones are appropriate in school, no, but do I feel I am against to technology, absolutely not. I know there are now little laptops being made that would be of great use to students, there are other options out there, but bringing cellphones into school will in my opinion create a problem. I think they are useful for things such as scavenger hunts to take pictures, that would be fun and a great learning experience, but I do not feel having cell phones as an active part of a class is a good idea.

Mixed Views

I personally have mixed views on cell phone usage at schools. I don't think that cell phones should be used at all at the elementary school level. Students at this age should have all the resources that they need provided to them by the school and I don't think that they are responsible enough to be carrying around cell phones. At the Junior High and High School level, I think there could be some times that cell phones could be used as learning devices like some of the articles explained. I liked the idea of using cell phones as calculators, cameras on field trips, scavenger hunts, buzzers and for receiving assignments from teachers.

I have a daughter that is a junior at Grantsville High School and after reading the article about cell phone usage at GHS I have to say that I thought it was a little harsh. I agree with the students not using them for personal purposes during classtime but I think they should be able to use them during their free time at lunch. I know I have sent my daughter text messages while she is at school and I think she should be allowed to text me back during her lunch time. Also, I thought the $20 penalty fee was a lot to charge the student to get their cell phone back. We are definitely in world of electronic devices and the students are very smart in learning to use them. I still don't know how to use all the functions on my cell phone, but my kids sure do!!

This post is from Darlene Gilbert.

A Graceful Moment...

A few weeks ago my son Erik, a senior at Stansbury High, planned to come home for lunch. He asked me that morning to start cooking pasta for his lunch (to save him time during his lunch break). As I cooked the pasta I kept wondering where Erik was. I decided to text him. I asked, "Where are you?" As I was selecting who to send the message to somehow, and I still don't know how, I accidentally sent the message to EVERYONE in my address book! I was embarrassed. Almost immediatly I began getting texts from everyone--friends checking in with me and letting me know where they were at that moment. Oh, everyone except who the message was intended for...Erik!

The reason I share this graceful moment from my life is because some of the numbers in my phone are my children's friends. Although they were in school at the time and are not suppossed to use their cell phones during class, they all dutifully reported which class they were in. Cell phones are a reality in children's lives. I understand how they can be used to cheat but they also can be used in many productive, enriching ways.

As I read the articles provided, I jotted down some of the more interesting ways that a cell phone can be used in class. I really like the idea to use a text message alert to remind students of assingments due and/or upcoming tests. I like the idea of using the cell phone as a clicker--using the phone as a way to have the students answer questions and then displaying the various answers on the board. I like the idea of sending your students on a scavenger hunt at a museum--using the camera to prove to the teacher the student located all of the required objects.

Children enjoy using their technology. If it gets them excited about learning then I'm all for it.

Karen