SMART-2

It was quite surprising to me when reading chapter 2 in Teaching with Tools Kids Really Use 262.7 million people in the United States are cellphone users. I think I would have estimated the number a little higher. It’s hard for me to imagine not having a cell phone. Another intriguing statistic was that forty-six percent of children ages nine to eleven have cellphones and maybe even more surprising was that reportedly twenty percent of children ages six to eight have cellphones. This was certainly not the case when I was that age.

Cell phones engage students. Who wouldn’t want to find a new inventive way of engaging students? They also can be used in a variety of ways to help support the curriculum. The first is in a visual way. Most cellphones have cameras, and many students learn visually, so having them to take pictures to support what they’re learning is quite helpful. Employing podcast is also helpful. Students can record a podcast to turn in that demonstrates a concept they are learning. Also by using phones in the classroom students can begin to develop proper manners for cell phone use by having role models in their teachers. There are so many positive possibilities for cellphone use in the classroom.

Cons of allow cell phone use in the classroom include running the risk of propelling cyber-bullying, sexual harassment, cheating, and prank calls. I witnessed all of these things in high school, and I realize the harm these things can cause students. However, I am prone to think that the good outweighs the bad, and that these things can be managed if cell phones are used in positive meaningful ways in the classroom. 

I think the most creative suggestion the book made was the use of cell phones in taking online surveys. This allows the students to combine texting with quizzes or personal input.  I have seen this used several times in classrooms, and it works very well.