Cellphones in the classroom

 Cellphones in the classroom

 

The debate about the possible inclusion of cellphones into our curriculum still rages with both  sides presenting arguments for and against such inclusion. Meanwhile, the issue is being debated the world continues to advance rapidly around us. We then have to indulge ourselves in a game of "catch up" after the rest of the world would have moved on.  This is the plight of many developing countries.

To much is at stake for us not to take notice. Our children's future in a digital environment depends on the decisions we make today. If our students are going to be able to access and keep jobs in the digital work place, they have to  be exposed to modern technology. Additionally, they must possess critical thinking and problem solving skills, be able to work in teams, be flexible and willing to adapt to change, have good communicating skills and be information literate. To be able to adequately prepare our students, schools must embrace the technology that students would encounter in the workplace. The cellphone is one such piece of technology.

As it stands, our students have had a long association with cellphones that can be used as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and are well versed at using them. What they have not been exposed to is the use of the cellphone as an instructional or learning tool. The modern cellphones (smart phone) with a wide range of built in app and available software make them excellent choices for ubiquitous computing. With these phones students would be able to conduct online research, work collaboratively on tasks, prepare and present content, engaging in social networking, and take notes among other things.  

Although fundamental issues need to be resolved, such as the control over content and use, the potential for learning with mobile phones exists. With proper classroom management of which effective lesson planning is an integral part, cellphones can be utilized as effective learning tools. 
Are we any closer though, to allowing cellphone usage in our classrooms? I don't think so. This is as a result of a number of factors including the cost of internet service provided by our two service providers, the number of children owning a smart phone, the difficulty posed by the numerous different platforms used by these phones and the sourcing of software for them, the lack of a policy frame work for such inclusion and the absence of a core of teachers who are trained in the use of cellphones as instructional tools and spear head such an initiative.