It is undeniable that technology is transforming schooling. Unavoidably, students’ digital gadgets, such as laptops, mobile phones, and tablets, have made their way from home to the classroom. On some campuses, using mobile phones while in school is also permitted.
While class is in session, you can charge your phone, snap photos of your homework, or put on your headphones and listen to music.
Other, more traditional schools remain staunch in their opposition to permitting personal devices like mobile phones in class.
Some schools have maintained their stance against using smartphones in the classroom; others have gone as far as outright forbidding them due to problems including inappropriate use, cheating, and general disruption.
Although there are legitimate issues with mobile phone use in schools, and there should be clear penalties for misuse, enforcing a blanket ban on the device would be illogical and impracticable.
While keeping an eye on a student’s safety is crucial, neither parents nor teachers seem to be aware of the untapped educational potential of mobile phones.
05 Reasons Why Phones in School Should Be Allowed
- There will inevitably be mobile phones in class.
The educational system is a dynamic and ever-changing environment. There will always be technology in the classroom!
Consider how, for instance, the use of calculators in classrooms evolved from being derided as an unneeded crutch to a useful and crucial tool for mathematics!
Presentations have changed recently, moving away from clunky overhead slide projectors to lively live video projectors and entertaining interactive whiteboards.
“If we teach today as we taught yesterday, we rob our children of tomorrow.”
John Dewey
The eminent education reformer’s remark above was directed at the numerous outmoded schools of the 20th century, yet it is still very true today.
Dewey recognized that schools ought to be the first institutions in society to adopt novel approaches, take chances, and refute conventional wisdom. He considered the advent of new technology a chance to improve the educational process!
With these ground-breaking new concepts, he revamped school curricula and adopted modern teaching methods, converting American schools from a passive model to what they are today: a hands-on learning environment that places a strong focus on the freedom and individuality of young people.
I do not doubt that John Dewey would support using mobile phones in the classroom and their capacity to tailor each student’s learning environment and make education accessible whenever and wherever.
- Mobile phones at school provide organization, flexibility, and convenience.
Carrying around bulky textbooks, assignments, notes, and everything else in a backpack is no longer necessary, thanks to smartphones!
Now, a portable, lightweight gadget may be used to access all of these things whenever and wherever you are. Calendar and planner apps also allow students to organize their academics and develop time management skills.
For instance, the helpful software Remind notifies students via text message when an assignment’s due date is approaching and assists them in organizing their assignments.
Students in his class frequently use their smartphones to browse online dictionaries, download foreign language podcasts, and bring up recent foreign language news during group discussions.
- Having phones in school makes students feel safer.
Students and parents feel more secure when they bring their smartphones to school. This is because they occasionally need to get in touch with one another due to emergencies.
One of the best options is if the student can contact the parents directly because communicating with parents through the school can occasionally take some time. This is especially helpful in urgent medical situations. There are other situations when parents must contact their child for any pressing matter or simply inquire why the child is late.
- Having a phone at school helps with memory.
Students can benefit from using their mobile phones to review as they have a lot of quizzes and tests to prepare for in school. They can simply turn on their smartphones and review any place if they are permitted to use them to take notes or even to capture images of lectures that make it so easy to see on a 7-inch mobile phone screen.
Additionally, this is particularly useful in science classes. They can use their mobile phone to take pictures of any scientific work they completed or any unusual creatures, plants, or chemical reactions they encountered.
5. Phones in school are good for the environment!
The term “going paperless” refers to a new trend sparked by the development of cloud computing technologies. Many organizations and individuals worldwide are converting their physical papers to electronic ones over the cloud (with minimal infrastructure or maintenance), and they may access them with their own devices from any location.
Organizations may now save time and money. Nowadays we have mobile phones under 25000 which makes us so easy that everyone can easily purchase them. Schools should adopt this practice, given how much paper is wasted in the average classroom from handouts, worksheets, assignments, and exams.
Conclusion:
The reasons mentioned above are just a few of the many national creative schools that use mobile phones in the classroom.
