Mobile Phones Wiki

NEGATIVE
Like any new device introduced to our education system there are issues to consider like environmental, privacy, misuse, cyber-bullying and its affects to educational trends.  Is there a solution? Can this digital device be controlled in a classroom environment? To some extent yes, but just the same these issues will always be at the surface.  Just as behaviour management in the playground is always going to be an issue.  Society remains the same in their developmental years as they are in their senior years.  Some comply, some don't.  It's the very reason we have such a thing as "the law". 

PROCESS
This era belongs to the digital natives. Society is rapidly embracing technology and advancing in such as way, that we as digital immigrants either learn the language or fall behind the times. Our education system needs to meet the demands of technology, in order to prepare our digital natives for "their working years", just as we were prepared for ours.  That's not to say I support the use of mobile phones in schools.  But I don't think this issue is really about what we support or don't support.  It's about what is best for their education.  What they require and what is necessary in today's learning.

CREATIVE
In relation to controlling mobile phones within the classroom environment, I would construct a learning process with the students at the beginning of the year.  Collaborating ideas achieving valid educational uses for the mobile phone within the classroom would be the process.  Both students and teacher would decide the final list of appropriate uses, so each individual has a clear understanding up front, of suitable times for mobile phone access.  This demonstrates a sense of responsibility upon the students in relation to their behaviour management, allowing stronger support to the teacher when the occasion of misuse is presented. 

INTUITIVE
What can I say? I'm a digital immigrant so in ways I'm still old fashioned. I believe phones are an entertainment tool just like a PS3, Wii, Xbox, IPad, and IPod etc.  None of these tools in my opinion should be introduced into education.  We don't use them in the workforce so why the need for them in education? Let's face it education is in preparation for the workforce.  I think digital natives need to learn to be less selfish and more obedient.  I find this generation to be the "ME" generation.  What they don't have isn't worth having.  They don't know what it means to go without.  Our education system encourages and feeds this attitude as do most of the parents of this generation. 

POSITIVE
In terms of digital pedagogy mobile phones can present as another learning tool.  Through communication, transferring of data, spreadsheets, email, photo and video transfers and editing, global time zones, maps (GPS), stopwatch, research to name a few.  Mobile phones are portable so can be used both in and out of the classroom.  All these however are only positives if students actually use these devices for these purposes when required and don't abuse the privilege. 

OBJECTIVE
"Spending 50 minutes with a cell phone plastered to your ear is enough to change brain cell activity in the part of the brain closest to the antenna."  Cell Phone Calls Alter Brain Activity, Scientists, say.  (February 22, 2011).  Retrieved March 17, 2011, from http://www.ehso.com/ehso2.php?URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/02/22/cell-phone-calls-alter-brain-activity-scientists-say/. There's no official health link between cell phones and brain tumours, however initially there was never a link between smoking and lung cancer either, though it was later established.  Are we encouraging bad health habits by incorporating an unnecessary digital tool in education?