ESSAY

ABSTRACT

In the following essay, it is possible to read some important aspects of the use of cell phones inside the classroom. This topic has been studied during this technological area. Research studies are looking for the advantages and disadvantages that cell phones represent, some of them are going to be presented in this essay with the objective to give a clear idea of the impact of cellphones inside the classroom and probably it could help to take a position about this topic.

Most of the educational staff perceives cellphones as enemies for students, without thinking about that this resource contribute significantly in educational field, in other words, cell phones are not a problem, maybe we can say that the problem is the way students and teachers use cell phones, they perceive this resource as a disadvantage and it is not, cell phones represent a strategic tool to be implemented inside the classroom. For that reason it is crucial for educational field tries to adequate curriculum in this technological area; students are submerged in a digital world which represents big changes in many aspects of our lives, education could not be the exception.

Cellphones should be allowed in the classroom.

Technology is one of the principal tools that people use nowadays. Technology became a resource which is used in different fields. This resource contributes in important aspects of our daily life, for example, it is used to speed up the food process, for communicative purposes such as the use of social media or cellphones, in other words, technology makes our lives easier.  One of the fields which technology contributes significantly is education. Majority of teachers are implementing the use of  technology inside the classroom take into account  the positive impact  that the use of this resource  has on students, "technology is a powerful contributor to learning if it is used to deepen students’ engagement in a meaningful and intellectually authentic curriculum.” (Costley,2014).  It is crucial the role of teachers in this technological era, because of the new ways to teach and acquire knowledge, there is a need to adequate curriculum where technology is used. Talking about strategies to use technology in class, a good example is the use of cell phones inside the classroom; the majority of people perceive cellphones as a dangerous tool to use in students, without taking into account the benefits that this tool represents. According to a study research conducted in 2016 called “Hold the phone! High School Students’ Perceptions of Mobile Phone Integration in the Classroom” seven out of ten students who were interviewed perceive cellphones as an important learning resource and the third percent believe that the use of cellphone takes negative effects inside the classroom arguing general distraction and cheat, those negative comments make teachers believe that cell phones are enemies in the educational process and it is not, the use of cell phones inside the classroom take an important role in the educational field.

First of all, it is important to bear in mind that the majority of people are involved in this technological area. Teenagers, in particular, are the most interested in this kind of changes that are facing our society. Let take the use of cell phones in the classroom as an example of the new reality in education.  Cellphones represents an important device for teenagers, according to a study directed by Common Sense Media, "teenagers are spending more than one-third of their days using media, nearly nine hours on average"( Tsukayama, 2015), in other words, teenagers are submerged in a virtual life, here is where teachers need to intervene, with the objective of using the time productively,  teenagers are using their cell phones with different purposes, the challenges here is trying to use this time for educational purposes. Although the use of cell phone inside the classroom tends to be a distractor factor there is a need in the educational field of adequate the use of this tool in order get advantage of this resource and in this way, it could give opportunities to teachers to carry out dynamic lessons. however it is necessary to set rules in the classroom in order to avoid negative impacts with the use of cell phones for instance, according to Mendoza (2018) teenagers feel a kind of dependence for the cellphone, it could raise anxiety to check their cellphone every moment, also the author mentioned how teenagers use the cellphones for social media rather than academic activities. However, there are more advantages than disadvantages in the use of technology inside the classroom, as it was previously mentioned teenagers are in an era which technology takes an important role. It is a necessity incorporate technology in lessons for that reason teachers should be focus on the support that technology represents in educational field, such as the use of educational apps, get instant information or digital material with the objective of trying to motivate students to study outside the classroom, it is a way to support lessons and use autonomous learning.

It is crucial to mention the need to adapt the curriculum according to this technological area. Every day is more common see how teachers are trying to incorporate activities where the use of technology takes the role. The use of a device which teenagers use most of the time like cell phones could encourage and motivate them to carry out activities in class because it is a tool that they really enjoy to use, also a tool that they are using most of the time. Taking as a reference a  really good article wrote by Kelsey Enhle in 2018 which present some of the ways to use cellphones to learning, it give ideas such as the access to an online dictionary which is indispensable in English lessons, for example, the use of social networks which help to motivate students to participate and receive instant feedback from their teachers. In that order of ideas, it is possible to say that there is a need the adaption of curriculum with technological area. As reported by Janelle Cox in her article, the principal challenge is the way teachers adapt themselves in this reality and the importance of professional development to modify their teaching styles. One of the main ideas to use and to highlight is the method of adapting a students centered education program that is looking for a strategy which allows students learn how to use a technological resource, in this case, cellphones. Likewise, it is essential to comment that every activity using a cellphone or any other technological device should have a specific educational purpose otherwise the use of technology could be a waste of time in the classroom. On the other hand, if the objective is to have success with the use of this kind of electronic material, teachers should have patient, it is a process to demand which start with little actions, taking time to adapt students and create self-control with the use of cellphones properly, it is time to avoid the myth that cell phones represent a waste of time in students, the teacher should have the clear idea that this is a new era and it demands changes in all the aspects in our society, the educational field is not the exception.

In conclusion, the use of cell phones is a useful tool in the classroom. It provides students a new way to learn and enjoy the class. Moreover, cellphones should be implemented in the content that teachers have prepared for their classes; making activities through of this device can make a meaningful learning. In this technological era, the use of cell phones is an advantage which is giving favorable results to children’s learning. Besides, if teachers try to include this tool to their curriculum, they probably will find activities, exercises, videos and useful information which will help the students to understand a topic. It is important to say that cell phones have more advantages than disadvantages but all depends on the way that the learner uses it. Cellphones can be a source of knowledge if students use appropriately because when they have free time they can surf on the internet and make some exercises or even playing some games that are educational. Also, they can clarify some doubts that they have with some lessons. Cellphones are not just about entertaining; it is about acquiring knowledge, using it like a tool that it will help you to improve the idea that you have about something.  The use of cell phones makes feel you more independent, with this device you just figure out what you do not know and even you are learning by yourself sometimes from the comfort of your home.

REFERENCES

Costley, 2014. the positive effects of technology on teaching and student learning 

Tsukayama, 2015. teens spend nearly nine hours every day consuming media the washington post.

j.s. mendoza et al. / computers in human behavior 86 (2018)

Moller,2012. cell phones are becoming a positive aspect of the classroom

Wright, negative effects of cell phones on education

cell phones in the classroom: learning tool or distraction (oxford learning platform)

thomas, k, & muñoz, ma. (2016) 'hold the phone! High school students' perceptions of mobile phone integration in the classroom')  

pulliam, daniel, "effect of student classroom cell phone usage on teachers" (2017)

       Ehnle,2018. 6 ways to use students’ smartphones for learning

Janelle cox, technology in the classroom: helping educators adapt.