Last week I posted a video about two approaches to dealing with cell phones in schools. In short, the video featured a school with a zero-use policy toward cell phones and a school that was trying to use cell phones as mobile learning devices. This morning The Boston Globe featured Burlington, Massachusetts High School principal Patrick Larkin and his vision for the use of technology in his school. One of the things that jumped-out at me while reading the article was this quote from Patrick in response to a question about concerns that students will cheat or be distracted by using cell phones or laptops: “If they want to cheat, they’re going to cheat,’’ Larkin said, “with technology or anything else.’’ He said he doesn’t see much difference between this and the old scourge of teachers — note passing. “We’ve had no problem with note passing the last few years . . . I wonder why . . . they’re texting!’’ he said. Read the whole article here and make sure you read the closing quote from Principal Larkin.
Patrick Larkin takes an approach to dealing with cell phones in schools that many of us would like to see in schools. Rather than spending our effort and limited time telling students to put away their pocket computers (cell phones) we should put that effort into learning how we can leverage mobile devices to improve the learning experiences of our students.
On a related note, here is Patrick's guest post on this blog: Every Principal Needs A Blog!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
One Principal's Approach to Cell Phones in Classrooms
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5 comments:
I agree! Cell phones are the new reality so why not figure out how we can leverage them for student learning instead of wasting precious time/energy fighting it? In my district too many teachers are focused on policing cell phones rather than innovating their practice to incorporate them at appropriate times.
Exactly, there have always been disengaged students and students "cheating." The only difference is the medium. It used to be with paper and pen (notes, doodling, reading your library book secretly during the lecture...); today it is with technology. Kids text, post to social networks, send silly pictures, etc. I do think more students are disengaged today because of the switch in medium.
It is a tough job to compete with the exciting digital world that student's have in their pockets or purses. We need to change how we teach, and how we present information. It can no longer be as it was for 200 years. There is a whole new world out there and students know it, and they are a part of it outside of school hours.
Two years ago when my son was 14, he was learning to play guitar on his own. He hooked up with a worldwide network of other guitar players. They would meet up online used voip and video cameras to share and learn new cords, songs, etc. They would practice together and on their own then video their playing and post up on youtube for comments. My son was engaged. Nothing even close to this experience happens at school. He is disengaged.
It is past time for schools to meet students in their digital worlds. We need to allow laptops, cell phones, netbooks and iPads, Kindles, Sony Readers, iPods, MP3 players, etc.
Our AUP changed significantly this year, and cell phones and other "web-enabled" devices are now allowed. As you can imagine, there are a lot of growing pains with this for our teachers. I tell teachers that we can either fight phones from now until the end of time or we can start to teach students responsible use and how to use these as productivity tools. Thanks for the timely blog post. I intend to share this with my instructional tech colleagues.
Richard - Thanks so much for highlighting what is going on at Burlington High School. I feel fortunate to be in a place where the school board and the Superintendent trust the educators to employ the latest tools in their classrooms.
Speaking of cellphones, I was so thrilled to see my Supt. use polleverywhere.com in his opening meeting with staff this year!
Richard - Thanks so much for highlighting what is going on at Burlington High School. I feel fortunate to be in a place where the school board and the Superintendent trust the educators to employ the latest tools in their classrooms.
Speaking of cellphones, I was so thrilled to see my Supt. use polleverywhere.com in his opening meeting with staff this year!
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