Cell Phones in the Classroom

Dear Mr. President

My name is Albert J. Neil. I am a student at Parkway West Middle School, and I am writing you today to share my thoughts about the use of cellphones in the classroom.

                I became interested in the topic of cellphones in the classroom because it applies to young people my age and I believe that we can become more focused if something that we are familiar to is introduced into the classroom. We are not allowed to use cellphones during school hours and I think that they can be used as a valuable learning tool. Take a moment to imagine a scenario; you are a student in a communication arts classroom and your class just watched a presidential debate and your teacher wants to take a poll to see who had the best argument. You and all the other students take out your cell phones and text your teacher your opinion and the results appear immediately on the board. This shows that cellphones can be valuable in the learning environment.

                Kids of the 21^st century have become accustomed to using electronics a lot, so much that they will sometimes use their cellphones and other portable when they are not supposed to. I say to give them what they want and let them use their phones because a lot of the new features of cellphones can be utilized for educational purposes. The use of cell phones in the learning environment is not concentrated in a single school, city, or region; it is a national movement in which teachers in urban New York, rural California, and everywhere in between use them. Some teachers are opposed to the idea and say that cellphones can only bring distraction and belong nowhere in the classroom. Many teachers have confiscated phones because of this. However, if kids are using their phones to learn, they can't text because the phone is in use for another purpose and many more kids are likely to stay engaged because they want to use their phones.

                I would like to integrate the use of cellphones in curriculum at many schools because of the increased class participation they would bring and how they can be used for school. Text books don't have all the answers and many mobile phones these days can view the internet, from which students can find more information. I would like help in promoting cellphones as a tool for learning, not just a distraction from it. Technology is rising and students should know how to use it, not just to put it away when there is work to be done, promoting the use of cellphones and other technology for learning and classwork can show that it can be used for learning and would increase the amount of learning students take in because they associate what they learn with technology. When students can retain knowledge, they can do better on tests and the United States can start sprinting towards other countries in terms of grades!

                I would like to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to read this and I hope that you consider the use of cellphones in the classroom. I would like you to encourage teachers to integrate cellphones and other technology into the curriculum and the classroom.

Sincerely,

Albert J. Neil

Parkway West Middle School

Chesterfield, Missouri

 

 

Mrs. Elsie F. Rafferty

MOSAICS Specialist

Parkway West Middle School

 

NOTICE: Any information contained in or attached to this message is intended solely for the use of the intended recipient(s). Any review, retransmission, dissemination of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this communication by persons other than the intended recipient(s) is prohibited. If you received this communication in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from all computers.