Hard cell

Readers of this blog will know that most schools throughout the UK and in many other countries have a long standing ban on the use of cell/mobile phones within school grounds. This is due in part to a number of distressing incidents involving phone cameras that have been used to record and glamourize so-called 'happy slapping' and other aggressive, anti-social acts. There are also concerns over distraction, disruption and other intrusive effects of mobile phones in the classroom. Add onto this doubts and concerns over child safety, health risks through non-ionising radiation and the possibility of theft or loss of expensive small items, and the result is a ban that has shown no signs of being lifted within the forseeable future.

I gave a lecture to a group of 80 or so PGCE Secondary students this morning in which we discussed these issues. The general consensus of opinion seemed to be that mobile phones had the potential to be used for good, but that the problems seemed to be intractable. My solution was to set up some controlled pilot trials in a few schools to demonstrate how mobile phones can provide added value to the learning experience if used responsibly and equitably.

Out of the blue tonight in a timely manner, came an e-mail from Tom Hanson over at OpenEducation.Net. Tom writes:

Needless to say, the general consensus regarding cell phones and schools is that the two simply do not mix. However, a new study from the UK gives strong indication that schools should give greater consideration to putting these handheld mobile devices to work.

Tom's post goes under the title of Cell Phones - Time to Lift the Ban on Mobiles in the School Setting? It's an engaging read and provides both perspectives in the discussion. Although the jury is still out, and the cell/mobile phone is still in the dock, this post may add a little balance to the ongoing debate. What is your view on cell/mobile phones in schools?

(image source: Sonofthesouth.net)