Do Smartphones Have a Place in the Classroom?

Technology use in the classroom has become so prevalent that it can be taken for granted. Does supporting technology in the classroom include supporting students using smartphones? Smartphones are viewed by some as a viable option for classroom use. Jody Passanisi and Shara Peters published an article in the online newsletter, Education Week: Teacher in support of adding smartphones to the classroom technology toolbox. Technology's place in the classroom must serve a purpose and increase student learning. The authors discuss SAMR: Substitution, Augmentation, Modification and Redefinition. My next blog post will delve more deeply into this, but the main idea is technology in the classroom must do more than substitute a tool that is currently used. Technology must expand the learning in a previously inconceivable way. Smartphone usage is also being discussed as an option in college classes. Kevin Synnott, a business professor at Eastern Connecticut State University wrote an opinion piece for USA Today and discusses the untapped resource that a smartphone can be in the classroom. He sees student engagement with the material as positive and encourages his students to take pictures of his notes on the chalkboard or look up related material during class. 

Socrates is an application for smartphones, tablets or laptops that is discussed in Education Week: Teacher. Students sign on and a teacher can ask multiple choice or short answer questions with students typing their answer into their phone and the information immediately showing up on the teacher's device. This gives the teacher immediate assessment information. Did the class understand the concept? What items need to be reinforced? This application also produces reports for the teacher, thus saving time and providing real time information. 

Both articles discuss the likelihood of misuse of smartphones in the classroom. This idea is not unique to smartphones. Any form of technology that has texting or access to social media can be used at an inappropriate time by a student. Part of teaching our students to use the Internet and technology is appropriate guidelines for behavior. We talk about appropriate classroom, playground and lunchroom behavior, adding technology to the list is easy. 

With technology the question always comes back to access. Many school districts have handed out laptops to every student for use during the school year. Will schools be willing to do this with smartphones, or check out smartphones to students who do not bring a personal phone to class? How will this effect the idea of all students being equal, will this  set up a hierarchy or will it be like students who are on free and reduced lunches? I look forward to the continual exploration of this topic.

References:
Passanisi, Jody, and Shara Peters. "The Powerful Computer in Your Pocket:Using Smartphones in the     Classroom." Editorial. Education Week: Teacher, 10 Dec. 2013. Web. 25 Jan. 2014. <http://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2013/12/10/fp_passanisi_peters_smartphone.html?tkn=LTSFLoUcAHrWK5pu9ztW4r1%2Bi0QjejuLt8tP&cmp=ENL-TU-NEWS1>.

Synnott, Kevin. "Hey Kids, It's Ok to Text in Class: Column." Editorial. USA Today, 16 Oct. 2013. Web. 25 Jan. 2014. <http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/10/05/smartphones-college-classrooms-column/2904949/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&dlvrit=384245>.