Cell Phones in the Classroom: My New Belief

As recently as 2017, I was a firm believer that it was fine for students to have cell phones in the classroom.  Part of my philosophy centered around the idea that it was our job as educators to help teach students about appropriate use (i.e. when is it okay to use your phone vs. when it is time to put it away).  I was also a strong believer in maximizing tech integration into classrooms, with the goal of climbing the SAMR model whenever possible.  (See my Oct. 2014 post about the SAMR model here.  Also, more info on the SAMR model here.)  My thinking was pretty simple: integrating tech into classroom often times increased student engagement and made class more interesting and exciting.

Let's fast forward to May 2019. 
My belief on cell phones in the classroom has completed changed.  I now believe that cell phones should be banned from classrooms.

My five reasons, in no particular order.

1.  I have failed to integrate meaningful, engaging activities that require cell phones.

Don't get me wrong.  I still love integrating tech into my classroom.  But each student in my school is issued a laptop, and that laptop can do everything I want students to be doing.

The reason I don't hunt for activities and lessons that integrate cell phones is equity for all students.  While a large majority of students in my classroom have smart phones, not everyone does.  I want no part of widening the equity gap between the "haves" and "have nots".


2.  Smart phones make cheating waaaaaay too easy.

Many students are far too good taking a picture and snapping it to their group of friends.  I understand that this form of cheating could still take place in a variety of ways, but no phones in the classroom would at least put a band-aid on the problem.


3.  We need to help student develop their social skills.

It's not that kids don't communicate with each other anymore, but their main form of communication is digital.  I've seen a table of seven students sit at lunch and blankly stare at their phones for 15 minutes straight.  No talking, no emotion, minimal awareness of their surroundings.  One time, I asked a group at lunch what they were up to on their phones, and some said that they were sending Snap Chat messages to others at the table.

In addition, students often don't understand how to appropriately talk to each other nor how to listen to one another.  Little things like making eye contact, reading non-verbal cues, and being a good listener are skills that need to be developed.

I love to use strategies such as Sara Van Der Werf's "Stand and Talks" and a modified version of "Which One Doesn't Belong?" that asks students to listen to what their partner answered and share their answer.  (Another variation of WODB is to find a reason that each one doesn't belong.)
[I stole those variations from someone but couldn't locate the source.  Sorry!]  These strategies help students develop some of those communication person-to-person skills.

Desmos also has some very useful tools that can help create conversations in the classroom.  (Check out the Classroom Conversation Toolkit.)  Yes, I realize that Desmos activities can be implemented using smart phones, but once again, I will have my students on their computers if we're doing a Desmos activity.


4.  Students need to learn that they can survive without their phones.

I'm going to summon Abraham Maslow for this one.  Contrary to popular belief, cell phones are not basic human need (see table below... the basic needs are at the bottom).  I see cell phones fitting snugly into the "social" level of this pyramid.  Much of what students do on their phones (in and out of the classroom) caters to their social needs.  Put me on record for saying that good teachers create a culture in their classrooms that can satisfy the social needs of students.  Cell phones are not needed.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/hide-and-seek/201205/our-hierarchy-needs

Part of this "phone addiction" stems from parents.  I invite you to watch different families the next time you go to a restaurant.  I can't count the number of times I've seen parents solely focused on their screens while life moves on around them.  (As a parent, I am guilty of this as well.)

I hate to say it, but part of our job as educators is to help students realize that they don't need to be attached to their cell phones.

(A corollary to this idea is for parents to learn that it is okay to not have direct access to their child 24/7.  I understand that parents pay large sums of money in order for their child to have a cell phone accessible at all times... but, parents: you're not helping here.  Countless times I have asked students to please put their phone away, only to hear the reply of "but I'm just texting my mom (or dad).")



And this brings me to my last point. 

5.  Phones are a distraction, even when students aren't touching them.

Take a look at this video.  Please watch it.  (2 minutes)
https://www.edutopia.org/video/theres-cell-phone-your-students-head

I've had a gut feeling about this more and more these past two years, but have never acted on it until this week.  This past week, I changed the policy in my classroom to "If I see your phone, I will take it."  I put the phones in a box and students can have them back after class.



I'm happy that I work in a building where I can set my own cell phone policy and the administrators will support it.  After watching the video, I might even tighten my policy for next year.

I'm curious to hear your thoughts on this "cell phones in the classroom" debate.