Students+of+the+Twitch+Generation

Students are using __**mobile technologies**__ more and more in today's society. These devices are becoming part of our students. Anyone with a teenage child understands the importance of a cell phone to a student. With the iPhone, iPad, iTouch, cell phones, laptops, notebooks, Kindle, and any other devices that will be created in the future, education is at a turning point. Students and teachers use these devices at home, but then are told they are forbidden in school.

=Cell Phones at School: Should They Be Allowed? =  by Maya Cohen The question of whether **cell phones** should be allowed in schools has been hotly debated over the years. Most school administrations regard cell phone use as disruptive and distracting, and have implemented policies that prohibit using them on school grounds. There are benefits to giving your kids cell phones for use outside of school, but before you add them to your family plan, read the pros and cons: **The Pros** **The Cons** There are compelling arguments on both sides of the debate, and both enthusiasts and critics make convincing points. What do you think? Take our poll:
 *  You can be in touch with your children, and know their whereabouts.
 *  Your kids can reach you in the event of an emergency, and vice versa.
 *  If in danger, your children can reach the authorities or a medical provider.
 *  Phones can be silenced during class or study periods, and active only in appropriate places.
 *  Cell phones create a convenience that was previously unavailable. With cell phones, you can easily reach your kids for any reason: to ask them questions, change plans, or to simply say hello.
 *  Students often forget to turn off their phones in class, and ringing noises or text-message alerts disrupt learning.
 *  Even if set to silent, cell phones can still cause distraction, since text messaging has become a high-tech method of passing notes in school.
 *  Students have been known to use cell phones to call in bomb threats to schools, to avoid or condense class time.
 *  In the event of a widespread crisis, rampant cell phone use can overload communication systems and render them inoperable.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> Student cell phone networks add to the spread of rumors and misinformation, which can be harmful during a widespread crisis.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> Phones can be used as cheating devices during exams.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> The long-term physical effects of cell phone use are still undetermined.

<span style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"> FamilyEducation: [| http://life.familyeducation.com/cellular-telephones/school/51264.html]

<span style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">View the following videos for some thought-provoking ideas about mobile technologies in the classroom.

<span style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">media type="youtube" key="zhAH6nncCKw?fs=1" height="281" width="340"

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">[] This video cannot be embedded, but is worth viewing for its content.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal;">As teachers we can readily agree that cell phones should not be allowed in the classroom, but should we consider using cell phones to our advantage.
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Do you think we could or should use cell phones or any other personal wireless device in the classroom?
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Do any of your districts allow these devices to be used by students? Staff?
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">What are some safety issues?
 * 4) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">How could you use cell phones in the classroom?
 * 5) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">What benefits might this have?

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal;">Your Assignment is to
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal;">develop a short essay to answer the above question.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal;"> find two articles or videos (one pro and one con) about the use of these technologies in the schools -- include the URL for the articles or videos
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal;">in a separate paragraph include your own position regarding the subject matter.