Enter the cell phone

Flash back to your classrooms from elementary to high school. There's this cute girl or guy you like and you write the ever famous "Do you like me?" note and pass it up the rows. Enter the classroom teacher and the note is read aloud. The pieces of paper that lived in your notebooks and backpacks remained there because they were tools for your education.

Flash forward to the classroom today and John decides to text Susie "Do you like me?" Enter today's teacher and the student's cell phone is taken. The school or district creates a policy that says no cell phones allowed.

We fear cheating, inappropriate pictures, bullying and whatever else can be done with a cell phone. If we think back, all of these things happened well before these new modes of communication showed up. We addressed the behavior of the students in those days and worked on creating personal responsibility.

Our job is still the same, yes students have these devices in pockets or purses but we need to address the behavior. Why is it so wrong to publish a picture of a student at a party doing something they are not supposed to? Why do you want to watch what you say online? And really, cheating is cheating period.

Every teacher struggles with access to technology in their classroom. We wait for labs or laptop carts that are either unavailable or barely working. In almost every students' hand is a smart device that has access to the web. Why not use that device, there is no wait time, it's right there!

Yes, you have to set up expectations and policies for using student devices on campus but the gains are worth it. There are several apps that can be purchased for free or there are web sites that work great on our small devices. A student can perform a Google search, access free online text, complete quick quizzes or surveys, and any number of other activities right their in your class.

Don't you think you may have a little more student buy in if you're using a "cool" technology?