Using Mobile Phones as Tools in the Classroom

Your school policy may restrict you from having a cell phone at any point during the day. I have to admit, cell phones are distracting from your school work, however they help me make it through the day on many occasions because they keep me from being completely bored in school.

Originally, my school allowed no use of cell phones. I wasn't allowed to even have my phone showing an outline in my pocket, or it could be taken away. Some teachers, however, were a little more lienent with cell phone use, and would basically "turn their back" whenever students were using their phones in class. They basically just pretend as if the cell phone's not there and they're unaware.

This has all changed since the introduction of cell phones into the educational system from my psychology teacher. In advanced placement psychology, I have been studying for the advanced placement psychology test for months. This test is quite hard, so my teacher has really cracked down on getting the students as prepared as possible for the huge test. The test consists of tons of multiple choice questions as well as a few essays.

My teacher discovered a really efficient way to study for this test; cell phones. There are websites out there that use cell phones to answer questions, usually multiple choice, through the Internet. The students read a question, and then send a text with a certain number to the website, and then answers are displayed on the screen for all of the students to see.

They can see the correct answer, as well as how many students selected each of the given answers, and they can learn as a class from their mistakes or accomplishments. I'm sorry I don't know exactly what the name of the website is, but a well-done google search should do the trick!

There are still many other uses for cell phones in education. Cell phones can often easily be used to find definitions, currency conversions, math equations, and even do some language translations.

Another great use of cell phones for education is the fact that they have a camera. Of course, there is the downside to having students carry around cameras in their pockets all day, in that they can take pictures of inappropriate things, or tests. However, students can also take pictures to accompany projects, take pictures or record videos of one's presentation, etc.

Video technology in phones can be used in the educational system in so many ways. If schools are able to harness the power of the devices that almost all students have, the educational system might even be more effective. The problem is eliminating the distracting or school inappropriate events students can engage in through the use of their cellular devices.