“Put that phone away!” yell a thousand teachers every second of every day.
Mobile phones are often thought to have no place in the classroom. They’re nothing but a big ole distraction, right?
While mobile phones may be more of a bane than a boon in US schools, they are advancing education in many underdeveloped countries.
I personally don’t think it’s useful for students to have total access to their phones in the classroom: I think it leads to too much impulsive, frivolous behavior.
But I do accept that phones have an important role to play both inside and outside the classroom, especially in resource-deficient areas. So in part to convince myself of their value I did some research and found four ways that phones are improving education. Let's take a look:
1) Widespread adoption
In developing areas, computers may be unavailable or shoddy. Books may be rare. Tablets are uncommon. And forget about smartboards.
So how do you research and learn from alternative sources?
Mobile phones! They’re cheap and easy to maintain and more than three-quarters of the world’s population have one.
2) Ease of use
Sometimes I wish phones weren’t so easy to use, because I mindlessly find myself checking Facebook countless times per day (ooh a notification, yay!).
But they are. I just have to learn some self-control.
For students in resource-deprived areas (or anywhere), phones provide a link to infinite information.
Libraries, computer labs, community centers are all (to some extent) packed into a phone.
Students curious about anything--the miraculous properties of water, the advances of neuroscience--can instantly find insights or new routes for thinking. Students doing a project can bolster their understandings. And classroom discussions can be enhanced by introducing content gleaned from a phone.
On an even more elemental level, phones can help people become literate.
3) Connecting people
Students with phones can connect with their classmates or other students around the world, allowing learning to extend beyond the classroom.
Online hubs can also be created for students to discuss topics while a teacher weighs in and moderates.
4) Powerful apps
There are thousands of educational and thought-provoking apps out there.
I personally love the WNYC app, which allows me to listen to amazing NPR programs on the subway.
But there are apps for learning languages, math, science, geography, ecology--basically any subject you can think of. For eager, curious minds, apps can unlock a world of insights.
They’re entertaining, too! And can be used without an internet connection in a lot of cases, making them particularly appealing for areas with patchy service.
Consequently, schools around the world are beginning to leverage the potential of mobile apps.
This is just a brief overview of why phones deserve a larger place in education discussions around the world. I, personally, find myself more convinced.
Phones do not have to be the scourge of teachers. Instead, teachers can facilitate better use of smartphones by advising students how to avoid bad habits and showing them how best to use their phone as a tool for learning.
Mobile phone use should not be overly restricted in learning environments, nor should they be overly relied upon. As schools gain more funding and resources, each can determine the degree to which smartphones are used.
To ensure these schools receive funding, go to TAKE ACTION NOW to tweet at the prime minister of Norway, Erna Solberg, to rally world leaders to make sustained commitments to education.