Mobile
What if students–and teachers, too– brought their own technology to school with them? What if most people had in their pockets a tool that could be used as a calculator, notepad, information retriever, and communicator? Would we allow the use of these devices or would we effectively sew students’ pockets shut by enacting policies that forbid the use of student-owned technology in the classroom? Gradually, districts throughout Michigan are re-examining their policies regarding student BYOT (Bring Your Own Technology) and are allowing, and even encouraging, the use of student-owned mobile technology. Dated Policies
Acceptable use policies written in the 1980s and 1990s banned mobile technology (at first pagers, remember them, http://
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pager?) because parents and educators
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Technology in Schools:
ADVOCATING FOR
THE USE OF STUDENT TECHNOLOGY
By Pam Shoemaker and Jon Margerum-Leys
believed that the devices were used by students to traffic drugs, disrupt classrooms, and cheat. When cell phones first became commonly used, most districts attempted to block them from schools entirely, insisting that students leave their phones at home. In the interest of fairness, some schools also required that teachers not have phones at school.
Current policies
Today, most parents WANT their children to carry mobile devices to stay in touch – to coordinate schedules and use in emergencies. When parents began to object to restrictive school policy, some schools amended their policies to allow phones in school, but to have them remain in lockers or backpacks. Leaving phones in lockers presents a temptation for theft and the possibility of disruption caused by unattended cell phones ringing incessantly from inside the locker. In most districts, students are currently forbidden from using their cell phones in classes, but are allowed to have them in school and on their person. As long as the student’s cell phone remains out of sight and doesn’t cause a disruption, a version of “don’t ask, don’t tell” appears to be current policy at many schools.
Emerging policies
With the recent advent and popularity of smartphones and mobile tablets that possess the computing power of yesterday’s full-sized computers, and with parents and administrators becoming avid mobile-device users themselves, many are seeing the possibilities that could occur in classrooms if the technology is in the hands of students instead of in their pants pockets. Emerging policies are evolving that support students using their own mobile technology
SPRING/SUMMER 2012 | MACULJOURNAL
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