Sadaf Bashir

Roll no: 39
Assignment of TESOL
Essay
Mobile Phone Should Be Allowed In The Classroom By The Teacher

The contemporary education system has encouraged students to use technology

gadgets such as iPads, laptops, and computers in class for effective learning. The
modern education curriculum designed in such a manner that technology gadgets
such as iPads and laptops used for demonstration purposes. Again, teachers use
projectors and laptops for presentation and teaching in a classroom.
Furthermore, in colleges and universities allow students to use smartphones on
top of other technological gadgets such as projectors and laptops. Therefore, just
like in college or higher learning institution, middle and high school students
should be allowed to use smartphones to enjoy the advantages that come with
the use of these gadgets. However, strict rules should be set to deter misuse of
these gadgets by students while in school.
Today, cell phones are great technical device in modern life, indeed they hold a
lot of opportunities for smart learning, additionally they give unfiltered access to
questionable content on the internet. For example, the use of smartphones
enables students to access information concerning their classwork immediately.
Besides, teachers do not make printouts of learning materials or even use
projectors in class. Teachers easily share Google learning resource with students
as they access it in real time from their phones. Again, the phone store daily
information and this can be accessed instantly anytime. With permission from a
teacher, students can use their phone in class to record lectures; take photos of
power points, videos, and conferences. The recorded materials can help the
students later when they want to revisit the information. Technology has
revolutionized education world, as many scholars turned to virtual learning.
Phones are comfortable and convenient to carry, unlike computers. Smartphones
have large screens that display data in high resolution, coupled with ample
storage hardware that can store substantial electronic learning resources such as
books. Advanced technology necessitates the use of smartphones in class as both
teacher, and students get the opportunity to obtain all information required
instantly. Even though the phone can’t be used in an exam, tests or quizzes as this
facilitate cheating.
Mobile phones should be allowed in schools for easy communication. Students
can use the phones to engage in peer-to-peer group discussions held in social
networks such as pizza.com or ‘WhatsApp,’ students install the app and take part
in an academic debate. Many times, those students who are shy can make use of
the social network forum to anonymously ask a question to class as compared to
the conventional platform of requesting assistance from a teacher or rising hand
in the classroom. Also, teachers use phones to send assignments to students in
the form of text messages even when they are at home. Parents also use phones
for surveillance of their children while at school. It also acts as a contact tool
during an emergency at school. Disasters are inevitable in day-to-day activities,
thus its essential that a student has a phone to contact teacher, parent or police
in case of emergency. Students commonly fall into bad groups due to peer
influence, engage in drug abuse or get bullied while in school.
Technology experts argue that technology augments learning and ensures
positive growth and emotional welfare of an individual. It is essential to teach
students to become productive users of technology because without an early
introduction to children to technology is likely to result in less productive use of
the gadgets once they grow old.
In conclusion, cell phones have proved beneficial in school; thus, students should
be allowed to use them. The few adverse effects of phone usage in school can be
managed through the formulation of school rules and guidelines that stipulate
how phone are used in school. Educators and stakeholders should not outlaw
phones use in school but instead articulate on the usage to boost students’ grades
and give teachers easy time to create phone-based text questions and send to
students in anytime and anywhere. A cellphone is just useful once appropriately
used.