4 ms·

I understand what you are saying, but attention diversion is a problem with teenagers, I can tell you. They have grasshopper minds even without shiny rectangles

I understand what you are saying, but attention diversion is a problem with teenagers, I can tell you. They have grasshopper minds even without shiny rectangles.

unimpressive 14y ago
On the one hand, I think cell phones are overrated, on the other, I'm mildly disgusted by the presence of metal detectors and bag checks, with confiscation involved if phones are detected.
- keithpeter 14y ago
  I suspect that the metal detectors may allow for the detection of knives, guns and so on as well as electronics, but I agree that turning your schools into places that feel like part of the criminal justice system may not be a good signal to send. A modern feature/smartish phone of the kind that a teenager can afford in the UK (usually a Blackberry because of the superb social network that RIM have accidentally built) could be really useful in the classroom. I've had students taking photos of solutions to examples in the class as a quick way of capturing information; I've had students using WolframAlpha to plot graphs/check the solution to equations; I've had specific students playing a youtube about a mathematics skill so they can see a different explanation. I provide PDF files scaled so each page is a flashcard when viewed on the typical small screen; just use A6 slide size and 24 point text. The problem is the attention disruption that occurs through the messaging. Maybe a class set of iPod touches running on a closed wifi?
  - unimpressive 14y ago
    >I suspect that the metal detectors may allow for the detection of knives, guns and so on as well as electronics Well I would hope so. >may not be a good signal to send. Oh make no mistake, their presence really disgusts me, this is just another off-putting aspect.
qxcv 14y ago
In my experience, if there's a kid sitting in high school who's not interested in the lesson then they'll either stare at the front of the room with their eyes glazed over or start fidget with something (usually phones or pencils), the former being the most popular choice since electronics tend to raise the ire of teachers. You are sadly misguided if you think that removing phones will turn previously disinterested students into enthusiastic participants. It certainly will make them angry at having to pay $1 per day for "phone parking", though.
- keithpeter 14y ago
  "You are sadly misguided if you think that removing phones will turn previously disinterested students into enthusiastic participants." Oh yes, we had lots of ways of loosing attention when I was a teenager long before the invention of mobile phones. With the phones, the disruption comes from outside in the form of messages, not from the student's own brain. The latter can be managed by changes of activity and movement round the space (plenary/group/present/plenary type lessons). The former disrupts even the interested students.
  - jlgreco 14y ago
    Interested students can just put their phones on silent. For that matter... why don't schools let kids keep their phones on silent and in their lockers? Using your phone in class? Get yelled at. Throwing paper airplanes in class? Get yelled at. This is not a hard or new problem.
    - keithpeter 14y ago
      Lockers? Consequent liability. Not in UK
      - jlgreco 14y ago
        They don't have lockers? I don't even...
petercooper 14y ago
Agreed, but that's what discipline is for. We weren't allowed to do many things in school (including things as simple as wearing a coat) and the discipline system was set up so everyone knew where they stood and the punishments were clear. Perhaps they have a discipline problem in schools nowadays, but that doesn't have to become a technology problem.

I understand what you are saying, but attention diversion is a problem with teenagers, I can tell you. They have grasshopper minds even without shiny rectangles.

unimpressive 14y ago

On the one hand, I think cell phones are overrated, on the other, I'm mildly disgusted by the presence of metal detectors and bag checks, with confiscation involved if phones are detected.

keithpeter 14y ago
I suspect that the metal detectors may allow for the detection of knives, guns and so on as well as electronics, but I agree that turning your schools into places that feel like part of the criminal justice system may not be a good signal to send. A modern feature/smartish phone of the kind that a teenager can afford in the UK (usually a Blackberry because of the superb social network that RIM have accidentally built) could be really useful in the classroom. I've had students taking photos of solutions to examples in the class as a quick way of capturing information; I've had students using WolframAlpha to plot graphs/check the solution to equations; I've had specific students playing a youtube about a mathematics skill so they can see a different explanation. I provide PDF files scaled so each page is a flashcard when viewed on the typical small screen; just use A6 slide size and 24 point text. The problem is the attention disruption that occurs through the messaging. Maybe a class set of iPod touches running on a closed wifi?
- unimpressive 14y ago
  >I suspect that the metal detectors may allow for the detection of knives, guns and so on as well as electronics Well I would hope so. >may not be a good signal to send. Oh make no mistake, their presence really disgusts me, this is just another off-putting aspect.

qxcv 14y ago

In my experience, if there's a kid sitting in high school who's not interested in the lesson then they'll either stare at the front of the room with their eyes glazed over or start fidget with something (usually phones or pencils), the former being the most popular choice since electronics tend to raise the ire of teachers. You are sadly misguided if you think that removing phones will turn previously disinterested students into enthusiastic participants. It certainly will make them angry at having to pay $1 per day for "phone parking", though.

keithpeter 14y ago
"You are sadly misguided if you think that removing phones will turn previously disinterested students into enthusiastic participants." Oh yes, we had lots of ways of loosing attention when I was a teenager long before the invention of mobile phones. With the phones, the disruption comes from outside in the form of messages, not from the student's own brain. The latter can be managed by changes of activity and movement round the space (plenary/group/present/plenary type lessons). The former disrupts even the interested students.
- jlgreco 14y ago
  Interested students can just put their phones on silent. For that matter... why don't schools let kids keep their phones on silent and in their lockers? Using your phone in class? Get yelled at. Throwing paper airplanes in class? Get yelled at. This is not a hard or new problem.
  - keithpeter 14y ago
    Lockers? Consequent liability. Not in UK
    - jlgreco 14y ago
      They don't have lockers? I don't even...

petercooper 14y ago

Agreed, but that's what discipline is for. We weren't allowed to do many things in school (including things as simple as wearing a coat) and the discipline system was set up so everyone knew where they stood and the punishments were clear. Perhaps they have a discipline problem in schools nowadays, but that doesn't have to become a technology problem.