The question is, ICT is a good thing in education, but how far do we take it.
Obviously, mobile phones these days are powerful ICT tools that an awful lot of children and teachers have and probably use more than a computer. Schools must keep upto date with technology and promote all uses of ICT within their teaching, But taking this piece of technology into the classroom may not be the wisest move.
Consider the responsiblilty that the teacher will have on their shoulders when they are in the position of being responible for thirty mobile phones that can cost up to a few hundred pounds each! Children are not the best at looking after things, just look at the amount of stuff in the lost property box but the end of the first week of term!!! Lost, broken and stollen mobile phones, they are abit more pricey to replace than the odd polo shirt or v neck sweater.
It would be a fantastic idea to be able to harness all types of technology in the classroom. However, personally, I would not want to be the teacher responsible for the almost enevitable problems that will arise. And from the other side of the fence, I would not want to send my daughter into school with a mobile phone that I know I will never see again (at least in full working order!!!)
Clare xx
1 comment:
Hello. This feels really weird.
Anyway, I was going to say that there can be advantages for children having mobiles in school, although these points are probably more relevant for secondary kids.
Firstly, I remember reading somewhere that pupils are less likely to smoke when they have mobiles as their money is spent on credit, ringtones etc for their phones and they have something to do in awkward social situations. Don't know if this is even true but it sounds plausible to me.
Also I spoke to the deputy of the secondary I went to where mobiles were allowed and she said it was impossible to police a mobile ban. She felt it was much easier to allow children to have them so long as they were not used in lessons.
However, I agree with you about children not being allowed to have them in primary. I remember losing stuff every week and mobiles aren't exactly cheap to replace. Also there is the whole 'cool' factor. The pressure is bad enough for older children to have the best trainers and stuff (I had matchstick ones in PE so was very uncool!) so I think they can do without feeling the need to have the most up to date phone.
Wow never thought I had so much to say on the topic of mobiles. If only I could do my essay on the topic, sigh.
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