Lunn

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Audrey Lunn
Geist
HELA
February 19 2016
Do Cell Phones Belong in the Classroom?
"Let's help them learn the way they want to. said Joe Jenkins in the article 'Class, Please
Open Your Cell Phones... (Lambert) In todays society, it is highly uncommon, almost unheard
of, for a young person to be without a smart phone. As technology advances, the benefits of
having a computer at the end of your fingertips only increase. The current generation takes
advantage of this. Students often become frustrated with the intolerance of their personal devices
in classrooms, as mobile phones can frequently be used as a learning tool and can be very helpful
if teachers utilize these devices properly. Cell phones should be integrated into classrooms for
safety reasons, to increase the interest level of students, and to better present material and gain
feedback on what students are absorbing.
With recent school shootings, and other threats to students, parents find peace of mind in
the idea that their student would be able to contact them in case of emergency. At a school in
Brooklyn, the cell phone ban was recently lifted. Several students said they already carried
phones so their parents could contact them in emergencies, and that some teachers were tolerant
as long as they kept them tucked away and silent. (Brody) Now that the ban has been lifted,
these students are able to feel safer, and so are their parents. If schools across the country also
had an open mind on this safety idea, there may be a higher level of comfort in students,
knowing that their loved ones are just on the other end of the phone.

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Innovation excites young minds; therefore, cell phones may increase the interest levels
students have in learning. In a day and age where technology is at the core of everything we do,
students may be more interested in learning if they were using a cell phone to learn instead of a
text book. At a school district outside Chicago, students participated in a French class by using
cellphones to call classmates and speak with them in French. (Higgins) This learning style may
increase the amount that students absorb because they arent just learning French words; they are
speaking to actual French people, through technology. Along with this, technology in classrooms
also gives teachers the ability to gain feedback on what the students are learning. Teachers have
designed class activities that use cellphones, such as a game where students text their answers to
review questions to a website. (Rossi) Schools are beginning to realize the importance of
embracing technology to benefit its students.
However, some say that while our world grows and changes, it is important to keep
education the same. Some school districts truly believe that cell phones hinder classroom
learning and will continue to be a distraction. Constant notifications from texts, emails and
Facebook might be responsible for students' poor grades. Those struggling to pass may benefit
the most from turning off their phones. (Airhart) While it is possible that at times cell phones
may be a cause of distraction, it is important for teachers to set rules for the usage of cell phones.
It is important that the student understands that cell phones are to be used for education purposes
only and the misuse of their devices may result in a loss of privileges. With rules like this in
place, distractions should not be a problem.
It is important to include cell phones in day to day classroom activities for the benefit of
the student. Cell phones can bring comfort to students and their family that in the case of
emergency, they can contact their parents if needed. Using new technology can also increase the

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interest students have in their education, as a new learning style can spark intrigue and curiosity.
The use of cell phones could also benefit the teacher, as the availability of quick response
programs and note taking options make learning and teaching easier and more exciting. Cell
phones should be integrated into classrooms to keep up with students and the changing world
around them.

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Works Cited
Brody, Leslie, and Sonja Sharp. "Students Hail End of Cellphone Ban." Wall Street Journal. 08
Jan. 2015: A.13. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 16 Feb. 2016.
http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-article-display?id=SKS45045-02183&artno=0000368862&type=ART
Higgins, Josh. "Views Shift on Cellphones in Schools." Gannett News Service. 07 Aug. 2013:
n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 16 Feb. 2016.
http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-article-display?id=SKS45045-02183&artno=0000366371&type=ART
Rossi, Madison. "I Can Use My Cell Phone at School." Chicago Tribune. 17 Oct. 2013: 8. SIRS
Issues Researcher. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.
http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-article-display?id=SKS45045-02183&artno=0000357933&type=ART
Airhart, Ellen. "Cell Phones Hinder Struggling Students." University Wire. 19 Nov. 2015: n.p.
SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 16 Feb. 2016.
http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-article-display?id=SKS45045-02183&artno=0000378997&type=ART
Lambert, Diana. "'Class, Please Open Your Cell Phones...'." Sacramento Bee. 03 Aug. 2009: B.1.
SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 19 Feb. 2016.
http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-article-display?id=SKS45045-02183&artno=0000294809&type=ART

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Grading

Criteria
Content
and Ideas

Description

Organization

Diction/
Syntax/
Conventio
ns

Publicatio
n/
Appearan
ce

Clear argument about social issue

Support uses
- ethos
- logos
- pathos
4 or more credible sources used
Antithesis addressed and refuted
Effective introduction and
conclusion include hook, thesis, and
final statement
3 organized paragraphs include
claims, explanations, and transitions
Sequence is logical

Writing is all in 3rd person

Quotations are embedded and
properly cited within the essay
0-3 Errors in grammatical structure

Creative title/rough draft ready on

editing day 2/16-17
Proper MLA formatting; heading
that includes student name,
instructors name, class, and date
Works cited page is appended.

Points
0
10

20

30

40

38/40 PEER 1 Emily You did an

awesome job using sources. Maybe
incorporate more pathos.
38/40 PEER 2 Josie- Good amount of
sources
40/40 Self grade- incorporates all 3
0
10
20
30
=
30/30 PEER 1 Emily Really good!!
25/30 PEER 2 Josie- In the beginning
thesis you stated that cell phones bring
safety to kids when the paragraph is
more about comfort to the kids. But in
conclusion it is explained well just not
intro
/30 Self grade- all organized
0
5 10
15
=
15/15 PEER 1 Emily - good
15/15 PEER 2 Josie- good
15/15 Self grade- good
0

10

15

15/15 PEER 1 Emily - good

15/15 PEER 2 Josie- all good
15/15 Self grade- good