Use of Mobile devices in class

iPods, iPads, cell phones welcome in Green Bay area schools They're part of everyday life, and they help students learn, so why not? By Patti Zarling • pzarling@greenbaypressgazette.com • December 8, 2010   Del.icio.us Facebook Digg Reddit Newsvine Twitter FarkIt   Green Bay-area school districts are beginning to change long-standing bans on handheld technology, such as cell phones and iPods, after realizing they are increasingly part of students' everyday lives. The Pulaski School District, for example, now encourages middle and high school students to bring their cell phones to class. They're also welcome to carry other electronic gadgets such as netbooks, which are a bit smaller than laptop computers; iPads, handheld tablet computers; or electronic-book readers. Pulaski school leaders said they decided to drop a ban on cell phone use because it wasn't practical. Students own the gadgets, administrators say, so why not use them as classroom tools? The school allows students to use cell phones for personal use outside of classroom time; teachers guide use of handheld devices when class is in session. "If you give kids an opportunity to use phones they take responsibility and they're not trying to use them when they aren't supposed to," said Pulaski High School co-principal Daniel Slowey. "This way they can communicate with their parents for rides or whatever they need to do." Teaching with technology Many electronic devices offer educational applications for little or no cost, said Amy Uelmen, instructional technology coordinator for the Pulaski district. Speech therapists and special education teachers can use iPods to foster communication skills, she said. Teachers also can teach students proper phone or iPod etiquette. She noted certain devices to help students with disabilities can cost $8,000, compared with $200 for an iPod. "Teachers can post questions, and kids can respond using their phones or their own computers," she said. "In the old days, we would take students to a computer lab; now you can bring it all into the classroom." Pulaski schools, as well as many in other districts, bring computers on carts into classrooms for student use, but there usually are not enough to go around. "If students that have phones or computers can bring them in, then we can have enough for everyone," Uelmen said. Some schools have wireless Internet access with the ability to block access to certain websites in an effort to prevent students from viewing inappropriate materials. "We need to train our kids for the future, and the future is really technology based," said Pulaski school Superintendent Mel Lightner. "We have to make sure we give kids that opportunity." That opportunity should be open to all students, he said. "What about kids that can't afford their own technology?" he asked. "We provide it for them. That's a big issue, and one we haven't overcome." Different policies The Ashwaubenon School District also now allows students to use mobile phones, but only when they're not in class. Howard-Suamico School District allows high school students to use mobile devices during study hall or selectively in classrooms with a teacher's permission. Ashwaubenon school Superintendent Dave Schmidt said the district decided there was no harm in allowing kids to use cell phones outside of class. "As long as they don't get in the way, why not?" he said. The district also is working on an initiative to provide netbooks that high school students could use or take with them. "We have a lot of kids that can't afford technology," Schmidt said. "This would be a solution to that. The big question is, 'Can we change our instructional policies to fit new technology?'" The Green Bay School District forbids students from using cell phones during class time, and its policy states phones can be taken away if students are caught using them. But spokeswoman Amanda Brooker said things could change. "Our policy is currently under review and most likely heading in that direction," she said. The De Pere School District doesn't allow students to use cell phones during school hours. "We're comfortable with where it's at," school Superintendent Ben Villarruel said. The West De Pere School District follows a similar policy. "We're at the point where we're trying to figure out like everyone else what to do with all the technology advances that are out there," said Amy LaPierre, district director of curriculum. Like some other districts, West De Pere now has wireless Internet access. Howard-Suamico school Superintendent Damian LaCroix said district leaders have discussed expanding the use of personal mobile devices in schools. "We have to ask, 'How can we leverage the potential for instruction use?'" he said. "How can we move down that road?"