Cellphones in Schools

  Nathan Rosenberg, a prominent economist that studies the relationship between technological innovation and scientific research has said, “Innovation often originates outside existing organizations, in part because successful organizations acquire a commitment to the status quo and a resistance to ideas that might change it.”   A great illustration of this principle is the recent venture by Britt White, a telecommunications representative and Suzy Ellison, a golf pro.  They have started a mobile education website for middle and high school students that sends daily questions to their cell phones on subjects of their choice--math, English, science, Spanish and college prep.  This application begins to turn around the idea that cell phones are evil and must be banned from education.  As Marc Prensky has been saying for a while now, you can learn almost anything from a cell phone!  Yet, schools have banned them from use with the explanation that kids will use them to cheat (Did cheating happen before cell phones?!) or that the cell phones will become a distraction.  Smart teachers know that distracted kids mean more engagement needs to happen in the classroom--what better way to engage digital learners then have the students use their cellphones to support instruction?

I recently facilitated a session for new mathematics and science coaches using digital storytelling.  The teachers loved the idea of integrating this technology into their classrooms. But they wondered how they would ever get the funds to buy all those digital cameras?  Well, those digital cameras area part of their students cellphones--a tool readily available--if and when the use of cell phones in the classroom is re-thought and re-invented. For some ideas on how, visit Liz Kolb's website or wiki.