I-Search Topic Idea (1)

Are cellphones a distraction or an asset? How can this tiny technology be accepted in a classroom?
 

·         I personally am slightly “old fashioned” when it comes down to cell phone use. Texting is not my thing, I find talking on cell phones in company rude, and I normally do not find them beneficial in a classroom. I saw an image on Tumblr that had me thinking a bit (I cannot find it again sadly); students know how to use this technology better than any of us. Many teachers have already begun implementing technology in their classrooms as well. Is it helpful? A hindrance? I would ask teachers who work with and without technology about their experiences with technology. Even asking fellow teacher candidates about it could be helpful, as they are just beginning and learning as they go; has technology made their teaching better, or worse? Or does it not matter?

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I think a topic involving technology in classrooms, especially cell phone usage, is relevant to a 400-level teacher preparation course. Cell phones and technology are an ongoing topic among teachers as it is; technology in classrooms is fairly controversial among the teaching community. A definite answer still has not been established. Many teachers are for technology and welcome it into their classrooms, others, not so much. If one thing has remained consistent, however, is that many teachers do not seem to like cellphones, especially in their classrooms, and ban its usage. Not all teachers feel this loathing toward cell phone use, but most do, especially in high schools. I had one teacher in high school threaten to throw cellphones out her classroom window should anyone have them out! Obviously, she was not serious, but the idea of a teacher despising technology so much assured us that our mp3s and cell phones were far from her sight. Then, once I got into college, a professor of mine had her students use our cell phones to take quizzes and answer polls. This was quite a culture shock.

As for the do-ability of finding data on this subject, such data should not be difficult to obtain. After all, there are many professors, right here on campus, who show a drastic difference in either loving or hating technology. Fortunately as well, there is a high school not far from campus, with a teacher whom I am still in contact with who would be more than happy to tell me if they like or dislike technology and why. If not, I can even interview students, fresh out of high school, and their experiences with technology in the classroom. There are enough people to talk to and data to research that could easily keep me busy for months, even after the I-Search is completed. The tricky part will be sorting the data out to focus primarily on cell phones alone.

As stated earlier, there has never been a solid answer for technology being permitted in a classroom, especially cellphones. There are so many what ifs-, buts-, and hows- in relation to student distraction or benefit. Easily, I could research infinitely about opinions of teachers and students and/or “data” constructed by sociologists about the effects technology have on students, or how students are glued to their cell phones and how it affects their brain development, etc.

I, personally, do not like cell phones being a tool used in a classroom. Maybe, my opinion could change the more I explore the topic. Or will it further strengthen my distrust of the tiny technology? I may leave with more questions than answers, but this is something that has always poked at the back of my brain and pushed my curiosity. Perhaps, now is the best time to explore this topic.