The scholarly article, “Invasion of the Classroom Cell Phones”, written by Marilyn Gilroy, discusses the controversial issue of the debate between the effects of cell phones and education. Marilyn Gilroy was a communication professor at the Bergen Community College for 18 years, and since 1992 has written multiple publications for the Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education. In “Invasion of the Classroom Cell Phones” Gilroy talks about the growing problem with cell phones and what the device is causing for students, parents, administrators, and schools everywhere, while also noting the inevitability of these handhelds in today’s society.
This article emphasizes the many negative impacts cell phones possess in a learning environment, but with
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efforts in stopping the problem at hand “educators are struggling to handle a situation some liken to “technological terror” entering the classroom” (Gilroy 2). Gilroy states examples from professors and universities with their own personal struggle of cell phones and the attempts at enforcing strict rules in order to eliminate distractions or cheating caused by these handhelds. Gilroy also notes a poll conducted, “In Spring 2003, the National Education Association higher-education division ran a poll asking if professors should ban cell phones in their classrooms. An overwhelming 85% answered “yes”” (Gilroy 3). Gilroy accurately expresses multiple accounts of the problem in real life.
Starting with a professor who announced a pop quiz would be given every time a cell phone rang, then went to mention an English professor who listed in her syllabus that leaving her class to answer a phone call resulted in one unexcused absence. Through it all, Gilroy did an excellent job at not just mentioning examples of professors that made her argument better, but also included professors that took a less aggressive approach and found that going to the extreme on punishment involving cell phones was not needed, like simply asking students to keep cell phones away from studying and research areas. Gilroy also gave examples of not just professors, like in this case, “University of Nebraska, the student association considered a bill that would ban cell phones in classrooms” (Gilroy 22). Gilroy provided enough evidence to accurately decipher her side of the argument for anyone reading the article but did lack in providing examples of professors/universities that embraced the positive and educationally based capabilities cell phones can …show more content…
offer. By the end of the article, brought to light a solution to the situation. Gilroy made clear that it should begin with schools and instructors implementing a code of conduct strictly addressed for cell phones. In the article it states that with schools getting on board with the new change it would be beneficial to have parents on board as well. Gilroy implies that with the help of parents and schools establishing rules/guidelines for cell phones the problem can start to resolve itself, while many counterarguments will say otherwise. Some might say that the efforts Gilroy suggested wouldn’t be enough, other might feel that those efforts are not necessary, and then there will be individuals who have no opinion on the matter. Throughout the entire article Gilroy goes into extensive detail on how damaging cell phones are for a student learning, or a teacher trying to teach, and gives stats from a study, “The Pew Internet and American Life project released a recent study of 1,162 students on two- and four-year campuses nationwide that showed one-third of college students play video games on their cell phones and laptops” (Gilroy 16). By presenting her ideas Gilroy’s end outcome is only to achieve a better education system, educate individuals on the problem at hand, and encourage students to stay off the distracting devices in order to increase their own learning and the learning for students around. This article gives any reader a good indication of how cell phones are detrimental to a student’s learning, but with that doesn’t cover all areas of the debate.
To say Gilroy didn’t cover the topic would be inaccurate, but, throughout the article there’s hardly, if any, statements on the beneficial ways technology could better a student’s education. Gilroy’s bias is apparent the entire time but is consistent with beliefs, given the research, personal accounts with teachers and universities, and thorough opinions on the topic itself, there is a good amount of reasoning for her side of the argument.
Gilroy also addresses how the cell phone problem will not be going away anytime soon, “Incidents like these are likely to increase, especially since the newest models of phones offer faster and better connections with more options to entice students” (Gilroy 15). In this day in age technology and its usage is increasing, and with that shows the relevancy of the above statement to be true even 13 years later, given the article was published in February 2004. While the different polls and survey numbers in the article might not be accountable to this day, the problem itself still
is. This article gives one-sided viewpoints on the issues concerning cell phones distracting and allowing students to cheat in school. The entire article’s focus was on students in higher education, Gilroy did not express the counterarguments referring to the issue being relevant for all ages everywhere, but does not imply that students in higher education are the only ones having the problem. Gilroy makes it clear that she sees no benefit to the wildly popular devices in a learning environment. While an individual reading this could very well share Gilroy’s views or strongly oppose her side, Gilroy was able to express her concerns and others concerns in a way that one reading can understand and relate. The writer’s purpose is understood through multiple accounts and concludes with a solution, “Realistically, however, colleges will have to develop codes of conduct that are less stringent. While there may be no consensus with regard to the matter of policy, there is general agreement that the marriage of the college students and cell phone technology is here to stay for both social and practical reasons” (Gilroy 29). Although the article dated back 13 years, “Invasion of the Classroom Cell Phones” was an excellent source of the dangers associated with cell phones and education, giving insight on the problem, educating a reader if not aware of the problem, providing examples of the problem, and summing it up with a potential solution to the problem, this article is a valuable source.
Michael Rubinkam’s “Texting in class is Rampant” brings awareness to the fact that most students use their phones during a lecture to text. Many professors are starting to notice it and some have even gone to extremes by having punishments if they see a phone out. Michael Rubinkam conducted a number of surveys with students who attend Wilkes University to see how many students actually use their phones during class. The author also discusses with some professors at the university to see their opinion on how phone use in class can impact the student’s education and how it impacts them as well. There is no doubt that texting is a habit most high school and college students face. It’s our primary way of communication with people. We get so addicted to texting people considering it only takes a few seconds to reply, but with that being said does it interfere with our school life too? Sitting in a lecture and pulling your phone out can be distracting because you’re not paying attention to the professor and the skills they’re teaching you’re practically in your own world at that point. Is the excessive use of texting in class-harming student’s education? The author
In “ How Smartphones Hijack Our Minds,” Nicholas Carr is persuading his audience to refrain from and shorten their amount of smartphone usage, and he reveals his perspective on how he believes that smartphones are hijacking our minds, and causing issues in our society. Carr cleverly uses several devices to persuade his audience and to drive his point home. Among these devices are statistics, comprehensive language, and reasoning. Nicholas Carr uses statistics to involve the data he has found to support his claim that numbers don’t lie. “In both tests, the students whose phones were in view posted the worst scores.
The Web. 07 October 2011. Engel, George, and Tim Green. “Cell Phones in the Classroom: Are We Dialing Up? Distaster?” TechTrends: Linking Research and Practice to Improve Learning.
Cell phones play an integral role in our lives, and we conduct many useful functions through them daily. If a mother wants to inform her kids that she would be late to pick them up from their school, the cell phone would provide a good medium to communicate that message. The cutting-edge technology of cell phones at your fingertips is a very powerful device that can be used to connect with people from all around the world, and it can also save lives as well in emergency situations. However, public institutions such as schools and libraries have gotten to the point where cell phones have become a major controversial issue. Improper cellular usage by the youth mainly caused this. Not just the youth, but adults too are unknown of the potential the cell phone has in terms of accessing information quickly and efficiently. Misuse of the revolutionary aspects of cell-phone technology among the youth and adults alike needs to be recognized in order for cell-phone technology to truly be beneficial to our society in public institutions.
Amy Gahran, a media consultant exploring communication in the technology era, writes about how cell phones are significant. She feels that cell phones have changed our lives by providing “…vital services and human connections…offer new hope, even through simple broadcast text messages” (Gahran). Gahran is insisting that cell phones allow us to learn news quickly, connect with safety, and can even fight crime through video recordings (Gahran). In addition, she feels that the overall benefits of owning a cell phone outweigh any negatives. This somewhat challenges the ideas presented by Rosen because it points out more benefits of cell phones. In “Our Cell Phones, Ourselves” Rosen mentions that although cell phones indeed connect us with safety, they can often lead to a sense of paranoia. To expand, she writes that parents who give children a cell phone for security purposes, develop a paranoid sense of their community and lose trust in “social institutions” (Rosen). In making this comment, Rosen argues that although cell phones may be beneficial, they can change the way we view our world. Without a cell phone, many individuals feel vulnerable, as if their phone protects them from all possible dangers that they may encounter. In fact, a Rutgers University professor challenged his students to power off their phones for 48 hours and report back with their experience (Rosen). Many felt almost lost without it and one young women described the feeling “…like I was going to get raped if I didn’t have my cell phone in my hand” (Rosen). In reality, having a cell phone will not save a person’s life in all situations. Although many, including Gahran, feel a phone is a vital tool, it has changed how we feel about the world around us and how vulnerable we feel without a phone in
Have you ever heard of the gruesome Columbine High School massacre? This incident occurred on April 20th 1999 and involved two students embarking on a shooting rampage, killing twelve students, a teacher and wounding twenty three others. Unfortunately during this incident, the school's most easily accessible phone was on the other side of the school in the library. Perhaps some of these lives could have been saved if the students in this class had cell phones that they could've used to contact the authorities more quickly. The issue we are addressing today is the use of cellular devices in educational facilities. I believe that cell phone use is of extreme convenience, and has academically beneficial aspects, among it's so called "faults".
Teachers are finding it harder and harder to separate a student from their cell phones for eight hours. Cellular devices and social media have become a number one priority for many people across the world. Due to the fact that the student will not put down their phones during school hours, their grades tend to be lower, which could, in the long run, affect their chances of getting into college. The use of cell phones does not strictly affect younger generations, it also had major influence on adults at the
Docksai, Rick. Teens and cell phones: cell phones can be noisy and distracting. But they can also be an aid to learning." The Futurist. Jan.-Feb.
In conclusion, this essay has tried to argue that cell phones are valuable tools in schools. Many of us see cell phone pessimistically but really haven’t looked at them optimistically. We all know that "with every good, comes a bad, and with responsibilities, come consequences". By all means allowing cell phones in schools is a great idea, and students should start to learn the positive features of that new device. Overall, this essay has attempted to show that allowing cell phones in schools is not a bad idea.
It’s not acceptable to use cell phones in class. Actually, using cell phones has more negative effects than positive. So, why do we need to change the policy that prohibits students from using cell phones in classrooms? In my opinion, I will say no, we shouldn’t change the policy that exists now - no cell phone use, under any circumstances.
"Using Cell Phones in the Classroom." UW Bothell Learning Technologies. UWB LT., 17 May 2011. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.
Can you see yourself without a cell phone today? This world has become so technologically dependent that it is hard for anyone to not use a cell phone, a computer, or some sort of device at least once during the day. Since technology has come so far, better education should be possible. Cell phones are a way of communication and can make people feel safe, so it is hard to believe that most schools ban them. It is time for schools to see that technology is the future and it is growing rapidly, along with educational and safety features.
Today’s cell phone is the front line technology at our fingertips. Keeping this in mind the use of cell phones have become an affair when it comes to allowing teens to use them in educational environments, such as schools. One part of society supports the use of cell phones while the other part of society disapproves the use of cell phones. I personally believe that cell phones should not only be allowed in school, but cell phones should be mandatory just like a textbook. Cell phones do not only allow students to stay united with friends and family, but cell phones are also a magnificent learning system, and they boost the liable use of technology.
Mobile phones are undeniable today. Almost everybody has a mobile phone. Formerly, it only functioned as a portable mean of communication. The function of a mobile phone has developed into entertainment. Furthermore, mobile phone has also come into the schools. However, it has both positive and negative effect on students. This essay argues that mobile phones will bring more negative than positive effect for students. Of course, students use it as a mean of communication and sometimes for an emergency call if they need it. Yet, they would use their mobile phones for both bullying and cheating. Also, mobile phones will make students lost concentration during their study.
First of all, students absolutely should not be permitted to use cell phones during school hours because it is a distraction to other students. This is an issue that plays a huge role on student’s lives because it takes away from their academic education. The s...