Technology has advanced, and mobile phones have become essential gadgets in our lives.  Smartphones are used as computers and have made communication easy. The contemporary education system has encouraged students to use these communication gadgets such as ipads,laptops, and computers in class for effective learning. Controversy exists as some quarters argue that a mobile phone not used in schools due to adverse effects they may bring to students (Kowalski).  According to Kowalski, cell phones have caused created mixed blessings to many American families, with connection and safety, and irritation and disruption. The essay explores the pros and cons of smartphone use by students in school. Generally, schools as learning institutions cannot avoid adopting advanced technology for effective learning process; thus mobile phones should be allowed in school. The purpose of theargument is to create awareness of the benefits of using smartphones in schools.

The audiences are educational stakeholders such as teachers, children, and parents because the message targets them. First, there exist many benefits associated with students using cell phones in school.The modern education curriculum designed in such a manner that technology gadgets such as Ipads and laptops used for demonstration purposes. Again, teachers use projectors and laptops for presentation and teaching in a classroom (Staff). Furthermore, in colleges and universities allow students to use smartphones on top of other technological gadgets such as projectors and laptops. Therefore, just like in college or higher learning institution, middle and high school students should be allowed to use smartphones to enjoy the advantages that come with the use of these gadgets (Us). However, strict rules should be set to deter misuse of these gadgets by students while in school.

The author firmly believes smartphones potentially boost learning experience in class.  For example, the use of smartphones enables students to access information concerning their classwork immediately. Besides, teachers do not make printouts of learning materials or even use projectors in class. Teachers easily share Google learning resource with students as they access it in real time from their phones (“The Pros And Cons Of Cell Phones In Schools – Use Of Technology”). Again, the phone store daily information and this can be accessed instantly anytime.  With permission from a teacher, students can use their phone in class to record lectures; take photos of power points, videos, and conferences. The recorded materials can help the students later when they want to revisit the information. Technology has revolutionized education world, as many scholars turned to virtual learning.  Phones are comfortable and convenient to carry, unlike computers. Smartphones have large screens that display data in high resolution, coupled with ample storage hardware that can store substantial electronic learning resources such as books.

Smartphones can help students in math class as it’s used as a calculator since regular calculators have become very costly; smartphones serve the purpose more effectively and efficiently. By the use of smartphones students easily access online courses and also follow PowerPoint presentations (“Pros And Cons: Debating The Usage Of Digital Devices In The Classroom”). Advanced technology necessitates the use of smartphones in class as both teacher, and students get the opportunity to obtain all information required instantly. Even though the phone can’t be used in an exam, tests or quizzes as this facilitate cheating.

Mobile phones used to guarantee safety in school. A mobile phone acts as a contact tool during an emergency at school. Disasters are inevitable in day-to-day activities, thus its essential that a student has a phone to contact a teacher, parent or police in case of emergency. Students commonly fall into bad groups due to peer influence, engage in drug abuse or get bullied while in school (“The Pros And Cons Of Cell Phones In Schools – Use Of Technology”). Many times the harmful behaviors and incidents cause deaths, and with a mobile phone, a student can report the problem immediately to the teacher, parent or police.Bullying is on the sharp rise in schools, and shy students cannot resist so a phone can help them to seek help when necessary.

Mobile phones should be allowed in schools for easy communication. Students can use the phones to engage in peer to peer group discussions held in social networks such as pizza.com or ‘whatsup,’ students install the app and take part in an academic debate (Brown). Many times those students who are shy can make use of the social network forum to anonymously ask a question to class as compared to the conventional platform of requesting assistance from a teacher or rising hand in the classroom. Also, teachers use phones to send assignments to students in the form of text messages even when they are at home. Parents also use phones for surveillance of their children while at school.

Technology experts argue that technology augments learning and ensures positive growth and emotional welfare of an individual. It is essential to teach students to become productive users of technology because without an early introduction to children to technology is likely to result in less productive use of the gadgets once they grow old (“Should Cell Phones Be Allowed In School – Debate On Cellphones – Use Of Technology”). Students, therefore, should be introduced to technology as early as possible to make them active technology consumers. Again, the overall objective of education is to prepare students for future responsibilities and challenges, thus teaching them on the use of technology is a critical aspect of creating effective and efficient technology users (Staff). The experience helps the students to make an informed decision between on and offline towards success.

On the other hand, mobile phones in school can cause harmful effects on students, and this is the reason why some parents detest the fact that their children should have phones at school. The first phone creates a great distraction, smartphones have several applications, and students can get distracted to discover the many applications irrelevant in the school context (“Cellphones In School: A Teaching Tool Or Distraction? – The Boston Globe”). Generally, students are distracted by social media applications such as Facebook,Twitter, Pinterest.com, youtube, video streaming applications, and many others. The distraction affects students’ concentration during class studies and consequently fails their exams as they take their time to watch games and video. Distraction is the primary reason why many people feel students should be allowed with phones in school. Banning of phones in school isbig respect for students who want to pay attention. Students may access inappropriate materials such as pornography. Even though schools have rules and filters to lock out such materials students may get a way of going about it, and once one acquires the content, they send to one another in the class.

In 2013 about 3.1 million phones were stolen in America, and in the school environment with students of diverse social status and character, stealing can be easy mainly if a student brings an expensive phone to school. School lockers were broken especially if a big phone kept inside (“Cell Phones At School: Should They Be Allowed?”).Cellphones can result in exam cheating in an exam since they take long hours watching videos and playing games, they don’t prepare adequately for an exam and resort to cheating. With phones, they can use text messagesor Google for answers on their phones. Furthermore, since some online data is not accurate students fail their exams.Allowing cellphones to school may make other students feel disadvantaged. Not all students can afford a phone or good smartphone, and as a result, some students may not have access to the phone due to unfortunate family background, and this makes such students feel left behind (Us). Again, the scenario creates inequality among the students. Generally, all students should be accorded equal opportunity, and unless the school provides or formulates policy to ensure every student acquires a cellphone, problems are bound to raise.

Conclusion

In conclusion, cell phones have proved more beneficial in school; thus students should be allowed to use them. The fewadverse effects of phone usage in school can be managed through the formulation of school rules and guidelines that stipulate how phone are used in school (Kowalski). Otherwise, the disadvantages cannot be used to dismiss the many advantages of using phones in school. Educators and stakeholders should not outlaw phones use in school but instead articulate on the usage to boost students’ grades and give teachers easy time to create phone-based text questions and send to students in any time and anywhere. A cellphone is just useful once appropriately used.

Work Cited

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“Pros And Cons: Debating The Usage Of Digital Devices In The Classroom.” Concordia University-Portland, 2019, https://education.cu-portland.edu/blog/classroom-resources/pros-and-cons-of-allowing-digital-devices-in-the-classroom/.

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Brown, Mary. “Should Cell Phones Be Allowed In The Classroom?”.Schoolmoney.Org, 2019, http://www.schoolmoney.org/cell-phones-classroom/.

Kowalski, Kathiann. “When Smartphones Go To School.” Science News For Students, 2019, https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/when-smartphones-go-school.

Staff, Flipd. “Send Messages To Your Students (And Know They’ve Been Seen)”. Blog.Flipdapp.Co, 2019, http://blog.flipdapp.co/send-messages-to-college-students-higher-education-texting.

Us, Contact. “Cell Phones In The Classroom Pros And Cons – HRF.” HRF, 2019, https://healthresearchfunding.org/cell-phones-classroom-pros-cons/.

Usatoday.Com, 2019, https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/personal/2013/08/07/views-shift-on-cell-phones-in-schools/2607381/.

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