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Making the call
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| Moulton Middle School teacher Sonya Kilpatrick discusses proper use of personal technology devices with students Madison McElyea, left, and Coleman Burch, right. The school now allows students to use the devices at school. |
With new policy, teachers decide how much to let students use cell phones at school
By Ginger Grantham News Editor
Students are going to use cell phones, even when school rules say they can’t. That is the conclusion reached by educators everywhere. It is left up to teachers to incorporate cell phones and other personal electronic devices into positive activities in the classroom.
Teachers at Moulton Middle School and other schools in Lawrence County began allowing cell phones, iPads and laptop computers into their classrooms after the Christmas break. This is a pilot program.
According to Lawrence County Superintendent of Education Heath Grimes, schools were given the option to allow cell phones or not.
“We have to realize for our students using this technology is second nature to them,” said Principal Gaylon Parker in November as his faculty was preparing for the change.
Before the change, the school policy did not allow cell phones to be used at school. All cell phones were supposed to be turned off. Teachers knew the policy was not working.
“We were teaching our students to sneak,” said teacher Sonya Kilpatrick who teaches 8th grade English. “They would have the cell phone turned on in silent mode and then make up an excuse to go to the bathroom to use the cell phone.”
The policy change allows students to use cell phones, iPads or laptops in the hallways, at breaks and on buses. Kilpatrick said the policy change is not blanket permission to use cell phones and mobile devices.
Using cell phones in the classrooms is strictly monitored by teachers. That does not mean all teachers in all classes will allow cell phones. Just like the old policy, cell phones and other mobile devices should be turned off and not visible or in use during class unless allowed by the teacher for an instructional activity.
Kilpatrick said cell phones can be used as calculators in a math class, as dictionaries in an English class or for a writing assignment. Cell phones can be used to connect with the Internet to display maps in a history or geography class, to do research or to download a book.
The policy change did not come without teachers and students discussing problems with cell phone use.
"We are teaching the students respect for others, when to turn off the cell phone and to be patient," Kilpatrick said. "We want to teach our students to be good citizens and to build character."
One of the topics discussed was texting in a small group. Kilpatrick said that is just like whispering. It is rude and students should not do it. Patience means a text or e-mail does not have to be answered immediately.
Another important issue discussed with students is cyber bullying. A recent program at the school by a former Miss Alabama focused on cyber bullying and how students should deal with it.
Kilpatrick said teachers at Moulton Middle visited Cedar Ridge Middle School in Decatur to observe how teachers used cell phones and other mobile devices for educational activities.
Kilpatrick said using mobile device technology is just like using a computer.
One of the concerns with this new policy is some students do not have cell phones and mobile devices. The policy states "permitted class use of personal technology devices shall not be allowed in such a way as to give an educational advantage to students with access to such devices or to give an educational disadvantage to students who do not have access to such devices."
One of the concerns with cell phones is the use of the camera. Students have been cautioned about taking inappropriate photos. That is why cell phones are not to be used in the bathrooms.
Moulton Middle students Madison McElyea and Coleman Burch like the new policy.
"I don't have to look at a book," McElyea said. "I can go to the Internet to find out what I need to know."
"I like the classes better that use the technology," said Burch. "The technoloby is better than books and the usual school stuff."
"It is easier to do a project and it is easier than carrying books," McElyea said.
The policy outlines disciplinary actions if students do not use personal technology devices in accordance with school guidelines. Discipline can include loss of privilege, in-school suspension and confiscation of the device. Parents must pay a $20 fine to retrieve a confiscated device.
Parents were informed about the policy change and were asked to sign an acknowledgement form.
Grimes said he hoped in the future, the school system would be able to purchase additional personal technology devices for the classroom for use by students who do not have them.
Teachers at Moulton Middle School and other schools in Lawrence County began allowing cell phones, iPads and laptop computers into their classrooms after the Christmas break. This is a pilot program.
According to Lawrence County Superintendent of Education Heath Grimes, schools were given the option to allow cell phones or not.
“We have to realize for our students using this technology is second nature to them,” said Principal Gaylon Parker in November as his faculty was preparing for the change.
Before the change, the school policy did not allow cell phones to be used at school. All cell phones were supposed to be turned off. Teachers knew the policy was not working.
“We were teaching our students to sneak,” said teacher Sonya Kilpatrick who teaches 8th grade English. “They would have the cell phone turned on in silent mode and then make up an excuse to go to the bathroom to use the cell phone.”
The policy change allows students to use cell phones, iPads or laptops in the hallways, at breaks and on buses. Kilpatrick said the policy change is not blanket permission to use cell phones and mobile devices.
Using cell phones in the classrooms is strictly monitored by teachers. That does not mean all teachers in all classes will allow cell phones. Just like the old policy, cell phones and other mobile devices should be turned off and not visible or in use during class unless allowed by the teacher for an instructional activity.
Kilpatrick said cell phones can be used as calculators in a math class, as dictionaries in an English class or for a writing assignment. Cell phones can be used to connect with the Internet to display maps in a history or geography class, to do research or to download a book.
The policy change did not come without teachers and students discussing problems with cell phone use.
"We are teaching the students respect for others, when to turn off the cell phone and to be patient," Kilpatrick said. "We want to teach our students to be good citizens and to build character."
One of the topics discussed was texting in a small group. Kilpatrick said that is just like whispering. It is rude and students should not do it. Patience means a text or e-mail does not have to be answered immediately.
Another important issue discussed with students is cyber bullying. A recent program at the school by a former Miss Alabama focused on cyber bullying and how students should deal with it.
Kilpatrick said teachers at Moulton Middle visited Cedar Ridge Middle School in Decatur to observe how teachers used cell phones and other mobile devices for educational activities.
Kilpatrick said using mobile device technology is just like using a computer.
One of the concerns with this new policy is some students do not have cell phones and mobile devices. The policy states "permitted class use of personal technology devices shall not be allowed in such a way as to give an educational advantage to students with access to such devices or to give an educational disadvantage to students who do not have access to such devices."
One of the concerns with cell phones is the use of the camera. Students have been cautioned about taking inappropriate photos. That is why cell phones are not to be used in the bathrooms.
Moulton Middle students Madison McElyea and Coleman Burch like the new policy.
"I don't have to look at a book," McElyea said. "I can go to the Internet to find out what I need to know."
"I like the classes better that use the technology," said Burch. "The technoloby is better than books and the usual school stuff."
"It is easier to do a project and it is easier than carrying books," McElyea said.
The policy outlines disciplinary actions if students do not use personal technology devices in accordance with school guidelines. Discipline can include loss of privilege, in-school suspension and confiscation of the device. Parents must pay a $20 fine to retrieve a confiscated device.
Parents were informed about the policy change and were asked to sign an acknowledgement form.
Grimes said he hoped in the future, the school system would be able to purchase additional personal technology devices for the classroom for use by students who do not have them.
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