It’s a smartphone life and cell phones in school are inevitable. Nearly 95% of U.S. teenagers have access to a cell phone, and most probably you will see a teenager in middle school, high school, or even high-grade students in primary schools with a cell phone in hand.
Some schools allow students to bring cell phones, but they must be switched off during class to avoid distractions and disruptions. However, other schools don’t allow any digital devices like mobile phones or tablets at all.
Here are 11 reasons why cell phones should be allowed in schools.
1. Make it Easy For Parents To Get in Touch with Their Kids
If your kids bring cell phones to school, then your both can contact each other whenever you want. Cell phones make you and your kids the convenience to stay in touch.
For example:
- If you just want to say hello to your kids or plan to change your pickup time after school.
- When your child went to school sick in the morning, you can reach them to check their illness in school time by a cellphone. So you can feel safe knowing your child is okay in school.
- With a cellphone, your kids can also let you know in advance that he’ll stay at school playing basketball after school, it gives you peace of mind.
2. Emergencies Help and Location Track
Having a mobile phone at school makes teenagers feel safer during their school day.
As you never know what unexpected situations will happen in school, where kids have to make immediate decisions they haven’t dealt with before.
For example, in emergencies like school shootings, students can call their parents and policies for help immediately, like where to hide or what to do with the help of a mobile phone. Moreover, parents and policies can track students’ location with the built-in GPS technology in their smartphones.
Therefore, a mobile increase a sense of safety both for students and parents.
3. Use Educational Apps
A mobile phone is a handy tool that can serve as a portable computer for educational purposes. It’s more convenient than a traditional computer because it’s lightweight and can be used anywhere.
There are countless educational apps available that cater to various subjects and grade levels. These apps can significantly aid students in their learning journey. They offer interactive lessons, quizzes, and even games that make learning fun and engaging.
For some students, understanding new topics can be challenging. However, with the help of apps like YouTube, they can easily find short, educational videos related to the topic, which can make it easier for them to understand the material.
There are also practical apps like calculators and time reminder tools that can assist students in their daily school tasks. A calculator app can help students solve complex mathematical problems, while a time reminder tool can help them manage their time effectively, reminding them of upcoming deadlines or study schedules.
Teachers can also leverage these apps to create a more interactive and engaging learning environment. For instance, to assess students’ understanding of a given topic, teachers can use apps to create quizzes that students can participate in using their phones. This not only makes learning more enjoyable but also encourages active participation from students.
Moreover, apps like Google Classroom allow teachers to assign homework, share resources, and communicate with students outside of school hours. It is particularly beneficial for students who may need extra help or those who are unable to attend school due to illness or other reasons.
4. Use To Take Photos And Record Videos Of The Lectures
A cellphone can be a very useful tool for taking photos and recording videos of lectures.
Taking Photos
Most cell phones come with high-quality cameras that can take clear photos. You can use your phone to take photos of lecture slides, whiteboards, or any other visual aids that the lecturer uses. It is very useful if a teacher moves through material quickly and you don’t have time to write everything down.
Recording Videos
If your teacher allows it, you can also use your phone to record videos of the lectures. Therefore, you can review material at your own pace later on.
5. Save Money and Protect the Environment
The use of a cell phone in school can also save money both for school and parents.
A smartphone can replace not only traditional stationery like paper and pens but also textbooks and computer printers with the ability to download and store documents directly on the phone.
As you know, schools often print numerous work assignments and learning materials, which can be costly and environmentally unfriendly.
If teachers can distribute these materials electronically, then students can download, read and submit them on their mobile devices, which not only makes the process more efficient but also contributes to environmental conservation by reducing the use of paper and saving printing costs.
6. Help Contact with Friends
Cell phones can also help students keep in touch with their friends in the same school. As you can imagine, students may not find their friends after school. If they have cellphones, they can just send a text to tell the other where they’re now.
7. Improve Communication with Teachers
Cell phones have become an integral part of our lives, not just for staying in touch with friends and family, but also as a powerful tool for communicating with teachers.
Immediate Feedback and Queries
With the help of instant messaging apps or emails on their cellphone, students can share their feedback or ask questions directly to their teachers after class if cannot find the teacher. This eliminates the need to wait until the next school day to get their queries addressed. Teachers can respond as per their convenience, and students can get the answers right on their phones.
Class Updates and Reminders
Teachers can use various apps to send class updates, reminders about assignments, tests, and other important dates. In this way, students can stay organized and up-to-date with their academic schedules.
Collaborative Learning
Students can work together on projects, share ideas, and learn from each other on a collaborative tool via mobiles. And teachers can monitor these collaborations and provide inputs as necessary.
8. Help Stress Relieve
As a middle school or high school student, they often have a lot of stress due to academic pressure, social issues, and other factors. A cell phone can act like a friend to help them manage and relieve this stress.
They can stay connected with friends, listen to music, watch videos, play games, or read books on their phones, all of which can help them take a break from stress.
9. Students Will Become More Independent
If schools agree to use mobile phones, most probably students will check their mobile less often except when needed, and become more independent. For example:
- Time Management: Students can set reminders for homework deadlines, study times, and other activities, which encourages them to take responsibility for their schedules, promoting independence.
- Research Skills: With a mobile phone, students have a wealth of information at their fingertips. They can use it to research topics for assignments, explore their interests, and learn about the world. This can foster independent learning and critical thinking skills.
- Communication Skills: Mobile phones help develop students’ communication and social skills by asking questions, discussing assignments, and collaborating on projects.
10. Teach To Be A Digitally Responsible Citizen
Digital citizenship refers to the responsible use of the Internet by anyone who uses computers, mobiles, and other digital devices to engage with society on any level.
At an early age of using mobile in school, students can learn how to be a digitally responsible citizen and behave themselves properly online in the future.
Students will know the importance of behaving respectfully online: not engaging in cyberbullying, not posting inappropriate content, and understanding that what they post online can have long-term consequences.
11. Record Good Memories
Think back to your old school days. Remember the last-minute study groups in the library? The victorious cheers after a hard-fought basketball match? These were the moments that define your school years. They’re the memories you cherish and wish we could have, but regret you didn’t record them.
However, now students have the chance to capture these moments with the help of a mobile. It allows students to document their school journey, creating a digital scrapbook of their formative years.
Students can also share their captured moments with friends, family, and even future generations. It’s a way of saying, “Look, this is what my school life was like. These are the people I grew with, the experiences I had, the memories I made.” It’s a narrative, a story told through the lens of a cellphone camera.
Conclusion
The integration of mobile phones in schools is not just a trend, but a necessity in our increasingly digital world. The benefits of allowing mobile phones in schools are manifold, ranging from facilitating communication between parents and children, aiding in emergencies, enhancing learning through educational apps, to fostering independence and digital responsibility among students.
Mobile phones can serve as a powerful educational tool, providing students with access to a wealth of information and resources that can significantly enhance their learning experience. They can also serve as a means of recording lectures, saving money and protecting the environment, and even capturing and sharing memorable moments of their school journey.
Also, mobile phones can help students manage their time effectively, develop research skills, and improve their communication skills. They can also help students learn how to be digitally responsible citizens.
However, it’s important to note that while there are numerous benefits, the use of mobile phones in schools should be regulated to prevent misuse and distractions. Schools should implement policies that encourage responsible use and ensure that mobile phones are used primarily for educational purposes.
In a world where technology is increasingly becoming an integral part of our lives, it’s essential for schools to adapt and leverage these tools to enhance learning and prepare students for the future.
