TP#8: Policy Recommendations & Viewpoints

Background: Some teachers have complained of students listening to iPods and text messaging on their cell phones during class. Students believe the offenders should be punished, but all students should not have to pay for the misbehavior of a few.

Question: As Technology Coordinator, you are asked to develop a school policy to address student use of portable electronic devices. In your response describe the two points of view and the reasons to be more restrictive or less restrictive of portable electronic devices. Conclude with your policy recommendation to the school board and the reasons for your specific recommendation.

Response: The real underlining theme is the idea of abuse; some students are abusing the use of I pods, cell phones and other portable devises in school. A formal declaration should be prepared by the School District to address the issues surrounding their allowance in the formal school setting. Although many hand held devises are becoming a regular part of our everyday lives the question still remains, are they appropriate part in certain environments like school and the work environment? Just for clarity we are not debating if they can support teaching and learning or if they should be integrated into the school’s curriculum. We are looking at portable devises solely in schools as a platform for entertainment and communication.

Looking at the issue there are two perspectives or paths the SD can take to establish a plan of action to deal with the issues teachers and students are facing. One, the SD can take a more restrictive approach; they can ban the use of these types of devises for all students in the schools. The second approach would be to have a less restrictive approach and allow the use of them during the school day. Only punishing the students who are using the devises during inappropriate times and in inappropriate ways. (Inappropriate use for may come in the form of potable devises being used for: cheating on tests, texting, talking or listening to music during class time, etc…)

The less restrictive approach would still need to have consequences set forth for students who break the rules and ultimately abuse the right the have these types of devises. A rule for cell phones for example may be that they need to stay in the student’s lockers or bags and only be used in case of emergency, after the school day or if the teacher allows the students to use them during class downtime. Students breaking the rules may have there devise confiscated by the teacher or administration for the day or until a parent picks up the devise. This approach would not punish or restrict the students who are using the devises during appropriate in appropriate ways. This approach will probably be more accepted by the student community in the schools but with the allowance for these types of devises open the door for temptation to use inappropriately. By granting the right for students to carry these devices (basically saying its ok to have them out in schools) may add to difficulties the schools staff may encounter related to dealing with theft.

A more restrictive approach would establish rules outlawing these devises punishing all students even if they have not or are not using the inappropriately. Students who are caught with the devises will have them taken by the teacher or administration. Teachers and administration will have to take on the added responsibility of confiscating devises and dealing with disciplinary aspect of enforcement.


My recommendation:
I feel firmly that because I pods and cell phones are not being used to foster or support teaching and learning that they have no real context for being in today’s school environment. They are being used for distraction and entertainment purposes only. Since one of the major goals for our school based education systems is to prepare students for the working world, it is also important to look at the regulations of the modern day work force. In today’s workforce the majority of jobs do not tolerate the use of potable devises for entertainment or personal communication during the work day. If we allow our students to use the devises I feel that we are supporting there development for the working world.

I feel the SD would be best advised to take a mixed approach to the allowance of these devise in school. The SD should not support the use of portable electronic devises during the school day. If students bring the to school it is there responsibility and not of the school distinct to ensure the security of the devise. The devise must remain in the student’s locker or school back during the school day and may not be used during class time. To enforce a standard across all corners of the SD teacher may not allow students to use the devises during the school day even during downtime or study halls. Cell phones are useful devises in case of emergency but they must only be used during the school day for emergency.