Diagnostic Story

Tara Giddings

Diagnostic Story

1.25.16

Technology: Rapidly Affecting Education

Cell phones prove to be a distraction in education environments, but as technology such as smartphones become a larger part of everyday life they are no longer avoidable in schools and places such as University of San Francisco are now starting to use them in classes. Educators in multiple schools are approaching the task of how to embrace “the use of smartphones as teaching tools” (Boston Globe). Many teachers feel irritated with students who are continually intrigued by social media and the internet rather than lessons, such as Miriam Morgenstern who was quoted in an article by The Boston Globe stating cellphones are  “an incredible distraction, and makes it much more difficult to teach”. This teacher’s opinion relates to a study by the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics which “found that test scores were 6.41 percent higher at schools where cellphone use is prohibited.”(Boston Globe) The study proves the use of phones is a distraction for students. Despite teachers frustration and students affected performance technology is now such a key aspect of society that it is no longer prudent to ignore the possible benefits. A Pew Research Center study stated 88% of American teens have a cell phone and 73% have a smartphone. Cell phones are now integral to the average teens life and therefore it is becoming increasingly difficult to remove fully cell phones from schools. Due to this many schools are changing rules and attempting to use technology to aid learning instead of fighting against it. In New York the Department of Education “lifted its decade-long ban on cellphones” in the city’s schools (Boston Globe). A University of San Francisco student Delia Bisconer stated “using cell phones in class for things other than permitted classwork is disrespectful to the person running the class” from her experience using her smartphone in class. When cell phones are used for classwork they can provide opportunity to use the technology to help students, instead of merely being a distraction, as the classes at USF are beginning to test.

Sources: https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/style/2015/06/15/cellphones-school-teaching-tool-distraction/OzHjXyL7VVIXV1AEkeYTiJ/story.html

Personal Interview: Delia Bisconer, student at University of San Francisco.