Reflection 5 - to iPhone or not to iPhone? That is the question....

No matter the rules at school, the fact is adolescents bring mobile phones and iPods with them.  Each school is left with the decision whether or not to allow access in school hours.

Louise Duncan (2011) supports a ban of mobile phones until post-middle years, but allowing the iPod touch.  Her reasoning is that this allows for the students to develop responsible mobile phone behaviour before allowing them to use this technology freely in school time.

I agree with her, but would take the ban to a later age.  Few students at the end of year 8 have developed the skills of responsible mobile phone behaviour.  Indeed, I see many incidents involving improper use of mobile phones right through to the end of year 11.  The advantage of the iPod touch is that it doesn't have phone call making capacity.

I have three children of my own, two of them being at two different high schools.  One school has the policy of no mobile phones or devices, but the majority of students have the devices with them, switched off, or on silent, in their bags.  The other high school has the policy allowing these devices and their use in the lunch breaks, and before and after school.  Interesting enough, at the end of term one students have been notified that this rule is being modified, to no use in school hours.

There is no doubt that the applications available for phones and iPods have great learning advantages.  I could see myself recommending Fractions Basics to Certificate II in Engineering students who are struggling with their maths.  https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/fraction-basics/id404527208?mt=8

As was also mentioned as a comment in Louise's blog, the position of equity needs to be addressed when introducing technological devices as part of the curriculum.  

References

Duncan, L.  2011.  Why I would support a ban of mobile phones until post-middle years and include the iPod touch.  Retrieved from http://louiseduncan.global2.vic.edu.au/2011/03/24/why-i-would-support-a-ban-of-mobile-phones-until-post-middle-years-and-include-the-ipod-touch/