(Note: all views expressed are solely those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of Mobileshop.com)
Hmmm, now here’s a hot potato subject that’s split the public down the middle! According to a recent report in the Telegraph, scientists researching the subject have stated that, far from causing the downfall of civilisation as we know it, mobile phones in school can actually HELP students with their studies, and actually boost standards of education.
You can almost hear the population splitting over it, if you close your eyes…
But it is a serious question. If you not only let kids use mobile phones in school, but encourage it, for learning purposes, are you going to boost their education, or ruin it? Are mobile phones, in fact, good for kids?
Ooh, controversial!
Well, let’s look at the evidence. On the one hand, you have various teaching unions who want mobile phones banned in school, as they are said to be a massive, massive distraction, and promote ‘cyber-bullying’ (grabbing humiliating or nasty pics and videos of teachers and fellow pupils and distributing them). Meanwhile the police say that it’s a bad idea for kids to carry mobile phones, due to the increased risk of being mugged for, you guessed it, their mobile phone.
And then, on the other hand, you have the research led by Dr Elizabeth Hartnell-Young, of Nottingham University, which states simply that allowing and encouraging mobile phones (I would guess, mostly, smartphones like the Sony Ericsson X1 Xperia) is a good thing, and helps students feel more engaged with their studies, by being able to make short movies, or go online to research subjects, timing science experiments, and so on.
It’s a conundrum, and no doubt. Who are we to believe? Who’s right? I’m torn, because my gut reaction is to say, ‘No! Make the lazy little urchins do some work! We never had things like that in my day!’
My gut reaction may be wrong, and I’ll tell you why.
On the one hand, I can see how mobile phones would benefit kids in school. But on the other, I can also understand how they could distract pupils. But I’ll say this: I’m inclined to side more with the research team, on current evidence, for a very simple reason.
The police and teaching unions have outright stated it’s a bad idea, and they won’t even entertain the notion. The researchers, though, haven’t said that all bans should be lifted, because they’re sensible types, and they know that would lead to a state affairs known as ‘complete and utter chaos’. No, the researchers have suggested that students and teachers need to work together, to draw up policies and guidelines to make sure they’re used properly, not abused, and that education benefits, as a result.
I like that approach, that shows sense, that. And it gets the kids involved earlier, so it stands more chance of being effective. I reckon it could work, this idea, when I think about it. Oh aye, it needs working out properly, and if it’s not, then access to mobile phones will be abused, but if we can get it right, it could be brilliant.
Not that that will make any difference to certain sectors of the population, who’ll stick their fingers in their ears, and go, ‘La-la-la, not listening, ban mobile phones, ban mobile phones!’
So, I say, let’s do what the researchers advise, and see what happens! That attitude’s worked with the Large Hadron Collider (first beam fired today, and we’re not dead!), so why wouldn’t it work here? That’s the scientific method, that: try it and find out.
However, let’s not go too far. Let’s not do what John Wells, Emeritus Professor of Phonetics at University College London suggests, according to an article on The Register. Let’s not drop the English language in favour of a phonetically spelt version of itself. And DEFINITELY let’s not include txt spk in the English language. I may think it’ll be intriguing to find out whether kids using mobile phones in lessons is a good thing, but that doesn’t mean the little urchins shouldn’t learn how to read and write properly. They may be useful shorthand when you’re texting someone, or using msn, or whatever, but txt spk isn’t, as he claims, ’showing us the way forward for English…’
So, mobile phones in schools; yes, let’s find out what happens. Being a lazy writer; no, learn to spell properly.
If you’re going to use a mobile phone in school, may I humbly suggest the Sony Ericsson X1 Xperia? Internet and all that useful stuff, and it’s Windows, so you should be able to lock it, to block things that kids shouldn’t do. Perfect!