CONFLICT & RESOLUTION
Are they 21st-century tools for learning or constant sources of distraction? Ekow Amoah , Gregg-Jensen Cowie , Loore Onabolu and Joshua Soyke-Pinon discuss the pros and cons of smartphones in the classroom Lord of the rings
It is ludicrous to expect students not to use their mobile phones at school: we should encourage them and monitor their use. A mobile is an extra work station when all the computers are occupied in the Wodehouse Library, a database when you have forgotten your prep diary and a notebook with unlimited pages. As well as encouraging the use of mobiles, teachers should use them to make lessons more interactive: Kahoot and Quizlet Live are immeasurable assets – resources you would be hard- pressed to find in an old-fashioned text book. The world has developed but education hasn’t. I think Dulwich College should take the first step and lead the change in the way we educate our population. Ekow (Year 9) These small gadgets dictate your life and mine, but can be very helpful: you can use a mobile like a computer for notes, or as a calculator, or to look up a visual representation of something. However, if a student becomes bored in a lesson (let’s be honest, we’ve all been there) it is very easy for them to discreetly play on their device without a teacher noticing. This can be challenging for teachers, as they need to monitor activity constantly. If a student is caught using a mobile inappropriately, then a teacher should have the right to confiscate the device. This would ensure students pay attention in class and don’t cheat in exams - or use all their data playing Clash Royale. Gregg-Jensen (Year 9) I believe that the use of mobile phones in schools is more problematic than beneficial, although there are points to consider on both sides of the debate. In class, students often find it easier to do research on their phones, as opposed to using books; on the Internet, there are hundreds upon hundreds of search results, allowing you to gather information from multiple sites. On the other hand, pupils can abuse their right to use smartphones in class. For example, if a student misuses their phone they could miss out on key information such as homework instructions, and deadlines for projects and upcoming tests. Students may then leave school with lower grades than if they did not have the distraction of a mobile phone. Loore (Year 9) I have only recently become the owner of a mobile phone, so I find myself in a good position to talk about the topic and its relevance at school. Despite thinking that mobile phones have taken too tight a grip on our society, I can see both sides of the argument. At school mobile phones (specifically smartphones) allow instant access to information. They have also created a more inter-connected community within the College. On the other hand, the zombie-like effect phones have on students wandering around the campus is hard to ignore. Overall I think that mobile phones are a step in the right direction, as long as we understand how to use them responsibly. Joshua (Year 11)
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