Cell phones in school

This is an interesting and controversial topic.   While trying to find articles and blogs for and against, I came across an article on eHow - How to Use Your Cell Phone in School - written by an enterprising student giving tips on how to text and talk on your cell phone without getting in trouble with your teacher. It seems all you need is a jacket, stealth, and a distracted teacher. 

While I believe there are interesting possibilities to using cell phones in school, I do not think that cell phones should be used in school for learning.   One reason for this is, not all students have cell phones or may have limited plans on their cell phone that participation in the school lesson would not be cost effective or practical.  In the school I am student teaching, we are not supposed to assume that students have computer access at home, and  the same rule should apply for cell phones.  I know this from personal experience.  My children who are in 11th, 9th, and 7th grade do not have their own cell phones.  There are times this is inconvenient, but for the most part this still works for our family.

Another reason that cell phones should not be used in school is that it adds another layer of complexity to classroom management.  In addition to "normal" classroom management situations, when you introduce another piece of technology, you have more rules.  Going with the assumption that the students own the cell phones being used, you have limited control over what the student does.  Due to privacy issues, the teacher is not allowed to inspect a student's cell phone, so how will you really know if they are on task, or if they are texting their friends, posting on Facebook, or shopping online?

Finally, I believe it can be beneficial for students to have a break for their cell phone.  There have been studies that show humans do not multitask as well as they believe and it take more time to make transitions between tasks , so cell phones ultimately will distract from the assignment or class activity.  In the research project I completed Fall Semester 2010, we found that students are very attached to their phones and feel incomplete without it .  The limited use during the school day may help give their brains a break. 

Here is a link to an article that is neither for or against but provides some interesting information on "techno-tasking".  http://www.usask.ca/education/coursework/802papers/redekopp/index.htm

Peer Reviews

I think peer reviews are beneficial to the reviewer and the reviewee.  I liked being able to watch one of my peer's video to learn techniques for myself and hopefully be able to help them.   As a teacher, we need to be able to accept constructive criticism from others, and this is a good step to help toughen up our skin and be open to suggestions. it is a safe environment to learn from each other.  Our group has a lot of good ideas and I value everyone's opinion.   There is value is getting a different perspective on your performance because it is difficult to have a 100% accurate picture of your own performance.   I have learned that I need to be more enthusiastic.   In my mind I am, but now that I have another perspective and I can see that my laid back nature could be interpreted as unenthusiastic.   It is good to have the feedback because I now have something concrete to work on.  

I think it is difficult to mark a peer poorly on a scale from 0-3.   I find it easier to write comments because you can express the reasons for your opinion more easily, the other person will be able to better understand your thought process.  I do like the forms used and how they reflect the domains.   It is a good way to keep track of progress, and might be less subjective.
 
The domain assessment contains peer review because it is a way to develop analytical and communication skills.  It allows a student to reinforce the skills they have learned and to look at the presentation, essay, or project in sections, and again as a whole product.   Communication skills are enhanced because when you are reviewing, you have to look for strengths and weaknesses and express them diplomatically.  I think they can be used in a class in different ways.   A way to introduce them would be to start as proofreading in a computer applications class.  Another way I could see implementing peer reviews would be for student projects.  If students are writing business letters, another student could review the work and make suggestion on the content and grammar.  My Web Design Class consists of a lot of projects and the students present to their peers. I could have the students do peer reviews of the design principles used in the project.  
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