At a faculty meeting last year we had a very good conversation about what our school guide lines should be for Bring Your Own Device. The two options that the majority of the faculty liked are listed below. Pick one that YOU would want to be the guidelines for a MIDDLE SCHOOL (6-8th grade) that you worked at. I know that not all of you have/do/will teach this age group be this is the group of students we talked about. Make sure to include your reasoning for your choice. If you decided to change your choice as we talk about this topic please let us know and why you decided to change you mind.
34 Comments
Nicketa Coombs
10/13/2014 04:25:43 am
If or when I work with middle school students, I'd prefer the first guideline to be in place. Technology should only be allowed in the classroom when the teacher says it's okay and not out during any other time of the day. I chose this stance because I think technology can easily become a major distraction if not monitored and it is hard enough to monitor use inside the classroom. I think with option 2, students would spend all their free time just sitting on their phone or tablets instead of socializing with their classmates, building friendships or even being active. As educators, we want to make sure that everything we invite into the classroom has more educational benefits than risks, more pros than cons.
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Tim Dickens
10/14/2014 09:16:31 am
I could have just copied and pasted your response. I completely agree with your thoughts. Middle school is a trying enough age keeping students focused and on task. They don't need another distraction
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Brian Calhoun
10/14/2014 10:54:24 am
I feel that if not monitored correctly, technology can be a giant distraction. But outside of the classroom, I feel that it would not hurt. In today's world, if you ban students from their phones everywhere, they will just sneak it. They will still socialize, probably even more because social media is the one of their main mediums.of communication.
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Keeyon Howard
10/17/2014 12:47:54 am
Hey this is an awesome response. I totally agree 1 million percent. Students will be so distracted on these devices that they wont be able to fully invest their minds into the devices an educational tools instead of social entertainment. At this age I don't believe that they could switch their minds from playtime to work time effectively which becomes the distraction all in itself. Nicketa, your point is made very clearly!!
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Terri Dodson
10/22/2014 12:41:13 pm
I agree with you completely. Students need to have face to face relationships and learn how to socialize with their peers. Lasting friendships are built one to one. Students need to learn how to fit in and where they fit in and they cannot do this by staring down at their phone or tablet all of their free time.
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Tim Dickens
10/14/2014 09:14:44 am
I would agree with the first guideline. I would have to go with the same reasons that Nicketa has given. I think allowing students to use these devices during off time would simply cause unwanted problems.. Students being late to class, wanting to finish a text or something else as they entered the class. I think students need to realize they can survive the day with out constantly being on there phone or other device. I would also add that the device should be taken from the student if it seen at other times and the parent would need to pick up the device at the end of the day.
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Brian Calhoun
10/14/2014 10:59:54 am
Students do need to learn that they do not need to be on their phones all day. But as a college student and teacher, the real world requires the use of your phone to communicate and send e-mails multiple times a day. If a student is late to the class it is not the phones fault, it is the student's responsibility. They must learn to manage their time and technology wisely.
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Nicketa Coombs
10/16/2014 03:40:37 am
I think having some sort of disciplinary action for those who don't abide by the rules is a very good idea, there must be a level of accountability both on the part of the student and educator. This is not just to punish them but also to use as learning experience and teaching discipline.
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Becky Windsor
10/19/2014 08:43:03 am
I agree with you. It is great opportunity for students to be able to use their phones or iPads in class for school work. Students in the lower grades, especially middle school, need guidelines and boundaries. I have found many times if students think they are not being watched, some will take advantage of the situation and sneak their texts to friends in other classes and so on. With teacher permission and supervision, using these technologies can be a good thing. Also, there needs to be guidelines set up on how much the students will use these technologies. I feel they should have certain amount of times set to use them so there is not too much use.
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Kiefer Smith
10/20/2014 06:19:13 am
I can understand that they don't need their phones or devices in the school because it is a distraction. They will always have their phones with them and it is a battle all the way to make them not have their phones. If we give them a little bit of wiggle room it will allow them to have their phones out at the proper times. We can bust them when they bring the phones into the room. I have a strict no phone policy in my class and I follow it 100%.
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Terri Dodson
10/22/2014 12:43:17 pm
I like your comments about causing problems like being late to class. I also agree whole heartedly that students need to learn that they can and will survive without their phone for several hours at a time.
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Brian Calhoun
10/14/2014 10:48:47 am
I feel that in a middle school setting, the second choice would be the best fit for the student’s enjoyment and for the learning process. Most children are getting their first cell phones when they are in elementary school now. The students are going to be on their phones when they are outside of the classroom so why spend unnecessary effort trying to stop them. If a student wants to send a text during their lunch or recess time, that is fine with me. When inside the classroom, it is vital that technology is only used with the consent of the teacher. If students were allowed to be on their phones at any time during class, they would waste time on Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat. Both teachers and students do not need this distraction, this is conduct for their free time while they are not in class. On the other hand, technology such as iPad and phones can be valuable tools in challenging student creativity and depth of knowledge. That is why if it is allowed it can only be with the permission and supervision of the teacher.
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Katie Dietzman
10/15/2014 03:16:53 am
You make a very good point about the age a student gets a phone. My biggest concern is exactly what you pointed out. Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat are extremely distracting. I think I agree more with allowing tablets in the classroom more so than a phone. Its a lot harder to hide a tablet at a desk than a phone. I personally feel that 6th grade is too early to allow access to a phone all of the time and I completely agree that if it is allowed the teachers should be supervising.
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nicketa coombs
10/16/2014 03:44:12 am
I do understand your perspective and where you're coming from with your reasoning but I'm concerned about the distraction element. Given that this age group is approximately when they get their first cellphones, I can see how they can be completely drowned in it and social media without really taking time out to use it as a learning tool.
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Aaron Shockley
10/17/2014 06:32:22 am
I agree that their would be a distraction having your own devices in the classroom and that it would be easier to control or regulate the use having to use school devices.
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Rebecca Hartman
10/18/2014 02:09:03 pm
I agree with your post. Students are getting phones younger and younger now, and limiting the use of their devices will result in more sneaky use of them during class. Allowing them to use their phones in the hallways and the lunchroom will limit the use of them in class time and they will be more likely to pay attention to the lessons.
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Danell
10/19/2014 07:46:41 am
Brian,
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Becky Windsor
10/14/2014 01:39:30 pm
I have teach 6th grade and I believe the first option would be the best for this age group. Students in middle school need structure and guidelines when using technology. In my school students are not allowed to have phones out during the day. I and other teachers have had students sneak phones to text other students while in the bathrooms, lockers, or any other opportunity they could find. There are always students who will follow the rules, but there are also those students who will not follow the rules and will try to find a way to do what they want. This particular age group is still learning to become more independent, but at the same time they still need guidance in making wise choices. This age group is very social and there are times when conflicts arise between students. These problems could be fueled by the use of phones or other technology if there are not guidelines in place for supervised use of these technologies. I feel with set times and places for students to use phones, tablets and other technology in the classroom there are great advantages and learning to be had. As students get older, they learn more responsibility and hopefully can make wiser choices when they have the opportunity to use different technologies during unsupervised free times, lunch and so on. There still would be some of these older students who would not choose to use technology wisely, but the middle school age students need guidance and limits as they mature in their decision making!
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Katie Dietzman
10/15/2014 03:12:04 am
I completely agree that establishing structure is the most important thing with this age group. As they understand their responsibilities as a student more responsibilities can be added. It is nearly impossible as an educator to keep students off of their phone as it is. I think that slowly integrating these responsibilities is the best way to go.
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Katie Dietzman
10/15/2014 03:09:00 am
I believe that the first guideline is the best place to start with these students. The lack of maturity in this age group leads me to believe that they would not be able to handle this amount of freedom with technology. The amount of distraction a device would bring would be hard for any teacher to compete with. As a student gets older and understand the responsibility of using these devices, I do think it is okay for them to have their devices out during free times and in common areas. As a coach I don't have an issue with players checking messages during their lunch hours. On several occasions they have had to get ahold of a parent because they forgot something or letting them know of game time changes or cancelations. I think that giving them the freedom to do these things will help prevent issues with them using these devices in the classroom. The middle school age is hard enough to keep on track I can't imagine trying to compete with social devices as well!
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Keeyon Howard
10/17/2014 12:54:29 am
Katie your statement, "The amount of distraction a device would bring would be hard for any teacher to compete with" is a very powerful statement which I agree with. A teachers influence on the students mind will not be able to compete with the influence that these devices will have on their minds when it comes to Education vs. Social Entertainment. I would consider option #2 with a different age group but they would have to show that they are responsible enough to handle the freedom that they will be granted with these devices. GREAT POST!
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Becky Windsor
10/19/2014 08:47:20 am
You are definitely right about the maturity with this age group. This group of students are still learning boundaries and about making responsible choices. If there are not guidelines and supervision in place, there would be students misusing their phones or iPads in school. There is to much temptation to text friends, use the internet for purposes other than school work, or other uses. The use of these technologies is great, but students do not need to use them outside of a supervised academic setting at this age range.
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Jess Brink
10/19/2014 09:10:26 am
I feel like kids will always find a way to use the technology... Better to let them get it out of their systems before class than trying to sneak it during!
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Kiefer Smith
10/15/2014 12:52:14 pm
I am going to have to pick the second choice for this topic. I believe that students should be able to get on their phone during a time when it is not distracting to them and get in the way of their learning. I see no problem with them being able to use their phone at different times throughout the day, as long as they are responsible with their phones and other devices. If they start to become irresponsible with their devices then the school need to recognize this and take action right away. As for the classroom there should be no phone unless the teacher says it is okay. I personally would like to find something else for the students to do to keep them away from technology. I am not a huge fan of relying fully on technology because of the chance that it all goes away someday. Another reason why I would not want to have devices in my room is the chance that students would get on them and surf the web and get on their social media accounts. This is something that will distract them from learning right away. I take away their phones if I see it or hear it in my class.
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Rebecca Hartman
10/18/2014 02:11:54 pm
I agree that sometimes students rely too much on technology in the classroom. I believe that allowing students to use their personal devices in the hallway and the lunchroom, or during breaks in the classroom will result in them trying to use the technology less during class. There should be a set rule in schools for when and where the technology can be used, and all teachers should be fair with the students for the rule. At my high school, we were allowed to have our phones at lunch, and it definitely changed how many students texted during class. I think it would be the same for middle school.
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Danell
10/16/2014 11:07:37 pm
I believe in 2, because if you only allow kids to be on their phones or tablets a certain time and don't allow them to have any additional time they are going to sneak their phones/tablets/ or other devices so they can use them when they want to. By allowing the kids to use their devices at a certain time, I believe will help eliminate them to be on their devices at times they shouldn't be. Our country is pushing us to use technology more and more. If we can get the students to be engaged during the important times we are at the board lecturing without the students on their devices I think they will pay more attention to what the teacher is actually teaching. To be honest I can't even go throughout the day without being on my phone during lunch. So, we are leading by example, if the kids see us check our phones/e-mail/ they will lead by example.
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Keeyon Howard
10/17/2014 12:43:15 am
I would go with the first guideline for middle school students simply because the main point of even bringing technology into the schools is to encourage “Creative Learning” strategies. If devices are permitted beyond the classrooms it will cause a zombie structured environment. Students of this age should be engaging in natural things in real time instead of diving into the cyber world at every chance that they have free. Recently I was at an event where a few groups of people had arrived together and sat together and even ate lunch together. As I sat there I noticed that it was around 5 or 6 people in each group and for the 30 minutes they sat there, they probably said 10 words to each other in conversation because they all had their phones out and wasn’t fully engaged in the moment that they were in at the time. Students at the middle school age see these behaviors by adults and if these devices were permitted beyond the classroom in a school setting, our future generations will lose sight of the importance of verbal communication and the desire to engage with other students.
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Aaron Shockley
10/17/2014 06:30:47 am
I think that the first choice is a good choice and plus I think that students will feel more comfortable using devices of their own rather than school provided devices because they have already set aside time on their own devices to figure out how to get the most out of their devices. I also think that this would be a good options so long as the teacher controls the rule and enforces the rule so that students aren't using their own devices any time they want. I know our school district allowed students to use their own devices on the wifi so long as they were working on the proper material and when they weren't they were kicked off the wifi.
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Kiefer Smith
10/20/2014 06:26:33 am
Students need to learn to be responsible with their phones. The teachers do need to enforce the rules as the school sets them as well. It can be a distraction for any student no matter what. I do feel that we need to give them some wiggle room with their phones because if we completely have them with no phone they will fight it and it will be a battle for us.
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Rebecca Hartman
10/18/2014 02:06:44 pm
I think that the second option is best. When you give children the freedom of having their devices in common spaces and at certain times, it is less likely that they will try to use the devices during class time. This will lead to less distraction in the classroom, and the students will be more focused on schoolwork when they know they will be able to use their devices at certain times. Students are getting their own devices at an earlier age, and it is now common for students in middle school to have cell phones and tablets, and they will be able to learn when the proper times to use these devices are when they are given the freedom to use them when they are in common spaces, such as the lunch room and hallways.
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Danell
10/19/2014 08:07:21 am
I agree with you about the students getting their technology devices at an earlier age. If we go ahead and teach them the rules and make this set in stone this could help eliminate some distractions as they get older.
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Jess Brink
10/19/2014 09:08:55 am
Good point!! If you give the children the opportunity to use their devices during the breaks between classes, it is less likely that they will use the devices in the classroom!
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Jess Brink
10/19/2014 09:07:23 am
Technology in common spaces anytime but only in the classroom when the teacher says it is O.K. (The students would be able to use their phone/tablet during passing times,lunch, and other "free" times during the day)
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10/22/2014 12:38:43 pm
I do teach middle school students and I choose the first stance. I believe that technology should only be used when the teacher says it is ok. Middle school students need definite boundaries and if allowed to have their devices out at any time, I believe this would create problems. Students need to learn to socialize face to face and not just on their phones or tablets. This also opens the door to cyber bullying more than it already is. Technology is needed in the classroom, but I do not believe that it should be an anytime kind of thing.
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Class BlogThis blog is for class conversations for Ed 514 at Central Methodist University. We invite input form other teachers about how they use technology in their classrooms. Archives
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