I have been teaching in a couple high school classrooms recently, and I have been reminded that students on small hand-held internet devices can be distracted and distracting. I am being intentional in not using the word phone. For almost all of us, the devices we call phones are primarily used for other functions. I know for me, the phone is maybe the fifth or sixth most popular use for my small internet device. I don’t think the discussion is about phones vs. tablets vs. laptops rather it is about what functions are best done with what size of device.
For more than a decade I have been advocating students bringing internet-ready devices into the classroom. I have said things like, “phones are great, if that is all students have, they should bring them.” And this is still true.
I have also regularly said, “If students have a phone and can’t afford a laptop, their families should really consider making a different (better) decision that could benefit the child’s learning.” I know families have invested in phones for a variety of reasons and safety is a reason I often hear. Well, get a cheap phone for emergencies and take that money for the iPhone contract, and invest in a laptop or tablet.
Back to my recent reminders. I will focus on one particular class of grade 11 and 12 students I was working with. We were having a discussion around leadership in the digital age. And I have to be honest, the students on their small devices were driving me crazy! I could see the students were distracted, and in turn, this was very distracting for me and others. They were texting away with students in the room and outside the room, only periodically engaging in the lesson. Now, I know it is partly my fault. If my lesson was more engaging, the students would not have been so easily distracted. I also could have done a better job of classroom management. I also know that in our efforts around students bringing their own devices, the journey has not, nor will not, be linear in terms of how students use devices in their classrooms – we are in shifting times.
At our District Parent Advisory Council Meeting this past week we had a great discussion around technology that included a high school teacher and a grade 10 student. As the student reminded us, “When kids are on their phones they are usually not doing school work.” Heck, when adults are on their phones it is more likely for social rather than business. I have always been a believer in the key role of adults to model technology use and it is hard to suggest kids just need to behave differently when so often we see parents busy checking their Facebook or Twitter feeds. The power of devices in school is usually around what is possible to create, and with the small handheld devices, in schools they are almost exclusively consumption devices or texting machines.
So, the advice of the last decade does stand – that any internet device that gets you in the game is good. But it is also true that some devices are better than others and we shouldn’t be fooled into thinking devices like iPhones are changing learning. I am a bit “old school” and like to type on a keyboard so my advice when asked about what one should get for their child is probably a laptop, or a tablet with a keyboard. More and more other specs matter less, and work lives in the cloud – it is about getting to the internet.
And what else was I reminded in teaching classes where all students have technology; technology does not making teaching easier, but it does make it very different.
Great post — I have to agree that you need to bring the right tool for the job. In the workplace adults, too, are struggling with how to focus on the right things and not be distracted.
Yes, it is definitely not a challenge limited to school students. And as children look to the adults as their models – we are often doing a poor job of modelling the best approach to using technology.
As I read this from my iPhone… because the “instant on” is powerful in this instant world.
I will comment further on my keyboard. Like you, I prefer “full size” access to the internet.
If you see me on my phone . . . unless I am taking a photo or video . . . I am probably not working. Maybe I am reading email but it is almost completely a consumption device for me. I will flag emails to respond when I am at a computer . . . I guess we are both old school.
Nice timing, Chris — just this week, I had to address texting in a classroom where all students have personal devices from iPads to laptops. Phones are vibrating on laps and in pockets and the texts are coming from parents as well as friends. As I was reading aloud from a short story, a girl said her father just texted her to come out and pick up her lunch. For the past few years in my course preview I have had to specifically ask parents not to text their children during class time.
So I talked to the kids about distractions and how the near future will look for them as they need to put the texting aside to drive, work in customer service or supervise kids at day camp. I talked about self-regulation, marshmallows and mindfulness and asked them to try to understand its importance to more than just their learning in my classroom.
Thanks Elizabeth – glad to hear it does not just happen to me :). I get asked about what does self-regulation look like in a high school classroom . . . and I think you nailed it – how many of our students can resist the urge to immediately look at their device when it buzzes?
Interesting how our course previews have changed . . . and having to remind parents not to text their children while they are in class.
As I read your post, Chris, on device size and use, I couldn’t help but think about my Science and Tech 11 class. Today is a special day as we are coming to the end of a project on medical advances. One group is having a jelly bean guess to raise money for Cancer research. Another group is interviewing a cancer survivor. In the days leading up to today, there was texting going on in class. There were twitter updates. And I’m sure that they weren’t all to do with the project. But I’m hoping the culture of we-can-make-a-difference promoted within the class leads the students to use their devices in more meaningful ways, harnessing the power of school on device use.
Sean
Thanks Sean -sounds like an awesome class! Part of the problem of my story is that I was teaching students I did not really have a relationship with. We hadn’t built up what you clearly had in your class. Since the beginning of time, students have spent time off task in class, it is perhaps more noticeable now in the digital age when it happens. And yes, of course the answer is not to take away the devices, but to have them engage with them in more ethical ways – a good challenge for all of us.
Yes! Very well put. In addition, I tell parents that the best purchase they can make is a laptop. Play stations, Wii’s, and numerous other devices that children now have access to are costly and mere distractions.
A very thought provoking post! As educators, we should consistently reflect on how emerging technologies support best teaching practices that foster student engagement. If deep learning is a desired learning outcome of students using technology, it is essential to continue to focus on the learner and their unique learning environment afforded by technology. Technology provides educators with the ability to explore new approaches to creating engaging learning opportunities for students. It is easy to get caught up with technology hardware and new electronic devices when considering how to integrate technology into the classroom, but it always comes back to the learner and finding ways to foster student engagement.
Thanks Laurie. You are right – the most exciting times using technology in the classroom are those when we do things that would not have been possible without the technology. Particularly when we know the challenge at secondary – it is so much about student engagement.
Thanks Anna. Absolutely – if a family can only buy one device make it a laptop. It has such huge potential to support learning. Other devices have their place – but are almost all primarily for entertainment with some components for education.
Yup, I’m still biased towards a keyboard. Inquiry Hub is BYOLaptop although one student does very well with her Windows Surface & keyboard, but I too am biased and still think that keyboard is essential. To me BYOD is ‘Bring Your OTHER Devices’… But your larger, (multi-tasking) keyboard device is essential. The multi-tasking aspect can be a distraction (can’t stand students listening to YouTube video ‘in the background’ and sucking up bandwidth, and being distracted every few minutes to change songs). However, if you’ve ever tried commenting on a blog on your ipad, went to another app to get a link or a quote, and returned to your comment to see the page refresh and your comment lost, then that multi-tasking ability suddenly comes into play.
One day, I’ll let go of my keyboard bias, my oldest can type faster on her phone than I do on a keyboard, but for now I think the bias is justified.
Well said, Chris and Dave! In my opinion, if production is what students require, a keyboard is essential. I love my iPad and it is central to everything I do … I no longer own a cell phone. Even though I read this post on my iPad (which has an awesome Logitech keyboard), the fear of losing my comment (as Dave pointed out) and the lack of a useable ‘undo’ function has me typing this response on my laptop.
My classroom has been paperless since 2012, and every student that used to work on a tablet has moved on to PC or Mac laptop (I.e. keyboard device). Old school …. maybe; but, like the mouse (which was destined for extinction 7 years ago), keyboards might be around longer than people might predict. After all, technology is only as useful as it is usable. Thanks for a great post, Chris.
It will be interesting how long keyboards last. We are definitely seeing more students bring slates without keyboards into our elementary schools through BYOD. In high school, it is still generally devices with keyboards. It will be interesting to see if this is a trend and whether as our elementary student flow through our high schools if they continue with their tablets or add keyboards or trade in these devices for more traditional laptops.