Cellphones can be used in class for work

Kahoot+is+a+website+that+many+students+are+allowed+to+use+in+class.

IMAGE / Grant Sterling

Kahoot is a website that many students are allowed to use in class.

In recent years, cellphones have became more popular in the hands of children — even in school settings.

Teachers allow students to use their personal cellphones during class for websites such as Kahoot, Khan Academy, Socrative, Quizlet, and many more.

Mrs. Colene Wilcox, algebra teacher, allows her students to use their cellphones in class.

Her students use their cellphones for Khan Academy reviews to help prepare for the SAT.

“We were encouraged by the administrators to use this resource for SAT prep as other districts have used it and seen success,” Wilcox said.

At first, her students complained about having to use Khan Academy, but as time went on it has become routine for them.

In Wilcox’s class, students use Khan Academy three days a week. Each day they do a different practice set to help them to prepare for the math portion of the SAT.

Wilcox feels that even though students are given time to use their phones, some students will still use them when they shouldn’t, which is bad for learning because it’s such a distraction.

“Social media has become the priority for most of our students,” Wilcox said.

Students who are serious about their education are not on their cellphones at inappropriate times or feel the need to constantly check them during the day.

— Mr. Robert Reed, science teacher

Mr. Robert Reed, science teacher, also allows his students to use their cellphones during class time.

Reed believes that they are good tools for quiz or test practice.

But he also feels that some students use their phones when they’re not supposed to.

“Students who are serious about their education are not on their cellphones at inappropriate times or feel the need to constantly check them during the day,” Reed said. “It has become an addiction for some.”

Reed said he would recommend other teachers to incorporate cellphones into classwork.

“I think they are good tools for instant data collection and increasing engagement,” Reed said.

Students have mixed feelings about this.

IMAGE / Kaylee DeBlouw
Sophomore Marisol Martin feels that cellphones should be used in schools differently than they are now.

Sophomore Marisol Martin believes using cellphones in class is a good concept. But she said using the same website in many classes becomes repetitive and boring.

“It just becomes a task you don’t want to do,” Martin said.

Martin feels that it gets so boring over time when they’re doing the same thing for review. Martin said that if teachers mixed it up more it would be better for students.

Freshman Jordan Laury likes using cellphones in class.

“It’s a good way for students to practice and refresh their mind on things they are forgetting how to do,” Laury said.

But Laury prefers the traditional method.

“You get a better understanding of what you’re doing when you use pencil and paper,” Laury said.

Even though Laury prefers pencil and paper, he still thinks phones should be used.

“Students are going to be on their phones no matter what, (so we) might as well put them being on them to good use,” Laury said.