Current events 2

Framework Crafted for Student Use of Mobile Devices 

School districts are struggling with the risks and benefits of increased use of cell phones, media players, and tablet computing devices. The Center for Education Policy and Law based out of San Diego last month issued a collection of documents on what it calls “electronic communication devices” or ECD’s. This was a project that was conceived when a university staff member’s child became a victim of cyberbullying. It includes a six-page model district policy that outlines proper and improper use of the devices, as well as sample short (two-page) and long (four-page) student-use agreements. It also included documents to help educators understand the culture of electronic device use in which many of today’s student’s live as well as legal privacy and free speech concerns schools face when policies regarding mobile devices is enforced. Researcher Frank Kemerer, a professor-in-residence at the University of San Diego said “The trend is in the direction of helping teachers and students incorporate electronic communication devices.” The student agreements clearly state what qualifies as a mobile device, what behaviors constitute misuse, when schools have a right to intervene, and what consequences schools may reinforce. ECD was criticized for not outlining basic issues, “you need to recognize (the danger of devices in school) outweighs the benefits, other than anything you are doing to forward the educational process” said Perry Aftab, the executive director of the Fort Lee, N.J.-based online watchdog group. “I think you’re dealing with risk management more than class management, and we need to set out the rules so kids know that ahead of time”. Barbara-Jane Paris a principal in Texas, sits on the board of directors at the Reston,Va.-based National Association of Secondary School Principals praised Kemerer for understanding what this looks like on a daily basis in education. She had testified this summer alongside Ms. Aftab at a Capitol Hill hearing on cyber bullying. Elliot Soloway a professor at the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, a leading advocate of learning with mobile devices praised this report for giving new clout to push to use mobile devices as learning tools. “Schools are going to have some ambiguity and are going to have to make some decisions. Superintendents, principals, and teachers all need to step up and take a position”.

After reading this article a principal should look into the two student-use agreements and create similar agreements to cater the needs of their school, keeping in mind the mobile devices used. These agreements (probably the short one) need to be included in the students’ rights and responsibilities handbook. Further the students should be required to sign this agreement in the first week of school. This will insure that they have been made aware of the policy and their signature is proof that they have agreed to the terms of the policy. This agreement should also be posted on the school website for parents and students to be reminded of the consequences of misuse of mobile devices. A handout of the stated agreement should be either sent out through email, or distributed as a hard copy at the beginning of the new semester, to once again remind the parents and students.

Quillen, I. (2010). Framework crafted for student use of mobile devices. Education week, Retrieved from http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2010/11/10/11devices.h30.html?tkn=SYTFHFZPzEo