I’m working on a little AUP project and have been going through various examples, reading things like:
Pagers, laser pointers, cell phones, or other electronic devices not part of the instructional program will not be allowed in school.
Students are not allowed to use, wear, possess or store in their locker: cellular telephones, communication beepers, other electronic communication devices, including all ‘look alikes,’ at school during the regular school day or at school-sponsored events.
The board prohibits possession of laser pointers and attachments, cellular telephones, and telephone paging devices by students on school grounds, on buses and other vehicles provided by the district, and at school-sponsored events.
Then, taking a minute to thumb through the April issue of Technology & Learning Magazine (Welcome Kevin Hogan), I ran across six schools in Brooklyn who have given cell phones to their students — a total of about 2,500. Each phone is preloaded with with 130 minutes of talk time. Students can be rewarded with additional minutes for good behavior, attendance, homework, and test scores.
Teachers are using the phones to send text messages about assignments and upcoming exams. All of this within a school district (New York City Department of Education) that has banned cell-phones and other personal ICTs from schools. [Image ((Albert. “What’s in my bag? / Que hay en mi mochila?.” Albert!’s Photostream. 30 Jul 2007. 8 May 2008 <http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1394/954372092_04d968917f_m.jpg>.))]
Go for it!
Dear David
Since both cell phone use and AUP are things I am thinking about let me raise a question that I have not seen addressed in the last year or so..
The givens: We talk about teaching students to use “all technology” in a responsible manner ..we see the potential of a whole variety of connectedness like cell phones
The question: Should we have a tiered AUP? That is should Junior High students have the same AUP as 9th graders? As 11th graders? What are realistic expectations based on maturity and responsibility?
(I work in a K-8 school)
Below is another interesting post on cell phones in the classroom
http://blog.core-ed.net/greg/2008/05/cellphones_in_class.html
In my research, I have run across a number of AUP support documents that suggest this tiered approach, suggesting language for the different school levels. One of the documents that impressed me the most was ICT Policy, published by NAACE in England.
My thinking is that the AUP should double as a policy document and an instructional venue, and as instruction is tiered. If so, then perhaps the policy should be as well.
Thanks Dave…I read the NAACE site. It is a great example of a policy document and a worthy model. I like the idea of creating a whole policy not just a AUP which in the end usually looks like a set of rules.
I probably will continue this conversation with my LeaderTalk post this month. I think we need to discuss what the tiered approach looks like. What would be appropriate guidelines and use of cell phones at the Junior High Level?
Barbara, stay tuned for an announcement on 2¢ Worth in the next several days.
I just finished reading the Tech Learning article snip-it too. Love the idea! I wish more schools would adopt this attitude. When I was a kid they were banning calculators from school…now it is on every students must-have supply list.
Very interesting! Have you talked to anyone at those schools that give their students cellphones? Has it been successful? Have there been problems?
Wow this seemed like a really good idea. If they wanted to ban cell phones give them ones from the school that way the teacher can always tell them about upcoming assignments and other stuff via cell phone. Also is it nice that they will be able to get more and more minutes for good behavior and stuff like that because then they never have to buy more minutes.
I am curious how these schools have teachers handling phone calls and text messages coming in during class. Also, if you saw the cell phone video out of Baltimore, MD., would giving the phones to kids encourage this type of behavior?
I think it’s a good question. The answer, to me, is to use the access to cell phones as an opportunity to teach the etiquette of cell phones in public and the ethical use of information.
I, too, would love to hear how they are doing this.
Will,
This was a very interesting blog. I don’t think, though, that schools should not allow cell phones on buses and other things provided by the school. Because if there is an emergency, then the kids will have no way of knowing whats going on until it’s too late. I have one question though, how will the people know if the kids are texting on the bus or on campus? Because I have witnessed kids texting in class many times and the teacher never takes their phone or tells them to stop. But I think it’s cool that schools are giving out phones. Kids should have their own personal phones too though. I think schools are trying to have too much control over their students. I forget my homework a lot and if I had a teacher’s number, it would be so easy to just text them and ask for the assignment. Great blog!