Schools all around the nation are constantly discussing how to handle the use of personal technology devices in the classroom. Do we fight it and try to keep it out or do we embrace it and try to teach students how to use it appropriately? With that here is a link and some key facts from the link regarding teenage use of technology and social media: Teens, Social Media & Technology Overview 2015
- 24% of teens go online “almost constantly," facilitated by the widespread availability of smartphones.
- Aided by the convenience and constant access provided by mobile devices, especially smartphones,
- according to a new study from Pew Research Center. More than half (56%) of teens — defined in this report as those ages 13 to 17 — go online several times a day, and 12% report once-a-day use. Just 6% of teens report going online weekly, and 2% go online less often.
- Nearly three-quarters of teens have or have access to a smartphone and 30% have a basic phone, while just 12% of teens 13 to 17 say they have no cell phone of any type
Given this data and the inevitability of the situation, isn't the real question then not whether we allow it, but rather how do we facilitate the proper use and help eliminate the possible distractions. The truth is that if a teenager wants to explore inappropriate material or use their device for not educational purposes they will find a way. However, just as adults need to learn not to be on their phones or social media during work, our students need to be taught and learn how to manage their use of the social media during class and in general. There are so many applications and tools available to our students that can improve efficiency, organization, and quality of work. To not allow and/or provide our students this learning tool and experience is to be doing them a disservice. Instead, isn't this the message we should be sending?
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