(Student types a text message on her PDA. iStockPhoto )
Teachers around San Diego County say it’s tougher than ever to keep students focused in class these days. Part of the problem is that kids come to school armed with their own personal high-tech gadgets. In the second of a three-part series called Classroom 2.0, KPBS Education Reporter Ana Tintocalis focuses on how wireless technology is causing big problems in class.
If you want to know what the most popular high tech devices with school kids are, just go to Mission Valley Mall and ask them.
Teens: iPods and cellphones. iPods. Cellphones. iPods and cellphones.
That's right, most teens here say they simply can't function without their iPod or cell phone at school.
Tashida Collins goes to Crawford High School in San Diego. A wireless cell phone headset is clipped to her ear. Tashida says she spends most of her time in class sending text messages instead of listening to her teacher.
Collins : I'm like really good at text messaging so I put my phone inside my desk, and then look at it every so often. Or like inside my backpack.
Or she puts a book in front of her and pretends to read.
Seventeen-year-olds Jessica and Lisa know all the tricks, too. They go to San Diego High School , where students also use wireless devices to cheat in class. Jessica says students text message the right answers to tests, or take snapshots of the test itself.
Jessica : I have to admit in some classes -- like, what class was it? Yeah, chemistry -- it was a really, really hard subject, so the whole class will be helping each other and stuff.
Lisa : Like, when people have camera phones they take a picture of the answers and send it to people, yeah.
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S.D. Unified School District Electronic Device Policy • Students may possess cell phones, pagers, and other electronic signaling devices on school campuses and school buses, at school-sponsored activities, and while under the supervision of district employees • All students (K-12) may use these devices on campus before and after school • Students in high school may also use these devices during lunch • These devices must be kept out of sight and turned off during the instructional program and in the classroom • School officials, including classroom teachers, may take the device away from students if used during the times not permitted. • Repeat unauthorized use of these devices may lead to disciplinary action. (Information from San Diego Unified School District . ) |
What's happening at San Diego High School is happening at virtually every school in San Diego County. Educators are trying to curb the new wave of cheating and distractions by creating policies that keep students from using personal high tech gadgets in class.
Carol Herrera is a school board member in Vista. She pushed the district to toughen its tech policy after she saw many students abusing iPods during class lectures.
Herrera : When a teacher then calls on that student, the iPod goes under the desk quickly, and the student is not even aware of what's going on in the classroom. And I think that's totally inappropriate.
Herrera says students and teachers can't afford to waste any learning time in this era of standardized tests and accountability. But many parents say they want their kids to have cell phones with them in case of an emergency , especially in the wake of the Virginia Tech shooting.
So Vista students now can only use electronic devices at lunch, break, or after school. Students who break the rule more than once could face detention. And the district is even holding teachers more accountable.
Social psychologist Jean Twenge believes she knows why personal technology devices are all the rage among teenagers. Her research indicates young people today are more self-absorbed than ever before, and iPods and cellphones play into that.
Twenge says teachers can counter distractions by changing their approach to teaching and taking advantage of educational technology.
Twenge : That's a win-win situation, when you can, as a teacher, harness the technology in a way that keeps the students interested. Because then you are speaking their language, and that is something they'll like and understand. And they also don't have to listen to you talk 30 minutes straight. That's not something they do very well.
Jeff Robin agrees with that. He's an art teacher at High Tech High who incorporates technology in every project -- from Photoshop to surfing the web. Robin says there's always been cheating and distractions in the classroom, it’s just taken on new forms.
Robin : Kids will always change, it’s up to the teachers to do something more, and it’s a lot of work. I've seen so many teachers out there that say, well I've been giving these same worksheets out for 30 years and if it’s good enough for them, then it’s good enough for these kids. It’s not though, times have changed.
And experts predict the digital distractions will only increase as time goes on. In fact, some experts predict in ten years virtually every student will have their own laptops with more tantalizing functions.
Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.
