Use Where Appropriate-When Appropriate (uWA-WA) is a term I think describes the solution to using cell phones in the school setting.

Cell Phones conjure visions ranging from extreme evil to extreme usefulness.  Cell phones have evolved over the years and will continue to evolve.  When I say “cell phone”, I am not referring to the original notion of a cell phone - one that makes and receives phone calls.  I am referring to the cell phone that bundles a lot of new technology over and beyond the ability to talk on the device.

Cell phones (iPhones) now have internet access and, therefore, access to the world knowledge that is “out there”.  Really, when I think about it, why would we want to block or prohibit the use of cell phones in our schools?

A student came to me in a panic last week.  She needed a citation to complete her term paper.  The citation was for a video on Youtube. We block access to YouTube in my school division.  So I called my son on my cell phone.  Being outside our school, he would be able to access to Youtube.  Then I would have the information!   I was pleased with myself for this solution.  But … not so fast …. another student with an iPhone, overheard what was going on and quickly offered an alternative solution.  She could access YouTube using her iPhone and the information would be  quickly available - task accomplished.  Now…Why wouldn’t we want our students to be able to do that?  That is what happens now in the “real” world.

On the flip side, we have all seen an adult (maybe we are one ourselves) who while at a movie, has their cell phone ring and then not hang up!  In fact they engage the person in conversation - oblivious to us who are watching the movie.  Should we ban cell phones for adults?  Of course not.  The answer is using the instrument where it is appropriate and WHEN it is appropriate - uWA-WA.  This is the skill we should be teaching our students.

We can jam - we can ban - we can limit.  But really we want our students to be highly effective and efficient with the 21st century tools.  So my job, I think, is to create the Safety Net that students can utilize 21st century tools responsibly and approriately.  My workmates are tired of me using this analogy/metaphor but I think it works.  That is Driver’s Education.  We teach our students to drive a 1 ton vehicle - hey, they could really be killed out there.  We don’t ban cars or driving.  rather we embrace the notion of preparing our students to be responsible drivers.  Do they make mistakes?  Get tickets? Sure they do.  But over time, they are better for our efforts to train them to be responsible drivers.

I believe this approach applies here with Cell Phones in our schools.  Let’s see what you think.