I was out at a restaurant with a few friends the other day, having nice conversation and unwinding after a long week. It is great to have that experience, but the entire time I was there I kept feeling that the people I was with were waiting for something else to happen. The reason: Everyone kept checking their cell phone to see if they got a new text message or call.
I am guilty of checking my phone every now and then, but I think it becomes a problem when it is continually done in a social setting or in class. After noticing this, I started wondering if we should teach cell phone etiquette in schools. Then I started thinking about expanding it to cell phone and computer etiquette as well. Kids are bombarded with this new technology that many of their parents do not understand, and as a result, they are not taught when and how to use it properly.
Is it really the schools job to teach students about manners, or is that the parents job? I know that I will not tolerate the use of cell phones or i-pods in my class unless we are doing an activity that requires them. If we encourage our students to say please and thank you, maybe we should teach them manners regarding technology.
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4 comments:
Courtney,
That's an interesting question: is it a school's responsibility to train students in the etiquette of technology? I want to argue yes. For example, we teach students how to format a business letter, as opposed to a personal one. We teach them how to address one another respectfully. It could be argued that not teaching them to pay attention to the context of phone usage is under-serving them, because as we get older we are often judged (by employers, colleagues, etc) by how well we interact with and how respectful we are of others.
So, anyway, I guess what I'm saying is, I feel you.
Hi Courtney
I am just starting to get back to the blogs, I feel as though I am missing so much being away (of course I am enjoying my cute little reason!).
If you read my blog, you know that I am particularly interested in cell phones as a learning tool. Yet, another issue I think is so important is the one you raise in your post. Mobile Etiquette. I think you are probably correct in pointing out that parents should be key in modeling and guiding their children on appropriate uses of cell phones. I think we have all experienced circumstances where people (adults and students) are using cell phones inappropriately or even dangerously (driving in the car). Yet, not all parents are digitally aware (as we have seen with internet safety issues....a good example is the study by Dr. Larry Rosen where he found parents to be a bit out-of-touch http://www.csudh.edu/psych/lrosen.htm)
Therefore, it may be important for school to consider taking on some of the burden. Early intervention may be the key---start talking with younger students about appropriate cell phone etiquette and ask parents to be part of the activities/conversation.
I am really happy you posted on this topic and think mobile etiquette and cell phones in learning will become more important as younger students begin to own and use cell phones.
Courtney,
As a member of the cell-obsessed club, I'd just like to extend my warmest welcome. With that out of the way, I'd also like to share with you my thoughts on this matter.
I am not very fond of cell phones in school (or at the dinner table) and I can't stand when people talk on them while trying to pay for something. It drives me nuts, and I often find myself wondering, "Don't they know any better?!" until the next time I pull my cell phone out and do something as equally annoying to others. Cell phone technology is here to stay, and I still think that society is figuring out how to manage them. Many states now passing laws prohibiting talking on the phone while driving, but I think that the etiquette question has yet to be broached on a national level. Consequently, I think that school could be a good place for students to learn about what is and is not acceptable cell phone behavior. They have to learn it somewhere, and perhaps parents aren't the best role models because views on technology are often generational.
Courtney,
I think if we are going to provide students with technologies that serve multiple purposes, we ought to realize that we are going to deal with a lot of frustrating consequences. As an adult, I have a hard time managing the technology that is at my fingertips. I constantly have to resist the urge to participate in i-chat or sending text messages during class. Since we will all be teaching very tech-savvy students, I believe it IS our responsibility to help them learn essential tech manners. These norms will go with them throughout life. So, the question we ought to ask ourself is this: When we are 70-80 years old, do we want to be caught behind drivers on cell phones -- OR, should that problem have been alleviated by that time? It is up to us as future educators to shape the next generation - and since we certainly teach more than our content areas, I'd say appropriate uses of technology should be an important part of the curriculum.
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