1

Should cellphones be banned from classrooms?

Jasbir Singh

Department Of English, Algoma University

ENGL1801B: Academic Writing: Fundamentals

Prof. Marissa Ross

March 12, 2021

 2

Introduction

The history of using cellphones was once considered a distraction in the classroom.

Gradually different techniques have been changed in the system of education and this modern

world; most educators slowly adopted that smartphones can be an effective tool of learning. Cell

phones have evolved into an effective teaching tool that at the time appropriate use of cellphones

can improve the outcome of the learning. As technology improves over time, many digital

devices make life easy for people and the cellphone is one of them. At the same time, there are

some controversial arguments in this concept where some educators believe that the cellphone

should not be allowed in the classroom and it can create a negative environment in the

educational field. Evident has found from analyzing the history of using a cellphone in the

classroom, one educated individual, named Lisa Nielsen, started her career in the educational

field as a librarian and at the time being she become an educational speaker and blogger,

breaking down the concept and history of using a mobile phone in the classroom (Owen and

Sanchez, 2020). In 1990, most educators and schools banned cell phones and other electronic

devices in the classroom. This situation was created due to certain circumstances as most of the

school administrators and educators feared that the cell phone or mobile phone would be used by

the learner to attain illegal activity.

However, the recent survey indicates the increasing number of mobile users across the world is

about 5 billion. The research also indicates that almost 93% of teenage girls and boys found to be

online daily and this could be increased in the future due to the increasing use of Smartphones

(Kolb, 2007). It has been also identified that in most of the library and educational campuses,

Wi-Fi has become available and free for the students which also encourages and inspires the

students to use digital equipment like cell phones as educational equipment. However, the

2|Page
 3

present study has focused on the subject line that is 'should the mobile phone or smartphone be

allowed or banned from the classroom'. Some logical and scientific arguments have been

critically discussed with appropriate evidence.

Counter Arguments

Originally the cell phone when not allowed in the classroom, people are found to be

trying to hide their cell phones from the administrator or educator in the classroom. However,

with the passing years, things have changed and it has become very common to use the cell

phone in the classroom. In the view of Fernandez, (2018) the teenagers are more dependent on

the use of cellphones because these are cheap, handy, and useful media for communication. The

author also stated that in case of emergency the student can use their cell phone. On the other

hand, Kolb, (2007) stated that the smartphone should not be allowed during the class as digital

equipment and its use in the classroom can disrupt both the educators and the students. In

subsequent research, Redner and Hirst, (2020) have argued that during any learning period, there

will be a high possibility of missing out on any important points by the student and in that case,

the use of a cell phone can be effective to record and playback the entire lecture. However, the

authors have also mentioned that cell phones should not be allowed in the Ontario classroom.

Owen and Sanchez, (2020) stated that the cellphone should be banned in secondary

school and elementary school for the students who would not be able to utilize the features of

smartphones during the lesson period. Considering the fact, it has been identified that the

education ministry in the Ontario educational system is banning the cellphone to remove the

destruction so that the learner can effectively focus on the learning process. At the same time,

Hagerman, (2021) stated that there is much evidence that proves that the educator feels struggle

while maintaining the learner in the classroom to attend the learning effectively during the class

3|Page
 4

and providing and allowing cell phones during the classroom is another way to provide an escape

from the classroom to the students. In that case, many educators feel that the learners' grades

have declined due to destruction in the classroom. On the other hand, Fernandez, (2018) stated

that the effective use of smartphones in the classroom could also create benefits for both the

teacher and the student as it can also support them to progress the learning process outside the

classroom.

As per the research of Bernardi and Higgins, (2020) the use of cell phones became highly

popular at the end of 1990 and by 2002. However, there were legal calls for the administrator

and lawmakers to reconsider the concept of banning smartphones in the classroom. The National

School Safety and security service stated that many educational institutes were encouraged to

allow the smartphone among their learners by the mid-2000s. The policies changed and allowed

the student to bring the cellphone during the classroom. Kolb, (2007) opined that some

elementary schools allow their students to bring digital tools such as a cell phone or smartphone

during the class to develop and support the learning progress in an effective manner. At the end

of 2007, the institutional administrator and menu educator considered the cellphone as an

effective tool of education which contributed a powerful affording the learning process for both

the teachers and students. The study conducted by Redner and Hirst, (2020) which identify that

most of the universities in the UK and US, started using messenger to reach out to the learner. A

survey disclosed by Jones et al., (2020) indicates that the parents of the students believed the

video calls and text messaging support their students to improve their communication technique

in the field of education.

Effective evidence has been found by Hagerman, (2021) which indicates that a school in

Brooklyn, organized a project in the field of education and began to share the cellphone among

4|Page
 5

the students and at the end of 2010 there was a significant shift towards the use of smartphones

as an effective tool of learning. Bernardi and Higgins, (2020) stated that previously the text

messaging through the cell phone played a vital role in keeping the learner connected with their

educational institute but in the current situation the increasing use of cell phones has become a

broad educational purpose like the other digital equipment like laptops. At the same time,

Nikolopoulou, (2020) argues that by allowing the cellphone during the classroom the learner

might start using and browsing the inappropriate and irrelevant information in the online

platform and with their important time and study. Furthermore, the author also indicated that the

use of smartphones can negatively influence the student and hinder their overall mindset,

personality, and growth. On the other hand, Aunzo, (2017) stated that the cell phone not only

supports the student in the educational field but also supports them during emergencies

especially when they are at school or classroom or any other learning progress. At the same time,

Jones et al., (2020) argue that the cell phone is not necessary during the classroom where most of

the educational institutes allow the student to use the official telephone which can support the

student at their emergency time. In this regard, the author further indicates that using the cell

phone in the educational institute can create and influence the student to take inappropriate

pictures for making irrelevant videos during the classroom which can negatively impact the other

students who are serious about the learning process. However, considering the present situation

and many other related things which force us to adopt modern techniques such as using cell

phone smartphones in the process of learning for the students. Many experts suggest the effective

use of cell phones and smartphones during the classroom which can highly positively impact the

educational system.

5|Page
 6

Conclusion

The subject concerned indicates different argumentative opinions from different authors.

Considering the modern life of the people and in the educational system, it becomes essential for

both the teachers and students to adopt the use of mobile phones with high facilities such as

smartphones during the classroom. On the other side, there are some argumentative thoughts

among different schools especially in elementary school who do not allow the use of cell phones

during class. Throughout the essay, different opinions are argumentatively discussed with

different evidence. However, considering all the facts the effective use of smartphones becomes

necessary for the higher studies where the students come from different countries as well as in

the distance learning it being effective.

6|Page
 7

Reference

Aunzo Jr, R. T. (2017). Classroom-Based integration of text-messaging in mathematics teaching-

learning process. Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching, 36(4),

317-337.

Bernardi, R. A., & Higgins, K. M. (2020). Factors Associated with College Cheating and

Suggestions for Reducing Classroom Cheating. The Accounting Educators' Journal, 30.

Fernandez, S. (2018). University Student's Perspectives on Using Cell Phones in Classrooms--

Are They Dialing up Disaster?. Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology-

TOJET, 17(1), 246-258.

Hagerman, R. V. (2021). Cell Phones and Classroom Management: Minimizing the Distraction

of Cell Phones in the Classroom to Ensure Student Success. In Affordances and

Constraints of Mobile Phone Use in English Language Arts Classrooms (pp. 165-185).

IGI Global.

Jones, S. B., Aruguete, M. S., & Gretlein, R. (2020). Cell phone use policies in the college

classroom: Do they work?. Transactions of the Missouri Academy of Science, 48(2020),

5-9.

Kolb, L. (2007). Should cell phones be banned from classrooms? No. Learning & Leading with

Technology, 35(4), 8-9.

Nikolopoulou, K. (2020). Secondary education teachers' perceptions of mobile phone and tablet

use in classrooms: benefits, constraints, and concerns. Journal of Computers in

Education, 7(2), 257-275.

7|Page
 8

Owen, D., & Sanchez, C. (2020). Cell Phones as Instructional Technology in the Civics

Classroom.

Redner, R., & Hirst, J. (2020). Preliminary evaluation of delay discounting and cell phone use in

the college classroom. The Psychological Record, 1-8.

8|Page