Smartphones

Effects of Smartphones in Students

 What is a Smartphone?

  

Different Smartphones

      A smartphone is a handheld personal computer with a mobile operating system and an integrated mobile broadband cellular network connection for voice, SMS, and Internet data communication. A typical smartphone has a high-resolution touch screen display, WiFi connectivity, Web browsing capabilities, and the ability to accept sophisticated applications. The majority of these devices run on any of these popular mobile operating systems: Android, Symbian, iOS, BlackBerry OS and Windows Mobile. Smartphones are also one of the device that is commonly used by students to make their life easier and gain information for their studies.

Here are some few uses of Smartphones in school;

• Research: Using smartphones for on-the-fly research during class is a start. But a good next step is having students gather pertinent information and then learn ways to analyze the validity of their sources.
• Facebook: Setting up a dedicated group where teachers post assignments and due dates is a good first step in using this app with students. Then they can move on to share news feeds or track hashtags on a particular topic as a class project to examine and discuss contrasting viewpoints. And tracking government Facebook pages, including those of our incoming announcements of our president, can be used for a variety of current event and research purposes.
• Social media: The social media landscape is dynamic, and students will regularly embrace new apps. So teachers should examine the instructional and communication possibilities of these apps and consider their potential to engage students and to augment learning in new ways.   
• Text messaging: In addition to posting class assignments on a website or tweeting them, teachers can also simply send an assignment text message to their students. “Remember, history quiz this Friday!” is an easy reminder, and one students are unlikely to miss.  
• Calendars: Helping students set up and use a calendar app on their phones is a good lesson in time management for their class assignments and test preparations.
• Discussion forums: Rather than going on the open Internet, there are many resources available for teachers to set up their own online class discussion forums. This is a great way to develop students’ skills in writing for an audience, and presenting and defending their opinions. And it also gives new opportunities for students to be heard, particularly those who are less likely to participate in classroom discussions.
• Student response systems: Clicker systems became popular in schools as a way to quickly gather student input — perhaps at the end of class to determine students’ levels of understanding on a particular topic, or as a way to conduct class opinion polls. With a free or inexpensive online tool like Poll Everywhere, students’ phones can easily be used to replace expensive school-owned clickers.  
• Photos and videos: The photo and video capabilities of smartphones should not be overlooked. Class assignments can be augmented in interesting ways by encouraging students to add photos or video content to their work, and then posting it to a class repository on such sites as Vimeo or YouTube. It’s also important to train students to use video editing tools so their photo or video content is scripted, arranged and aesthetically interesting.
• Audio recording: The voice memo app on smartphones is another tool that can be leveraged in classrooms. Students may want to use it to record lectures or to flesh out their assignments by adding in audio elements. And doing in oral history assignment with a smartphone is another possible use. But again, teaching students to edit their, audio work, just as they do their written assignments, is also important.

Advantages of using Smartphone in class

Students using Smartphones for their studies

• Students learn in a way they are comfortable. There is a widespread use of smartphones by younger children. More and more students know how to use them and they are becoming the most used 'tool' by children. 
• Students are able to get answers quickly. Smartphones provide the ability to get answers quickly. A student may not ask for clarification to a question he or she has in an open classroom hence the use of a smartphone in a classroom setting can provide those answers. 
• Audio and video can bring learning to life within the classroom.  The audio and video capabilities of smartphones can bring learning to life within the classroom. This can be done through video images, music and voice. In addition, students can even be allow to connect with other students from around the world, hence expanding their learning world.  
• The use of the smartphones allows for social learning. Smartphones can allow students to work in groups on projects, sharing information and discoveries. Therefore, the students can move toward a common goal, in a format they are comfortable using. 
• Cell phones make students connected. With mobile phones, parents will be less worried since they can easily check on their children, and students can easily call for their parents in times of emergency.
• Cell phones encourage collaborative learning. Students can share notes and reminders faster and easier with mobile devices.
• Cell phones can be used as memory aids. Students can document their lessons by taking pictures and/or videos to enhance retention. With smart phones, learning can also be more interactive and fun.
•  Cell phones can be used as paper and pencil. Students can use their phones for taking down notes and even for saving reminders.

Disadvantages of using Smartphones in class

A students using Smartphone during class

• Cell phones cause distraction. Students can easily be distracted when their phones ring or vibrate, and the learning process will be totally disrupted when the students start to send and read messages or make and receive calls. Moreover, with the advent of smart phones, it is now easy for students to access the internet and play or shop online.
•  Cell phones can be used in cheating. Text messaging is the new note passing. Students can exchange text messages with test answers on them without the teacher’s knowing.
• Cell phones can be used in bullying. Students can take a video or a picture of their teachers and/or classmates that can be dehumanizing.
• Cell phones can be detrimental to school safety. Cell phones can cause chaos during bomb and other threats because of the parents’ rushing to the school.
• Cell phones can be health hazards. Constant exposure to the radiation emitted by mobile phones may be bad for the students.