The RCPS school board voted 4-1 to accept the proposed cellphone policy for a one semester trial run starting in the fall of 2012. The concept received a lot of attention, discussion and research by stakeholders and included a robust discussion on Facebook provided by one of the board members.
Here are some of the comments in italics made by this blog's author on the topic:
The thread posted last week on this topic was informative, full of discussion and had several informative comments by me as I was on the committee that studied this issue for months. Stakeholders had comments and issues raised that were good discussion also during that thread. The committee provided a public page for comments by our division computer supervisor, interviewed students, teachers, administrators, parents and digital specialists within the division.
No unanimous consensus was reached and most likely will never be reached on this topic... understood. Advancing technology will always be uncomfortable for some, will always involve the digital divide(haves vs have nots) but in the larger picture over time enhances education and communication.
Our digitally connected society is now a fact of life. The genie cannot be stuffed back in the bottle. There is always a downside of free and open communication and access just as there is a downside of oppressive or undue control and manipulation by those in charge.
After studying and researching this HEAVILY for the last several years, I'm convinced it's the right path to take by putting the learners in a position to access more data in their own way. This gives them the opportunity to gain responsibility, learn the ethical use of devices and take possession of their own learning(the goal of modern education).
Most teachers are optimists. We believe students can learn, can adapt and will make the most of a situation. I'm appreciative of the comments from optimistic parents who get it and are willing to express their views publicly.
and another with questions raised in red
"If they can google it, what then is the role of a human instructor? Pardon my old-fashioned ways"
TODAYS media centric classroom promotes the students taking possession of their learning... the OLD model of teacher "pushing" all the data to the student is no longer effective! Students today are interested and willing to take their learning to the next level... personal learning. Teachers today are facilitators of learning. Any time a student goes after the knowledge, is interactive with the lesson, the lesson is better learned. The student takes possession of the process... Self actualization has ALWAYS been the best way to learn something.
