Cellphones in school:pros and cons

Cellphones have officially invaded the classroom. Schools originally had banned them but due to emergency situations such as Columbine, most bans have been lifted. The negatives of cellphone use in class are relatively obvious. They are distracting to students as they use them to text during class. In addition, texting can be used to cheat on tests, which is the most common complaint for cellphone use in class. They also open up the student body to harassment that can happen both through texts while the teacher is unaware as well as through video and photos which can be quickly distributed through the school population. In fact, due to this, many schools have banned the use of photography and video recordings with phones on school property. the negatives of cellphone use make it difficult to consider the positive uses of cellphones in the classroom. If used effectively, it can even increase student motivation as the students feel as if the are doing something "cool". The camera and video that most modern cellphones are equipped with can be used to create a sort of "video diary" which would be especially useful to document a field trip or to gather data for field research. Many modern cellphones also come equipped with Internet access. this gives students limitless access to answers that they may encounter in learning scenarios. Rather than wait to get home to get computer access, students have the answers easily accessible in their back pockets. Of course, this also holds the possibility for negative outcomes as this free internet access can also allow students to cheat but with the proper direction, students can learn how to use new found technology in honest, constructive ways.

Assistive Technology

Technology is allowing students with special needs to further become integrated in the mainstream classroom. It can assist students who have hearing, speech, and seeing impediments to learn on the same level as students who do not have the same challenges. Text and graphic enhancement software can allow images to be enlarged on the monitor, allowing students with vision impairments to see and follow along with the rest of the class. Text can also be read electronically by a digitized voice synthesizer for students who are blind. For students who are hearing impaired or who have difficulty filtering background noise, some amplification devices can filter extraneous noise from the background. In addition, technology can assist students with poor fine or gross motor skills as well. Students with learning disabilities can be assisted by simple programs such as spell and grammar check to create the illusion that they are as accomplished as their peers in the inclusion environment. This illusion will give them more confidence which will, in turn, lead to higher achievement and involvement in the learning environment. In fact, all of the formerly mentioned technologies that even the playing field for students with disabilities will increase their confidence and therefore prompt them to increase their motivation and achievement rates. These modifications can also increase the special needs students interaction with their peers as their ability to communicate and function on an even plan will increase their relate-ability.

Autism on the rise?

It is no novel fact to those who work with or have children that autism, a developmental disorder that inhibits a child's speech, motor skills and social skills, appears to be on the rise. Recently, the Department of Human and health services released data that suggests that the autism has increased significantly from their last projection. Previously, they believed that the occurrence of children with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) was one in every 150. Now, according to the recent report that appeared ion the American Academy of Pediatrics journal, the occurrence is now estimated to be 1 in every 91 children and as much as 1 in every 58 for boys.
Although these results are rather alarming, there are multiple explanations for the rise. One theory is that awareness and diagnosis of ASD has dramatically increased over the last decade. In the past, a child with high-functioning autism would most likely be regarded as just a little odd, whereas now school staff are better equipped with the tools and knowledge to recognize and diagnose children that may possibly be on the Autism spectrum. In addition, the results were skewed due to the fact that many other disorders have been determined to be included in the spectrum. These include Asperger's Syndrome, and surprisingly, ADD and ADHD as well as other PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified). The final possibility is that ASD is simply over-diagnosed, just as many other behavioral disorders are.