ARTICLE:Will giving greater student access to smartphones improve learning?

[Ryan Goble]

Will giving greater student access to smartphones improve learning?

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Walking the hallways between classes at Fern Creek High School in Louisville, Kentucky, I dodge students whose heads are turned down to glowing screens. Earbuds and brightly colored headphones are everywhere. And when I peer into classrooms, I see students tuning out their peers and teachers and focusing instead on YouTube and social media.

These are issues I deal with as an English teacher at Fern Creek. I have guidelines for cellphone and smartphone use, but it’s a constant struggle to keep kids engaged in lessons and off their phones. Even when I know I’ve created a well-structured and well-paced lesson plan, it seems as if no topic, debate or activity will ever trump the allure of the phone.

I’m not alone in feeling frustrated at Fern Creek, where many teachers are stumped about how to deal with student cellphone and smartphone use.

Read on @ http://bit.ly/1TexJ0I