According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2015, 73 percent of teens age 13 to 17 have a smartphone. Additionally, 24 percent of those teens reported using the Internet on their cell phones ìalmost constantly,î and 56 percent reported going online several times a day. With teens spending so much time connected to their mobile devices, concerns arise about the effect it has in the classroom.At Falcon School District 49, in Falcon, Colorado, the policy on student use of cell phones and other personal technology devices determines appropriate uses for such devices. The policy states: ìThe Board of Education believes personal technology devices may be useful tools for students in the educational environment and can play a vital role during emergency situations.îPeter Hilts, chief education officer for D 49, said the district is seeing an increase in the use of personal technology devices for medical and emotional support, something that was not possible for past generations. ìThere are multiple students in the district that rely on connectivity for medical monitoring such as glucose monitors or cardiac monitors,î he said. ìThere are other students for whom having access to a parent or other trusted person can help them regulate their behavior.ìWhile we recognize the potential for distraction with connected devices, we are increasingly supportive of the supportive uses of connective devices to help students stay healthy and high-performing.îAndrea Anderson, a third-grade teacher in Colorado Springs School District 11, said she has a student in her class who has difficulty writing because she has weak muscles in her hands. ìHaving access to electronic devices, such as an iPad and a touchscreen monitor, allows her to participate and complete written assignments that would otherwise be difficult,î Anderson said. ìShe is able to type her responses instead of writing them in pencil.îRebecca Sims, a fourth-grade teacher in D 49, said she also has experience with students needing access to a personal technology device, most notably students with diabetes. ìBecause of technology, they can check their blood sugar in the classroom and treat their blood sugar accordingly, which allows for less time missed from the classroom.îThose students are able to participate in more classroom activities, and they also help educate their peers on their health issues, Sims said.Hilts said technological devices have really become the ìnormî so the district strives to address their usage as they would anything else. ìI think there is a normalization of connected devices; and, because it is normalized behavior, we have to manage it with our normal expectations,î he said.Just like dealing with students talking inappropriately in class, the district responds to improper online activity by addressing each situation, Hilts said. The district must deal with the actual behavior and not jump to the conclusion that the device is the problem, he said.ìWe are very intentional at teaching, at all levels of education, digital citizenship and character expectations to being a citizen in a digital age,î he said. ìWe also teach our staff and parents through training opportunities to detect and disrupt behavior that might be happening through social media and on connected devices.îSims said it is clear that technology will continue to be part of everyday activities, which means education needs to keep up with those trends. Students are practicing 21st century learning skills that they will eventually apply to real-world situations, she said.ìWe would be doing a disservice to students if we were not incorporating devices into the classroom,î Sims said.Next month: Effects of excessive cell use and related mental health issues.
