Letters: Cellphones in the classroom

Adding cellphones to classrooms is a flawed idea ["From textbooks to texting" News, Oct. 17]. Teachers and administrators have reported that cellphones are a major distraction in classrooms. Additionally, a 2009 Stanford University study found that multi-tasking with digital devices adversely affects what is retained and understood, and that cellphones contribute to students' already compromised attention spans.

The Newsday article presents some hopes, at best, for greater learning by having a cellular telephones. But the "students like cellphones" rationale is the epitome of unscientific reasoning.

When student are permitted to bring cellphones to class, 1) they will call and text their friends, surf the Internet and play games; 2) once permitted, cellphones will be impossible to remove.

No mention or thought has been given to how to train teachers to teach with cellphones. No administrators or college professors have coursework designed to this end. Is this a good time to budget for cellular workshops in every school on Long Island?

Richard Eisman, Mount Sinai
 

In support of classroom texting, there are methods that could be adopted to optimize this teaching tool. For example, a classroom could be equipped with modified mobile devices limiting the phones' function to the particular classroom lessons, while including students who do not possess mobile devices.

This may even open the door for designing specific lesson apps, or applications, by tech-savvy teachers, information technology support or even students themselves.

Tom Olivieri, Smithtown

Editor's note: The writer is a retired high school graphics and Web design instructor.