Cell Phones in the Classroom: Educator’s Perspectives

The most recent data on school policy regarding cell phones reveals 62% of schools have a ban on them in the classroom. This is surprising considering the dearth of empirical evidence to support such a ban. The purpose of this study was to begin to create a body of data on this topic by surveying elementary, middle and high school teachers (N=79) to determine if they 1) think cell phones should be allowed in the classroom, 2) what teachers perceive the barriers to integration to be and 3) what instructional benefits they see in cell phones. An analysis the findings provide some insights into teachers’ shifting viewpoint on this topic. The majority of teachers surveyed support the integration of cell phones into the classroom. They see instructional benefits including increased student engagement and motivation. However, participants still perceive traditional barriers to integration: access and cost.