Hailey Burgess

MOBILE DEVICES IN
SCHOOL: USEFUL TOOL
OR DISTRACTION?

THESIS
Mobile devices are a valuable tool to
use for educational purposes and their
use should be accepted in all schools.

ARGUMENTS

There are millions of educational Apps available, for

little or no cost at all that can be used on mobile
devices.
Mobile devices are multifunctional which saves time
and money.
Mobile devices are portable and can access the
internet anywhere.

COUNTERARGUMENTS

Mobile devices can be used as

a distraction. For example:
Games
Music
Social Media

Mobile devices can be used

between students to cheat on
exams and assignments.

DATA
Are Cell Phones in the Classroom a Useful Tool or a Distraction?

Useful Tool
Distraction

43%
57%

Based on a survey of 30 teachers at the High School

CONCLUSION

Mobile devices are a valuable tool to use for educational purposes. The
use of mobile technology for educational purposes is ideal for people of
all ages. Its size and durability is practical for children.
Mobile devices also have financial advantages over other types of
technology used within a school district. Mobile devices are cheaper to
replace and are more difficult to damage, they are cheaper to maintain,
and can function with a more affordable internet connection.
An additional educational benefit of a mobile device is its ability to
wirelessly connect to the internet virtually anywhere. Mobile devices
have the capabilities to connect either to wifi or cellular data. This aspect
of the mobile device allows students to do research outside or inside
regardless of whether or not the district is providing the students with
wifi. Portability is a valuable feature to possess in an educational tool.
The final quality that makes a mobile device an incomparable learning
instrument is its numerous capabilities. There are thousands of
applications that can run off of one device many of which are
educational or can be used to benefit both students and teachers.
For those reasons the use of mobile devices should be accepted in all
schools.

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