Hold the Phone
District leaders are wary of mobile-device use in classrooms.
District leaders are wary of mobile-device use in classrooms.
Last October, the National School Boards Association asked its members and other district leaders who attended the Technology and Learning (T+L) Conference what they perceived to be the greatest barriers to widespread adoption of mobile devices – including smartphones and cell phones – as learning tools. “Fear of classroom disruption” received the most votes from the 207 district officials who responded, with nearly half (47.8 percent) identifying it as a significant barrier.
Respondents weighed in on eight factors in all. The numbers below indicate the percentage of respondents who cited each factor as a barrier to implementation.
| Fear of classroom disruption |
47.8%
|
| Availability and access for all students |
40.6%
|
| Lack of professional development strategies for their use |
36.2%
|
| Camera used in inappropriate manner |
29%
|
| Concern about cheating |
29%
|
| Allowing devices on the district network |
26.1%
|
| Cost |
21.3%
|
| Quality of available educational content |
15.5%
|
