Cellphone use in the classroom is a difficult topic to address. I think there is a time and place for the use of mobile devices in the classroom. However, it is important that they are used appropriately and not in such a way that they are interfering  with a student’s performance and concentration during instructional periods. If the student is using it in a productive way to support their education, it can be a great tool. For example, in a language classroom, an online resource such as http://wordreference.com is really useful as it can allow students to look up words efficiently without needing to use a dictionary, giving students more time to focus on their learning. Similarly, having an account on http://www.duolingo.com is a great way for students to practice their language skills during work blocks, quiet time, or when they have finished their in class activities and want to continue learning. In the math/physics classroom, having access to a calculator on a cellphone is really convenient, as is being able to look up theorems through online resources to help with a student’s understanding of the concepts/enrich their learning. All of these resources can be easily accessed with a cellphone; I know that when I was a student, I benefited from using my phone during class time to access these programs!

I think that cellphone use can become a problem when students are distracted by the social aspect of it. Social media and text-messaging can become problematic in the classroom when they take away from the students’ focus. While I am sure social media can be used in an educative way, it may also be distracting and have a negative impact on a student’s learning. I think the key note here, as discussed during one of our tech ed classes, is that social media is not necessarily bad; what matters is how we chose to use it!