Comments on: Smile, you’re on a cell phone video

By: Cathy Nelson

Cathy Nelson — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 20:01:49 +0000

So @MrGranito–I suppose after reading @Scott McLeod’s links that if you make sure your classes UNDERSTAND you are recording your classes, then everything is a-okay. I also had another thought. Recording your class would allow you an INSTANT way to ‘catch” up an absent student. Perfect? No–Doable? Yes. Just envision daily uploading your classes to your podcasts and referring students who need make-up work to them. Instant podcast material–no having to sit around and dream up high interest content for a podcast. And BEST, you have a backup of verbal exchanges to reflect on or worst case-scenario–take to administration to seek intervention on issues (Of course I myself would pprobably edit-out unnecessary information if I were doing a podcast, and you could probably get students in class to work on the editing part to save time.) Maybryonline.org (MAybry Middle School in Ga)has teachers who daily post their class activities in podcast format. It really is a good idea now that I have reflected a bit more. Thanks @Scott McLeod for the inspiration here. This should have been a blog post all by itself.

By: Scott McLeod

Scott McLeod — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 18:55:29 +0000

Cathy, I’m not sure you’re correct on the voice recorder issue. Maybe…

See a couple of older posts of mine on classroom cameras:

http://tinyurl.com/2na659

http://tinyurl.com/3ae4cc

By: Cell Phones » Blog Archive » Comment on Smile, your on a cell phone video by Cathy Nelson

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 18:03:09 +0000

[...] blogGadgets.nl wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptWhen the students like the class, the work, and feel it is important, they don’t have a need to use their cellphones for nonsense like this. [...]

By: Cathy Nelson

Cathy Nelson — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 17:10:16 +0000

@MrGranito Give it a day or so–I initially thought mine was not working either. And the voice recorder would not stand up in court b/c you do not have written permission from the parents. But best case scenario, our educators have engaging and relevant work for students and have a classroom atmosphere that the worry of video is moot. In all the examples I have seen, the teachers made very bad choices in their own responses to situations. Too bad it was captured on film and made public. Your best defense to this is engaging, relevant lessons that are meaningful to the students. When the students like the class, the work, and feel the work has purpose and is meaningful, they don’t have a need to use their cellphones for nonsense like this. I don’t think you have anthing to worry about.

By: mrgranito

mrgranito — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 14:59:55 +0000

Cathy,

I’m going to carry a voice recorder in my pocket and record all my classes. Is that legal?

By the way…I love the feedjit in your sidebar. I need one, but I can’t figure it out. The code won’t work in my sidebar.

Granito

By: Heather Loy

Heather Loy — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 02:57:40 +0000

I have to admit that the issue of students using cell phones to photograph or video record anything at school scares me. Not only the fact that our students have no shame in “documenting” inappropriate behavior (be it by students, teachers, or even their own behavior), but that teachers/staff put themselves in the position of being recorded. Our student handbook also states that cell phones must be turned off during the school day and that any infraction (cell phones ringing, students caught using them, even if we SEE them at all) the phones are to be confiscated. I also believe it states (but am not 100% sure) that the phone will only be returned to a PARENT or guardian. In my observation, only if a student is USING a cell phone is it confiscated by the teacher. I believe that if it is visible at all (or the cell phone demeanor of hands in purses for long periods of time, the heads swivels to see whose watching them, etc.) the cell phone (or ipod, cd player, whatever) should be confiscated. As it is, teachers don’t want to make an issue of this as well as other rule violations. I’ve heard more than once “pick your battles” but if you are continually allowing students to break the rules, what’s the point of having rules to begin with? I have to admit I’m as guilty as the next teacher of thinking the bell will be ringing in two minutes, why bother? or I have to tell him EVERY 5 minutes to take his hat off. or being the only one who seems to ask where’s your id?
Student Response: “in my bookbag/locker/pocket”
My reply: “Well, put it on!”
Student Response: “No one else makes me!”
My reply: “Knowone Else isn’t here right now, Ms. Loy is and she is telling you to PUT IT ON!”

Sorry, rambling…. Back to the topic and your questions, should the kids be punished? Yes. Should you tape your instructions or is it legal to record your instructions? I don’t have an answer for you, but I don’t know that I’d want to be constantly recorded myself, even to cover my own interests.

By: CellphoneSavant

CellphoneSavant — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 02:19:03 +0000

Wow! This is crazy. I know that cell phones are to be put away and turned off in our schools, but I know the rules don’t always get followed. I don’t even let my daughter take her cell phone to school at all. Your right in that this technolgy of today can be used for such great things. It is just too bad that so many use it for bad.

By: Cell Phones » Blog Archive » Smile, your on a cell phone video

Cell Phones » Blog Archive » Smile, your on a cell phone video — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:42:08 +0000

[...] Cool Gadget-O-Focus Â» Cool Gadget, Gadgets Talk, Gadgets News wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt More and more we are hearing about it, seeing it on the news, and reading about it in blogs, newspapers, and our professional journals. Students, even very young ones, carry cell phones. And the very newest phones are equipped with many tools, particularly video cameras and internet access, which in my mind is a VERY powerful tool in a child’s hands. I hesitate to say it is a good thing or a bad thing, as channeled properly it can lead to greatness. But when I read material like this, I wor [...]