Teachers’ Views on the Use of Mobile Phones in Schools

Year 2021, Volume: 9 Issue: 18, 575 - 597, 21.12.2021

Turgay Alakurt , Burcu Yılmaz

https://doi.org/10.18009/jcer.901358

Cited By: 3

Abstract

Mobile phones are the most popular and widely used mobile devices in the world. Besides providing users with different communication facilities (SMS messages, voice or video calls, social media etc.), they can also be used as a powerful tool for teaching and learning. Despite this popularity and widespread, the use of mobile phones in schools is the most controversial issue in Turkey, as well as all over the world. This study was aimed to determine the views of ICT teachers on students’ use of mobile phone in schools. The survey research was used in this study. Data were collected from 424 teachers working at secondary schools, high schools and vocational/technical high schools in Turkey. The results of the research revealed that mobile phones have become an indispensable tool for teachers to both access information and communicate in their professional and personal lives. On the other hand, it was determined that ICT teachers lean towards bans or restrictions on the use of mobile phones by students at school due to pedagogical concerns. We also found that teachers have different views about whether mobile phones are a need for students or not, although mobile phones are an important means for communication and gaining information in their lives. The results of the research showed that education and guidance activities for effective use of mobile phones are not carried out in most of the schools.

Keywords

mobile phone, ban, school, Turkey

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