California students use camera phones to send photos of test answers

It's well known that students for years have used SMS to send each other answers to tests. Now, students are using camera phones to photograph their test papers -- with the answers filled in -- and transmitting them to other students.

An article by Suzanne Pardington in the Contra Costa Times (the link does not seem to work --
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/8026550.htm -- notes, "Jan Burten, a math teacher at College Park High in Pleasant Hill, was shocked when a student showed her a cell-phone picture of a test question from another class last fall. The student who sent the picture was asking for the answer to be sent back in a picture. Since then, she's heard of other similar incidents."

In the article, "The cheat e-sheet," Pardington reports that California lawmakers last year passed a law permitting students to carry cellular phones in school. The five high schools in the Acalanes district of California intend to post signs in locker rooms banning cellular phones.

How about trying to keep up?!

Here's a rather telling and sad admission from Jan Burten, a math teacher at a Pleasant Hill, Calif. high school, "The kids are much brighter than we are with computers and technology. There's no way we can keep up with them."

Well, my advice to Ms. Burten is to learn about technology instead of bemoaning her incompetence. Perhaps schools should hold regular seminars entitled, "How to be at least as bright as your students" -- taught by students provide technology tutorials.

I also would suggest that teachers consider incorporating camera phones into school projects, although I realize most students still don't have camera phones.

Ask for donations

Perhaps cellular operators, handset vendors or alumni might be interested in donating camera phones and airtime. It's good PR, especially to help counter efforts to ban camera phones.

Also, a teacher wouldn't have to give camera phones to all students all the time. Rotating the use of camera phones among groups of students is an option.

There could be many group projects throughout the semester -- projects that would be useful and also teach responsible use of camera phones -- something cellular operators and handset vendors seem unwilling to do.

"Your old world is rapidly ageing..."

Hey teachers -- students are bringing technology into your classrooms whether you like it or not. Learn to use it to further education or fall further behind your students.

Comments

[Shane Conder]

I completely agree with this. Certainly not everyone keeps up with or likes technology. Of all people though, it seems to me that teachers are some of the most critical people to keep up with technology.

How are teachers supposed to be able to prepare students for the "real world" when the students know more about the real world than they do? Don't get me wrong; I'm all for learning fundamentals, as well. But there is a place for learning practical stuff. But if teachers don't learn new technology, it's clear it becomes a "problem" in schools rather than a solution or teaching aid.

Cell phones, in general, are tools that people should know how to use and know what they can do with them. Calculators were banned in schools for the longest time before math teachers started training students on how to use them to be able to progress farther and faster in math education. History does tend to repeat itself...