These are the results of a study about teachers' perceptions about the benefits and barriers to using cell phones in the K-12 classroom.

1. Cell Phones in the
Classroom:
Teachers’
Perspectives
Dr. Kevin M. Thomas
SITE, 2012
Austin, TX

2. Research Questions
• Do teachers support the integration of cell phones
Research Questions into the classroom?
• If so, what classroom benefits do cell phones
provide?
• If not, what barriers do you perceive to allowing cell
phones in the classroom?

3. Attendees
101 K-12 teachers at the Imagining the Future of
Learning (IFL) conference held annually at Bellarmine
University in Louisville, KY.
Participated
79 (78%) participated in the study by completing the
Participants
cell phone survey
Gender
53 (67.1%) female and 26 (32.9%) male
Grade Level
30 (38%) elementary
19 (24.1%) middle
30 (38%) school
Teaching Experience
16 (20.3%) had 1-5 years’ experience,
16 (20.3%) had 6-10 years’ experience and
47 (59.5) had 11+ years’ experience teaching.
All of the participants worked at schools with policies
against the use of cell phones in the classroom.

4. What was gathered?
Basic demographic information
Beliefs regarding the appropriateness of cell phones in
the classroom
Perceived benefits and barriers
Development
Potential barriers, benefits, and uses were identified in
the review of literature on cell phones in education.
Survey
All survey data was coded as categorical.
Cronbach’s alpha
For the survey items was  = .73 suggesting that the
survey is reliable because items have relatively high
internal consistency.

5. Data Analysis
Differences between teacher responses on cell phone
use in the classroom based on gender, grade level, and
years of experience, and if so, whether the differences
were statistically significant.
• Frequencies
Data Analysis
• Pearson Chi-squares
• Cross tabulations
• Pearson Chi-squares
• Kruskal-Wallis
Data were reported as frequencies, cross tabulations,
Pearson Chi-squares, and Kruskal-Wallis Chi-squares.

6. Questions 1: Do teachers support the use of cell
phones in the classroom?
69.6% = Yes
The Pearson Chi-square showed that the frequency
pattern was statistically significant, X2 = 13.13, df = 1, p
< .05.
The cross tabulation showed that the association
Findings
between gender and support use of cell phones in the
classroom are not the same. Females support the use
(74.5%) of cell phones over males (25.5%).

7. Questions 2: What barriers to Cell Phone Use Do
Teachers Perceive?
Barrier # of Teachers % of Teachers Pearson
Chi-square
Lack of Access/Cost 48 60.8 3.66
Findings
Class Disruptions 40 50.6 .01
Sexting 20 25 19.25*
Cyberbullying 27 34.2 7.91*
Cheating 30 38 4.57*
Negative impact of texting on students’ 20 25.3 19.25*
writing
Students accessing inappropriate content on 37 46.8 .32
the Internet

8. Questions 3: What benefits to cell phone use do
teachers see?
70% (n=56) are already using cell phones for
school/class related work.
How Teachers are Using their Cell # of Teachers % of Teachers Pearson Chi-
Phones square
Findings
To collaborate with other teachers 25 30.4 12.17*
To plan, do research for class 13 16.5 35.56*
assignments
To remind myself, colleagues or 22 27.8 15.51*
students of deadlines, tasks
To assign or collect student work 6 7.6 56.82*
To record student work, grades 3 3.8 67.46*
To communicate with colleagues, 28 35.4 6.70
students, parents

9. Questions 3: What benefits to cell phone use do
teachers see?
Instructional Benefits # of Teachers % of Pearson
Teachers Chi-
square
Increase student engagement 46 58.2 2.14
Increase student motivation 20 25.3 19.25*
Facilitative student creativity 1 1.3 75.05*
Findings
Increase student/teacher 2 2.5 71.20*
productivity
Reduce the digital divide for 2 2.5 71.20*
students who may not have
computers at home
Increase collaboration 1 1.3 75.05*
Increase communication 0 0
Develop digital fluency 2 2.5 71.20*
Provide anywhere/anytime learning 4 5.1 63.81*
opportunities
Provide opportunities for 0 0

10. Questions