Liz Kolb (From to Tool: Cell Phones in Learning), who had a tremendous conversation with the Seedlings folks, writes in response to the infamously named Cell Phone Porn blog entry:

I think this is a great post, and could lead to a very long and engaging discussion.

Recently in my hometown, there was a big problem with a 14 year old who took inappropriate pics of herself (very inappropriate) and then they were sent to classmates. While the school has suspended students, I don’t get the impression that they have any interest in “educating” the students on cell phone legalese and appropriate use. I find this very sad, since usually in education educators are the first to say “it’s a teachable moment” and we should teach knowledge where there is ignorance. It is obvious to me that the 14 year old did not understand the public nature and potential outcome of photos on cell phones. If she had been educated, this event may not have occurred. Since it has occurred, I think instead of “stricter” policies (which have not seemed to stop these inappropriate activities from happening), we need more mobile citizenship and education.

Similar to issues of drinking and driving, where sadly it still exists and probably always will. But, we are doing a better job educating young drivers and giving them supports and options (such as safe rides) rather than only creating stricter laws (which I whole-heartily agree with) and banning driving to campus. We do need rules and structures around cell phones (including consequences, which students are currently lacking) but students also need to understand why these rules are in place and how to protect themselves.

As i consider what Liz has to say about mobile citizenship, several school districts I’m familiar with in Texas are crafting and implementing–with all possible speed–administrative procedures for mobile devices. The presence of iPod Touches, iPhones, Blackberries, and a million other mobile devices make it an imperative that we develop rules of the road.

But, not unlike Acceptable Use Policies that restrict rather than support a vision of connected learning, communication and collaboration, mobile device admin procedures may leave a lot to be desired.

Here is a sample mobile device–and although it mentions cell phones, this has to be broadened to mobile devices–admin procedure

DISTRICT CELL PHONES

The District Independent School District provides cell phones to certain staff for administrative purposes. The goal in providing these resources is to facilitate communication for District purposes. With access to District provided cell phones, employees must use the device for District purposes only and limit that usage to what is necessary to do their job. Personal calls made on District cell phones are prohibited. The Chief Information Officer will oversee the District’s cell phone usage. The Director of Network Services or his/her designee shall review the monthly statements for compliance with administrative regulations for cell phones.

Acceptable Use

Use of cell phones can be broadly categorized as acceptable or prohibited:

• Acceptable use of cell phones is legal use consistent with the mission of the District, i.e., use that furthers the district’s mission of learning and teaching.

• Prohibited use is illegal use and all other use that is not acceptable.

Campus/Department Level Responsibilities

Immediate Supervisor or designee is responsible for disseminating, collecting signed permission forms, returning forms to Network Services, and enforcing the proceduer for District Cell Phone Usage at the campus/department level

Individual Level Responsibilities

Cell phones are provided specifically to carry out official District business when other means of communications are not readily available.

The following standards will apply to all users of District provided cell phones:

1. Cell phone users are responsible for all calls made on their respective phones.

2. Cell phones are not to be used when a less costly alternative is readily available, unless as otherwise necessary for safety or emergency circumstances.

3. District cell phones shall not be used for personal calls, except in the event of extreme personal emergency. In the event that a personal call is made, the Network Services must be notified by the phone user in writing of the date and circumstances of the call in question. Phone users will be held liable for non-work related calls.

4. Employee should not give out District cell phone number, except to essential District personnel or others with whom the Employee is required to communicate with in essential District duties.

5. Cell phones are not to be loaned to others.

6. Employees issued a cellular telephone are responsible for its safe keeping at all times. Defective, lost or stolen cell phones are to be reported immediately to Network Services who will in turn notify the service provider. Employees are responsible for the replacement cost of lost or broken phones and are responsible for all call charges made prior to reporting phone lost to Network Services.

7. Cell phones issued for employee use are to be returned to the Network Services at the conclusion of the school year, activity or as otherwise specified.

8. Cell Phone use while driving a school bus is prohibited.

9. Any charges incurred for the convenience of the employee are the responsibility of the employee.

Is mobile citizenship really the province of school districts trying to protect themselves from liability?

Subscribe to Around the Corner-MGuhlin.net