Teachers and mobile phones in lessons

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Another mum at school mentioned this to me, about the TA's phone apparently getting texts during the Y5 class. I asked my dd and she said oh yes, both the TA and the teacher are on their phones in lessons.

Now, I am not sure about the true extent of their phone use, but it has made me wonder if schools have policies about teachers' phone use in class time, or if there should be.

yes a big no no imo. I work in education.

DD1's teacher (Year 2) has an iPhone. He uses it to control the smartboard. Now dd1 has decided that i Everyfuckingthing is superior to EveryfuckingthingWithoutThe i and wants to know why she has a tablet not an iPad "cos iPads are better" and so on

School staff should not have their mobiles switched on in lessons because they are doing a job unless its a school mobile.

I think its a good idea for a teacher to use an ipad or an iphone to control a smartboard if it improves teaching and learning.

I like using my phone for lessons, but I recognise the risk. If a child gets unsupervised access to a teacher's phone, then who knows what they might find.

I've used my phone to film experiments, then I uploaded it to my class' youtube page so we could watch it again. I think that's a good use of technology, but if I were not tech savy I might end up uploading all my photos and videos etc, which could cause problems.

Sometimes I've answered my phone (I've left the room first) if I have an important call- for example I had very important test results I needed to get from the hospital. But answering texts or calls in front of the children is unprofessional, in my opinion.

Sorry juniper, but you've used a personal mobile device to film children in your class and uploaded it on to Youtube? With all that has been going on recently I think that this is a really bad idea.

I'm a teacher and I find that completely unacceptable. Does your school not have a digital camera? Have you sent out consent forms about putting the children on to Youtube?

All our phones have to be put in our lockers and we can only use them in the staff room. All parent helpers and visitors have to hand their phones in at reception. Emergencies are dealt with via reception switchboard.

If we are expecting an important call then we leave the phone with reception who either answer it or contact us to say it's rung.

I'm a teacher- I would not use my phone during lessons. An emergency would come through on the school number anyway. I keep the ringer off and check it at break times if expecting a text or something.

Yes,probes switched off in class here. If a staff member is expecting an urgent call they give the office no and let the office staff know its urgent, please come and get them.Same if teachers who are parents get calls from their dc's schools

When I worked phones could only be used in the staffroom, we could keep them on our person but I tended to leave mine in the staffroim with my bag.

I have used my phone on airplane mode in class to reflect a particular app that I have access to such as Percy Parker. I have always made it clear to the children that I don't have the ability to get texts or phone calls as it's important they know it's only to add to their learning rather than for me iyswim

Not allowed to have them on here. Have to be away out of reach in classroom cupboard, ideally locked, or kept in a locker near staffroom (limited number). Certainly can use them in class, though can have them at lunch/breaks.

I have been alowed to use it in the past under speciial circumstances - was working alongside a SpLd tracher and we used a certain app they recommended - but that was very special circumstances.

I do know of secondary schools and sixth form where staff and pupils use their phones though - again, for learning purposes, which is monitored.

Our school have recently invested in some iPads now, so in additional to the half class set we have, every class also has an iPad Mini - so they are used increasingly, though again not for personal ue.

Until recently we could use personal cameras to aid teaching and learning - as the school bouht ones were such bad quality. Rules changes though for us. I sold my DSLR to school so can still use it :D We have also bought some new decent cameras and video cameras.
I do sometimes still use my own new slr to - but only for specific reasons and with the agreement of the head. Everything I use it for is known to the HT and others at school. Similarly I use my own laptop at times as the photo and video editing software I have is better than I have at school. Again, all checked and monitored via HT. Laptop is password protected to avoid unauthorised access, in same way it would be if I used a school laptop.

We have been told that we are not allowed to use our own cameras (and that goes for phone cameras too) at school or on school trips for any reason at all.

Same here - shouldn't have phone out at all during lessons, and definitely not taking photos of the children etc on the phone. Having said that, I'm playing the nativity music from my phone via a mini-docking station as it's much more flexible that using the computer (which is already showing the words) and I don't have a CD player. I have occasionally taken photos of work on it when the school camera has flat batteries but I a) upload and delete asap and b) tell the Head. Needless to say, phone is always on silent during the day.

It shouldn't be allowed. My phone is in my bag on silent during lessons although I do go into a class where a senior member of staff is often texting at her desk or at the back of the classroom.

The school should have an acceptable user policy for mobile technologies.
It will lay out all the things staff should and shouldn't be doing.

I'd be very surprised if this included use of personal phones/cameras during lessons.

Most policies say something like "use of personal mobile phones is acceptable during non contact time with the pupils"

To the poster who films pupils on their own phone I wouldn't put myself in that position. If you are required to do this then the school need to provide the appropriate equipment.

No phones allowed out in class in all the schools I've worked in. I've never seen the rule actually written down but it would come under general professional conduct. Its generally locked in my locker.
I've only had my phone out in emergencies and that's pretty rare. Students are sometimes allowed phones out for the same reason - secondary school though.

It's written into policy at our school that mobiles should be in a locked cupboard/room during teaching time, so there would be big trouble if staff were found with theirs.

Juniper - great use of technology but it should be school technology, not your personal phone.

My phone is in my bag, on silent, during lessons (Y1/2 class). If I have time I check it at lunch, but normally it gets forgotten! I would certainly never check it or text on it in front of the children.

To be clear about YouTube- it's a secret, private account. We use it for singing practice (I find songs with the subtitles, and yes I check them first!) No-one can access the videos unless they're logged in, and only I know the password.

It is a risk to use your own phone, and I accept that. Our head is scared that WiFi will give everyone brain cancer so she's not exactly pro technology. The school's cameras are awful and not worth the hassle of finding batteries.

I've had my phone on my desk and its vibrated with texts but I'd never ever touch it to answer it. Usually it's in my locker. If we got found to be on our phones, or looking at them then I'm pretty sure our head would discipline us formally.

We have work mails through to our smart phones and I'm wary of even looking up work mails during the day. Even on ppa time in the teachers work room it's frowned upon to be texting.

I teach teenagers mainly and I don't have my phone on.

With some groups I've done a 'mobile phone break' so half way through the session the entire class (me included) has 5 mins to check phones for e-mail/text and to send text.

BUT

they only get the break if I have not seen a phone until that point, and the moment someone attempts to make a call or take a photo the break ends.