Zhane.

Reynolds
Rhetorical Analysis
English 112-79
Ms. Douglas

Smartphones, No Impact on Classroom Learning

Smartphones, one of Americas greatest inventions; known to be able to perform many

functions of a computer and has the ability to multitask on many applications just like a
computer right in the palm of your hands. It has a huge impact in the world as one of the
best technologies creations ever made. Yes, I must admit the smartphone really is the
best invention of all time and they have been the most transformative, impactful and
positive revolution in the history of marketing period, but can it really have a good
impact in education as far as benefitting classroom learning?

In this following viewpoint we are going to talk about how they are not beneficial and
how they can be in classroom learning. The articles both are from an opposing viewpoint
database written in 2013. Both of them are stating their opinions on smartphones in
classroom learning. One of them agree that they can benefit classroom learning and the
other doesnt agree.

The article Smartphones, Do not benefit classroom learning talks about how this issue
does not help classroom learning. The article was an issue in the Maclean Canadian

weekly magazine, in the issue it explains how smartphones are a mass distraction, and
how it does not improve academic performance because it cannot replace the ability of a
teacher. The reason he says that they are a mass distraction is because they encourage
texting, surfing the web and other activities unrelated to the classroom. To help support
his statement of how they cannot replace teachers he included a study from 2008 in the
academic journal (Computers& Education) and looked at how laptops have affected
classroom behavior. The results showed that students who used laptops in class spent
considerable time multitasking and the laptop they used posed a significant distraction to
the students. In the research he also observed the level of laptop use was negatively
related to educational learning. In conclusion with the research the students with laptops
had lower results than those who did not because they were not paying attention to their
teacher .Therefore, he stated that in knowing this we should expect the same thing from
cell phones. The article also talks about how educational technology revolutions have
been promised throughout the years from television to video to desktop computers to
laptops to smart boards to cell phones but believes that these technologies will change
educational experience for the better but states how there is no evidence technology that
it can really lead to higher marks for students. This article was well written and the author
used factual and credible sources to help support his viewpoint.

The article Smartphones will benefit classroom learning actually has a more
opinionated view than a factual view like the other article. In this article it talks about
how smartphones are an integral to the future of education and learning. Even though
there are some people that dont agree with smartphones benefiting classroom learning

they can agree with him saying that smartphones are a game changer to the classroom.
What he meant by that he is saying that it is a convenient portable and affordable
accessory to the classroom and can perform most tasks and assignments other than the
traditional classroom learning. .He compared it to how adults have to bring their laptops
around with them everywhere but being able to handle the capacity. For kids the
smartphones are small and it also complements their size and makes it easier for them to
carry it around. In the article he also state the problems people have with smartphones in
classroom learning, the problem is the perception. The screens and keyboards on them are
too small, he also states that the other problem with them is that it causes cheating and
disruptions in class in which is reasonably true. In conclusion he still believes
Smartphones make possible everywhere learning, all the time learning (Solloway, 1)

The author that appealed to his audience better was Elliot Solloway from the article
Smartphones do not benefit classroom learning because his viewpoint was better
supported with detailed and factual information. Though I agree with this side of the
issue. The positive article Smartphones, will benefit classroom learning has some very
good points that his audience can agree with because he did state the problems that
people have with smartphones not benefiting the classroom and refuted his argument, But
he backed up those points not well because he supported his viewpoint strongly with
opinions and does not use factual information to support his arguments. From this article
readers can still believe that smartphones do not benefit classroom learning but has it
does have some positives to it that they can agree with.

WORKS CITED
"Smartphones Do Not Benefit Classroom Learning." Smartphones. Ed. Roman Espejo. Detroit:
Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Don't Give Students More Tools of
Mass Distraction." Maclean's (28 Sept. 2010). Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 8 Sept.
2014.

Soloway, Elliot. "Smartphones Will Benefit Classroom Learning." Smartphones. Ed.

Roman Espejo. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Will
Smart Phones Eliminate the Digital Divide?" THE Journal (1 Feb. 2011). Opposing
Viewpoints in Context. Web. 13 Sept. 2014.