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The Great Cell Phone Debate

A Critical Evaluation of Web Sites

There have been several schools throughout the nation that have been discussing changing the ruling of cell phone usage. Some schools are considering allowing students to carry their cell phones all day. This would mean that they would not need to put them into their lockers during the day. What do you think about this decision?

You are going to do some research about the issue and then write a persuasive letter to your principal concerning your thoughts on the matter. Your letter will be based upon information you gather from several websites.

Step 1:

    Take a survey on what your thoughts are before doing any research. You are to go to Cell Phone Usage Survey and answer the questions. 

Step 2:

    Now we are going to evaluate websites. When you are looking at information on the web you need to be aware that anyone can put anything onto the web. You need to look critically at the information you find. You need to be determining if the information is reliable, authentic, and usable. 

    Print "The Big 6 Evaluate Your Website" worksheet or use the one your teacher gives you. Look at the information that you will be looking for when you evaluate a website.

    We will look at one website together to discuss how we need to look at a website critically. Go to this site and read the information. Be ready to discuss it based upon the information on "The Big 6 Evaluate Your Website" worksheet.

            "Facts about The Civil War"

    Now we will look at another website together to discuss how it meets the criteria for evaluation. 

            "Embrace the constructive uses of cell phones in the classroom for learning"

Step 3:

    You will now be working with a group on evaluating a particular website. The topic will be Cell Phone Usage in the Classroom. In your group you should use "The Big 6 Evaluate Your Website" for criteria to evaluate the site. You will look at the website to determine if the information is reliable, authentic, and usable.

        Group 1 - "Cell Phone and Pager Issues"

        Group 2 - "Schools, States Review Cell Phone Bans"

        Group 3 - "High School Limits Cell Phone Use"

        Group 4 - "Should schools ban cell phones"

        Group 5 - "Cell Phones and the Classroom"

    You are to work as a group and discuss the website that has been assigned to you. Each one of you is  responsible for completing their own "The Big 6 Evaluate Your Website". Your answers will be based upon the discussion you have as a group. Be prepared to discuss your evaluation of that particular website. 

    You will presenting your evaluation as a group to the rest of the class. Remember you telling how it is reliable, authentic, and usable. Determine how you will do your presentation. All students must have a part in the presentation.

Step 4:

    You will now be looking at the websites for information to use in a persuasive letter about whether cell phones should or should not be permitted in the classroom. First you need to print the "Two Across Notes" worksheet or use the one your teacher gives to you.  You will be using this worksheet to take notes on your website.

    Read your website on your own. Complete the "Two Across Notes" worksheet with important information from your article to show whether cell phones should or should not be permitted in the classroom. When all in your group have finished reading and taking notes. You will discuss as a group your website. You may add any information to your notes that you feel is important. Be sure that you have enough information to  discuss your article. 

 Step 5:

    Now you are going to report to a group of 5 of your peers. You will  be divided so that you there is one person in each group from each website.  You are to present what information your website gave concerning cell phone usage in the classroom. Be sure to give authenticity and reliability to your information. 

    As you are listening to the presenter be sure to be taking notes. You may need these notes for your persuasive letter. Be sure to cite which website  they are presenting so that you can go back and look for yourself on the web for more information if needed. 

Step 6:

    You will now write a persuasive letter to the principal telling what your position is on cell phone usage in the classroom. Be sure to support it with citation from authorities  and reliable information that you found in your research.

Grading for this assignment will be based upon the following point chart: