The Cell Phone as a Teaching Tool
October 1, 2008 – 5:37 pm by BrendanIn my experience a permissive school today is a school that lets their students keep cell phones in their lockers. Here though we have a school that not only seems to allow their students to have cell phones on their person they are allowing them to use them in the classroom.From the inspiration of Darren Draper who seems to think these mini internet machines can actually be used in a positive way in the classroom.
Watch the almost 8 minute video and you will find that cell phones are only one tiny bit of the technology that is being under used in our classrooms today. There are also podcasts, blogs, wikis, GPS, and so much more.
Don’t get me wrong there is a lot of learning that can be done from books. I myself love to sit back and read a good book. On the other hand most people prefer to learn by doing.
3 Responses to “The Cell Phone as a Teaching Tool”
I do think that cell phones and iPods can be used in a positive way in the classroom.
That said, an important aspect of any teacher’s job is to know what is taking place in the classroom. I think with proper rules put into place, a balance can be found in the use of such devices that are often easily mistaken as distractions.
By Darren Draper on Oct 2, 2008
I agree. I’m not sure that cell phones belong in the classroom, as many rules and policing would be involved. I definitely see some technological benefits, as some phones are like mini computers, but I think that the distractions would out-weigh the benefits.
By Kim on Oct 2, 2008
I think it is impossible to keep phones out of the class. They are too small and too easy to use.
I once had a student who sent 90 messages in the span of 110 minutes (and received just as many) while she was suppose to be reading. If she was required to keep the phone on the desk instead of hiding it in her pocket she wouldn’t have been able to do that. If phones were allowed it wouldn’t have been a thrill (as it was in this case) to send messages during class.
On the other hand I own two cells phones (one for the wife and one for me) that are both more powerful than my first computer (cheaper too that computer cost me $2000 and I built it myself). Those phones connect to the internet faster, and have better graphics than many of my old computers.
Schools, communication, possibly even our basic understanding of literacy are changing.
Did you know the latest version of Global Scholar allows students to take tests on their cell phones? (I just learned this today) I knew it was coming, but I didn’t know it was coming so soon. Can anyone say pop quiz by text message?
This is getting way too long someone write a blog post about all of this stuff.
By Brendan on Oct 2, 2008