Mobile+Learning+for+Elementary+Students



In Summary...The assignment said to list "issues that mobile technology will create for schools," but we found many more positive ways it could improve schools! We also had a few more questions regarding issues that the text(s) did not directly state; however, being teachers, we still wonder and would like to know how some of these new ideas work! In Quillen's article, he stated that Scidmore's opinion was that the use of mobile devices was "a behavioral problem - not a technology problem." (page 34). This is exactly what we found! It seems that the problems with implementing mobile devices in schools, whether it is cell phones, laptops, iPods, etc., are things such as cheating on tests, texting classmates (whether inappropriate or not), or accessing other sites at inappropriate times (also inappropriate or not). These are all behavioral and if students are trained properly could be kept to a minimum. Other issues included the amount of Professional Development needed for teachers (Bonk, 315), and the hassle that some might view it as, regarding keeping up on the ever-changing technology (Bonk, 304). This just sounds like EVERYBODY (the Board, Prinicpals, and teachers) needs to jump on the band-wagon and be team players in the best interest of our students! After all, "Schools policies banning these devices will be laughable in ten years if not less." (Bonk, 300). With so many wonderful ideas already out there to better educate our students and so many more possible, our opinion is nicely stated in a quote from Quillen's article:﻿"As with the increasing capabilities and prevalence of mobile devices, the growing demand for K-12 students to be comfortable learning online and the skrinking technology budgets of districts coping with the aftermath of the Great Recession, allowing students to use their own mobile device is making more sense to people." (Quillen, 30)

Let's make our students "more responsible" by "teaching them to use these devices the right way!" (Quillen, 34-35) media type="youtube" key="c3_yZPTjul8" height="331" width="479"

Ways Mobile Learning is Being Used in Elementary Schools Electronic Flashcards http://www.flashcardmachine.com/ An Elementary School Using Mobile Learning http://www.comalisd.org/mobile_learning/index.html

Teachers use this app on iPod Touches to teach vocabulary http://plasq.com/products/comictouch

Its Real!!! The Mobile Learning Institute: media type="youtube" key="PsOQEUmYUIs" height="326" width="455"

A New Way to Read with the Nook Color by Barnes and Noble media type="youtube" key="xYISbpO_I6A" height="248" width="451" A cool blog created by a teacher showcasing and linking to technology projects she does with Elementary Students [] Great idea for budget Issues - use college students to help with technology! Especially in elementary school []

Explanation of an Issue... The Issue: Students may cheat, send messages, or visit other sites not related to the assignment.

<span style="background-color: #ff9a00; color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%; text-align: left;">The Solution: Before implementing mobile technology into classrooms, ALL teachers must first teach the rules and conduct in which the devices will be used. If students are introduced to these technologies at a young age, it will become second nature by the time they are at the secondary level. Student should be closely monitored while mobile learning is taking place and if the student breaks one of the rules its simple... back to the old way with their trusty old pencil. Who would want to go back to that after utilizing this new fun way?! The rules must be the same for all students involved, as well as the consequences for breaking the rules. Information nights to educate the parents on technology that is being used in the classrooms is vital so that the parents can continue the same rules and guidelines for using technology, if available, at home. Technology in our schools is coming whether we're ready or not, so let's prepare ourselves and our students the right way!

<span style="background-color: #ff9a00; color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Created by Alyson, Angie, and Katie

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">﻿Comments:

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Let's make our students "more responsible" by "teaching them to use these devices the right way!" (Quillen, 34-35) - I love this quote and think it is so true! I also really enjoyed the video about students using smart phones to collect data. Even the students felt it was a fun and efficient use of smart phones. Plus, with an activity such as that one, you will know if students are not using the phone correctly because you wouldn't get the right number of responses. It's amazing to see how many ways cell phones and technology in general are already being used in the classroom, especially at the elementary level! Great Wiki! :) - Stacy

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Mobile Learning Institute is great. I love the idea of using phones to capture data and videos on field trips. I'm sure that some would want to argue that this is a technology only for older students but your Wiki provides clear examples for how mobile technology can be used in the elementary grades. Several of our local schools are using iPods with younger students because they have the benefit of being mobile without having Internet access. Dr. Royer

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I completely agree that by starting kids with mobile technology in the elementary schools, and teaching acceptable behavior and etiquette from the very beginning, kids in secondary school will already be accustomed to acceptable behaviors. Therefore, when they middle or high school, they will be more inclined to follow the rules. Right now, at the high school level we are fighting the use of cell phones (personal use) in the classroom. I would love to see the difference in behavior if my <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">students had been taught proper behaviors at a much earlier age. Kim L.

<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">I enjoyed your wiki and it was quite cute with the colors and videos. I also really agree with your point about making rules for using the mobile technologies. It is easy to speed on the information highway and as this class has shown us, that isn't always the smartest, or safest way to navigate (especially for elem students). Also liked how you mentioned PD for teachers on how to use the devices. Even being close to the digital natives in age, I still struggle with some of these newer technologies. It will take some time and money to make the transition to mobile technologies. Good wiki! - Sam k

<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">While cheating isn't currently an issue in my classroom, I'm not sure it would become one with the use of technology. I think with the students that I have this school year, they are clueless when it comes to cheating. Now next years students, I'm not going to put it past them. If the use of mobile technology was included in my school I believe that it, the cheating, would have to be a whole new lesson to be included. I love the Flashcard Machine!! I'm going to share that with my school especially since we are always looking for new way to use technology in the school! - Meredith

<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">I loved the video from the Mobile Learning Institute. The students were so excited, engaged, and had such enthusiasm for their learning task. They got so much more out of that field trip because of the technology project they were working on. The teachers were also excited and I like how they called themselves facilitators instead of teachers. I just recently went on a field trip last week and it would have been great if my students were able to have done this project. Instead I had to tell them that they should not have brought their cell phones and to leave them on the bus. These are third graders, they have the technology and I wish we could take advantage of it. Great Wiki, again I love the video. - Ileta R.

<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">I love the bit about the digital flashcards. I have seen this used in Higher Ed for things like the GMAT and the GRE as well. I think you touched on an important point...it is important to model the use for students. As elementary education professionals it is important to start students on the right track, and although it may be a challenge to stay up to date on the technology, incorporating it into educational assignments will only better prepare students for the future. <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">-Brian

<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Great Wiki.I completely agree with the point that students need to be taught to use the devices the right way. In their elementary years they are so attentive to learning new things so what better time to teach J <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I thoroughly enjoyed the video on the Mobile Learning Institute. Even now I still find that I pay more attention to things on screens that on paper, I can just imagine how enjoyable it is for kids. As with any good thing there is some bad and the bad in this instance is the issue of cheating. It’s a sad reality but we have to admit that dishonesty is a human affliction and although it may be easier to cheat with the technology, cheating was around long before computers. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Kerra H