Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Re: cell phones

I think it's important to keep in mind that an educator can have a good =
understanding of the educational uses of cell phones and come to the con=
clusion that a cell phone is not an effective educational tool (given a =
particular set of circumstances). If I disagree with a school's cell ph=
one policy, I shouldn't assume the policy was developed without understa=
nding.

Good discussion!

Doug


----- Original Message -----
From: Thomas Daccord
[mailto:tom@edtechteacher.org]
To: ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Sent: Wed, 18 Feb
2009 17:50:45 -0600
Subject: Re: cell phones


"I have a device that is cheap enough all of your students could have
one of their own that allows free access to the wealth of all human
knowledge, places more information in their pocket than exists in the
entire school library, the ability to communicate with almost anyone,
and the ability to get answers from experts in all areas of study. Do
you want your students to have these devices in your classroom=3F' " =E2=
=80=94
Carl Anderson, Rochester, MN

It's too bad that schools see cell phones as a nuisance and display
little understanding of their educational uses. See some ideas below.
Keep in mind that it's not the tool that's important. It's a spark or
"engagement" via a tool that most students already own, not how to
use, and enjoy.

-I've "mobcasted" with students. I have a description of my "cell
phone unit wrap up" activity, complete with an audio excerpt, at my
EdTechTeacher web site:
http://edtechteacher.org/mobilepodcasting.html

-Record and play student impressions while on a field trip to a museum
or historic site. Try Gcast.com

-Peruse Liz Kolb's presentation called "Cell Phones as Classroom
Learning Tools" k12onlineconference.org/=3Fp=3D152 and read the blog
comments.

-Audio blog. Students dial a number, leave a message, and their
recording is posted into a blog.

-Record an interview, poem, short story, virtual tour as part of a proje=
ct

-Text kids homework and other classroom materials. (Email is, like, so
passe)

-Memorize foreign language vocabulary using flash cards for cell
phones. Try www.studycell.com

-Create mobile phone quizzes in MS Paint:
http://joedale.typepad.com/integrating=5Fict=5Finto=5Fthe=5F/2009/01/cre=
ate-mobile-phone-quizzes-in-ms-paint.html

-Interview local residents as part of a local history project
Tom


On Wed, Feb 18, 2009 at 4:25 PM, Doug Burns <dburns@sasweb.org> wrote:
> Saint Andrew's-Sewanee School is a day/ boarding school (6-12 day and =
9-12
boarding) with 260 students. Cell phones must not be visible and must b=
e
turned off in the academic building during the school day (8:00-3:00).=
=20
Boarders must not use cell phones during study hall or after lights out.=
=20
Those are the rules, anyway :)
>
> Doug Burns
> Director of Faculty
> Residential House Head
> =5F=5F=5F=5F=5F
>

--=20
Tom Daccord -- educational technology trainer, speaker, and author.

Co-Director, EdTechTeacher
Chestnut Hill, MA
tom@edtechteacher.org
http://edtechteacher.org/
http://besthistorysites.net/
c: 617-455-8716

EdTechTeacher.org & Boston University Summer Workshops:
http://edtechteacher.org/workshops.html

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