Charise Arter
Module 3
Unit 5
Activity 1
Using Mobiles in the Classroom
Teachers should become more open to using mobiles in the classroom. As time goes, the future is getting more technological and there is an increasing need for being able to use that technology to get on with daily life. There are multiple ways to incorporate mobile technology in a fun and engaging way without detracting from the educational lesson. The use of a mobile can add the interactive element in a lesson and make it more memorable for the students.
Guidelines:
- Make sure you have a plan for the mobile device that incorporates the material.
- Make sure there are alternatives available, in case someone is not able to access the mobile device.
- Practice with the students to make sure they understand all instructions.
- Follow school rules and regulations with the use for mobile devices. Makes sure you have permission first.
- Make sure the parents/guardians (depending on student age) permission. Some parents do not want their children using too much technology.
- Limit it enough that thhe students are able to think for themselves and not depend on mobile devices.
One such technology available are QR Codes. They can be used for vocabulary or scavenger hunts designed to make the student use what they learned in the classroom in an applicable way. This can be used with large classes as well as small. It can facilitate teamwork and having to work together to accomplish a goal.
Another one is the various Educational Mobile games (made by the teacher/or otherwise) widely available. These games can be played anywhere as long as the student has an internet connection and their mobile. There are ways to make it into an actual app, so all the students would need to do was download it in order to play. If it is made by the teacher it is tailored to the abilities of the students and the lesson material they have previously learned. This is a great way to have the students study for upcoming tests or quizzes. It is also a great way to assess a student's knowledge on a subject with the game and it sends the results to the teacher when they have finished. There are multiple apps and websites online that are able to do this.
While all this is well and good, it should also be limited. The students shouldn't expect that their mobile can solve everything in their lives that is difficult. They should be able to think for themselves and think of their mobile as just a tool to help sometimes. The teacher would have to think of a way for the students us their brains and imagination to think of a solution to a problem and use their phone only as a tool to help them.
In my experience, I have used mobile devices to enhance their learning with real situations like There following and giving directions. Other teachers, that teach university age students, use mobile devices to make the students practice speaking, in order for them to become more confident and practice speaking naturally. The is a multitude of ways to use mobile devices safely and effectively within the classroom.
As technology is becoming more prevalent in the world, the teacher has to be more open minded and realize the old ways of teaching are not going to work anymore. Being open and willing to try and learn new things to help students learn is the role of the teacher.
