Exploring Cellphones as Learning Tools
Posted by: Dean Shareski in Classrooms, change, mobilelearningI had the great privilege of being invited to spend some time in a learning experiment in one of the local schools that I work with. The principal, let’s call him Gord (that’s actually his real name) emailed me about some interesting idea he and his grade 8/9 teacher had. The class was studying the novel The Wave. The book is about an experiment itself so it seemed perfect to their teacher, Carla to try out an experiment of their own.
So I popped in for a visit and here’s what I found:
- Engagement. As Carla and Gord pointed out, the cellphone novelty will soon pass, the engagement was with the ideas and sharing. Students were not really dazzled by their phones, they simply used them to share ideas, pictures, sounds and videos. The real engagement was with each other and the story. The cellphones were almost seamless.
- Responsibility. Clearly posted on the wall were a set of guidelines developed by the students and their teacher on how to use this tool wisely. Discussions of etiquette, manners, privacy and safety led them to their common understandings. While we know that kids will mess up, placing them in a position to determine the rules and understand their responsibility will go a long way. It’s called ownership.
- Innovation and Problem Solving. Students discovered their phones were also organizers, voice recorders, and multimedia creators. They discovered bluetooth was a great way to share files, they created concise summaries of their group discussions using voice memos or videos.
- Teacher as a Learner. Carla says she still can’t “T9” like her students, but she’s learning. She wants to understand for herself, how this can be used in learning. She texts her students in the morning to remind them of homework and they actually respond. That in itself is one positive outcome already.
- Reflective Practice. My discussion with Carla and Gord clearly indicate they aren’t sure of the role of these devices in learning but certainly can’t dismiss them as many have. Interestingly enough, the school has signs posted everywhere stating cellphones, mp3’s have to be in lockers at all times. Gord laughs as he realizes he’s circumventing his own rules! He also realizes that this presents a challenge for his entire staff as they consider what this might mean. He doesn’t know yet but believes in the process of watching kids learn and determine what is best for them.
Not every student has a cellphone by the way. About two thirds have one so it’s not about every kid having it but about using the tools they come to school with. Those that don’t are using other tools like mp3’s and the web and Carla and Gord are looking at ways to support that as well. But these issues aren’t going to stop them from looking at this from a pedagogical perspective. They also get that today it’s a cell phone and tomorrow it’s something else. The question they seek is, “Can this powerful device help students learn?” So far so good. PS. Video to come soon.
Technorati Tags: cellphones, prairiesouth, mobilelearning, thewave
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February 5th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
[...] Dean Shareski blogged a case study for the use of mobile phones in school teaching, with some good insights into the proportion of grade 8/9 children with cellphones at school, how they used their cellphones, and how learners without cellphones were considered. [...]
February 5th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Using unsecured devices? The horror! Actually,,,, very awesome. Great picture too. BTW, this is also an awesome book to work with kids of this age. A beautiful combination and I’m interested to see how it all works out. Congratulations to the teacher and the school.
February 6th, 2008 at 3:43 am
[...] Dean Shareski riporta un case study sul suo blog sull’utilizzo dei telefonini nella didattica, in particolare con ragazzini di scuola elementare e media offrendo alcuni spunti interessanti sule modalità di uso dei telefonini a quell’età e sulla considerazione che essi anno dei compagni di classe che per un motivo o per un altro di cellulare sono sprovvisti. [...]
February 6th, 2008 at 8:20 am
That’s a very interesting article. Our company did a project in Ireland last year using mobile phones for language learning. You might be interested in having a look at it. http://www.learnosity.com/go/client-ncca-ireland
Regards,
Gavin
February 6th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Dean
Fantastic post! I like the take-away that the cell phone is just a tool to learn…but what is great is that the students are finally able to see the cell phone as a tool rather than just a social toy. Hopefully they can use it as a life-long learning tool in their everyday lives. Bravo!
February 6th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
That’s it! I am moving to Canada!
I will keep doing my part to get us there though! I guess that means I can’t move just yet. LOL
This is great. I wish we (meaning where I live) were even somewhere near this type of learning and engagement but were are not.
February 7th, 2008 at 2:40 am
[...] posted a great little bit on the use of cellphones the other day and I have say that I agree with [...]
February 7th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
[...] Original post by cogdog [...]
February 7th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
[...] weiterer Bericht über den Einsatz von Mobiltelefonen im Unterricht. Auch hier kommt zum Ausdruck: Students were [...]
February 10th, 2008 at 5:50 am
[...] deanmiezianko wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptAs Carla and Gord pointed out, the cellphone novelty will soon pass, the engagement was with the ideas and sharing. Students were not really dazzled by their phones, they simply used them to share ideas, pictures, sounds and videos. … [...]
February 10th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
I liked your comment about how students will eventually move on from cell phones. I remember when it looked like MSN would always be the biggest thing out there, but it got bumped over for cell phone text messaging. It’s just a matter of time, because technology moves so fast.
February 11th, 2008 at 12:24 am
[...] Cell Phones Can be Great Learning Tools Posted in February 10th, 2008 by Willis Whitlock in edtech, gadgets, school, teaching Dean Shareski is an edtech guy in Canada. He shares his experience with a principal and teacher in a 8/9 class using cell phones in class. I had the great privilege of being invited to spend some time in a learning experiment in one of the local schools that I work with. The principal, let’s call him Gord (that’s actually his real name) emailed me about some interesting idea he and his grade 8/9 teacher had. The class was studying the novel The Wave. The book is about an experiment itself so it seemed perfect to their teacher, Carla to try out an experiment of their own. more [...]
February 11th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
[...] theme « Exploring Cellphones as Learning Tools Feb 11 [...]
February 15th, 2008 at 2:46 am
I enjoyed the book The Wave, I remember reading it in grade 10. It had a huge impact on me because I saw how people can catch onto ideas and concepts so easily and quickly. I think by doing this experiment with cell phones, Carla’s students will catch on quickly and easily to incorporating them into the class. I hope it goes well.
February 15th, 2008 at 7:48 am
[...] the article, Texting 101 caught my eye. Dean Shareski of Prairie South School Division has been blogging about this school’s innovative use of cell phones and today it made the front page of the [...]
February 23rd, 2008 at 9:09 am
[...] Dean Shareski shares some of his discoveries in Exploring Cellphones as Learning Tools. [...]
February 25th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Hey Dean, great experiment! I am a Learning Technologist in Horizon SD and find that almost anything can be a great learning tool, but it is always only as good as the context in which it is used. In other words, the teacher needs to structure the activity such that students can make the leap from using their cell phone as a social tool to using it as a learning tool. Once that structural framework is in place, they can fill it in with understanding. Looks like Carla and Gord did a great job of this. Way to go!
February 25th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
[...] Mobile Phone Info . net wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptHey Dean, great experiment! [...]
February 26th, 2008 at 11:20 am
[...] CellTalkz.com: Cell Phone Reviews wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt[…] Mobile Phone Info . net wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptHey Dean, great experiment! […] [...]
March 8th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
[...] Ideas and Thoughts from an EdTech » Blog Archive » Exploring Cellphones as Learning Tools (tags: cellphones as Learning Tools ideas thoughts blog dean shareski) [...]
March 27th, 2008 at 7:37 am
[...] while ago, Dean Shareski wrote an intersting post about using cellphones as learning tools with an accompanying video, describing an experiment with mobile phones to see “Can this [...]
March 27th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Very interesting study. I’m carry out a study with my students in a secondary school in Portugal. We use cellphones and Tablet PC in a pedagogical perspective, in curriculum program and autonomous activities of general culture and write expression.
http://geramovel.googlepages.com
April 10th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Dean, I left you an audio, requesting an interview. Actually I’m editor in chief at GSMmania, a bi-monthly Brazilian magazine. I also own a blog http://nomadismocelular.wordpress.com and I would like to invite you to record our interview about your experience with cellphones as learning tools. We could do the interview using Second Life or Skype: my login is zilveti. If you’re able to attend the appointment, we could arrange it for Friday, 11th, at 9 p.m. (-3GMT). Tell me about your schedule.
Best regards,
Mary Jo Zilveti
zilveti@gmail.com
http://nomadismocelular.wordpress.com