I came across an article that really piqued my interest. There is a program being put in place, called K-Nect, where they supply students with cellphones in order to engage them in the learning process. The examples given in this article references specific Math curriculum. Students are given the opportunity to explain the process of problem solving, which shows their mastery of the subject. This program turns a technology that is already being inundated into society into a learning tool. Classes as young as 5th graders are being used to test this concept in schools with a high rate of low and reduced-rate lunches and so far the effects have been positive.
There are a number of proponents to the project, stating that it’s just cell phone carriers, and suppliers attempting to inject their products into the classroom, but I see it at more as that. Companies want to get there products into student hands in order to familiarize them with their product. They are looking at the long term gains from investing in these projects, and I don’t think it’s a bad idea to allow companies to invest in education. That is a revenue stream that should be tapped in order to get these technologies into classrooms, by willing suppliers.
Parents as well as educational leaders are weary of technology and the growing effect of it on student. They should be aware of the corporate effect on students and should be taught about media tactics, but i don't see why corporate dollars should not be used to advance the education of their future CEO's and Investors.
Source:
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/140/cellphonometry.html
Technology, especially in the form of a mobile phone, can be extremely motivating to students. It sounds like many of the elements of using other technologies like flipcamera/camcorder, instant remote response systems, and laptops can be streamlined and simplified within the phone they are referencing here.
ReplyDeleteI know some critics would say that we shouldn't be subjecting our kids to corporate advertising/favoritism here, but the pay-off, which is a whole bunch of engaged kids, is well worth it. Kids are so comfortable with mobile phones and are able to use them so intuitively, that this really seems like a great match.
I've also read some articles about teachers using smartphones/pdas to perform some of their daily tasks, such as taking running records and recording conference notes. I think teachers could benefit from using mobile technology like this just as much as students. Of course, you'd have to train them how to use it, but it would be great to conference notes and running records so easily accessed and kept track of!
Maybe the "no cell phones in school" rule will be a thing of the past before we know it....