Thing #13: Attending a 21st Century Conference
I found
Download, presented by Liz Kolb of the University of Michigan to be quite informative. I have been wondering over the past few years, and as my own children (13 years old) have come into the cell phone “age”, why we BAN cell phones completely in our school. I knew there were acceptable learning applications but didn’t realize their scope.
The video conference was worthwhile in getting me thinking about how I could use what Liz suggested in my own personal classroom. As Kolb states, “The cell phone is one of the most engaging tools for next generation’s student.” As educators, perhaps it’s important to view the mobile phone as a partner rather than a villain.
One personal application I’d be interested in sharing is using the cell phone to conduct an interview. I currently have my students interview someone who was old enough to “experience” the 1950’s/1960’s Civil Rights Movement. They must record their interview by handwriting it or typing it, and then must turn it in. Typically, I’m the only one who sees it unless the students share out loud. If I had them record their interviews on their cell phones, save them and then post to a class Wiki or Blog, the interviews would be more accessible to all. No special equipment would be needed either. I only wonder about the time constraints involved. I will have to explore that further.
As a 6th grade teacher, I have students who are just beginning to beg their parents for the teen “toy” all others have. One of the only downsides of using the mobile phones in my classroom at this level is having to field the parent phone calls I’ll receive when kids come home and say, “Ms. Jacobson told me I need a cell phone for English class. Can you buy one tomorrow??”
