The Use of Cell Phones in the Classroom

Terri Harkeyteresa_harkey@lovejoyisd.net

Puster Elementary LMS(469) 742-8277 w(972) 658-2698 c

Learning @ LovejoyAugust 2, 2010

How are students communicating today?

Teacher's Fears of Integration

76% Students will be distracted62% Not all students have the mobile devices33% Concerned that students will cheat using the devices24% Do not know how to effectively use the devices within instruction23% Need curriculum to support the use of mobile devices

Yet ONLY 13% of teachers dismiss mobile devices as not having a positive impact on learning.

Student's HAVE Cell phone ACCESS:

98% of high school students have a cell phone (31% with mobile Internet)83% of middle school students have a cell phone (25% with mobile Internet)43% of 3rd through 5th graders have a cell phone (15% with mobile Internet)28% of K-2nd graders have a cell phone (12% with mobile Internet)

Potential Benefits of Using Cell Phones in Learning According to PARENTS!

43% Increases student engagement41% Prepares students for world of work38% Extends school day learning37% Provides access to online textbooks35% Improves teacher-parent-student communications32% Students can review class materials31% Personalizes instruction27% Provides way to help struggling students

63% of parents say they would buy their child a cell phone if they knew it would be used for educational purposes

Student's Suggest Ways to Use Cell Phone for Learning:

Look up information on Internet Record or take notes Work on projects with classmates Access digital textbooks Take videos of class presentations or experiments Play educational games Communicate with classmates Receive reminders and alerts Organize schoolwork Communicate with teacher Learn about school activities Access social networks Create and share documents/media Upload assignments and work to portals Coordinate calendars Share/edit bookmarks

Polling students via cell phone

http://www.polleverywhere.com/ provides a free polling service for 30 and under audience size – results are updated live in your web browser or PowerPoint – could be used for quick assessments like CPS units, voting on class elections or collecting data

Twitter

Facebook

Texting Abbreviationshttp://www.webopedia.com/

quick_ref/textmessageabbreviations.asp

Google 466453 - Text message your search question and Google will answer

Weather: enter w plus zip code Enter a fact based question and receive your

answer (example Abe Lincoln’s birthday) Definitions: enter d plus the word Driving directions: your address “to” destination

address Product prices: enter price followed by product

name Translations: t followed by word followed by

language Time: enter “time” followed by city (compare

times around the world) Calculator: text math questions or conversions

(example 80F in C, half cup in a pint

Photo Ideas Scavenger Hunt Oral History Project Kindergarten Scavenger Hunt (alphabet

book) Geometry Digital Story Book Local Landmarks Story Book Vacation Postcards Field Trips Photo Story

YODIO

http://www.yodio.com/Free service to create an audio postcard or narrated photo albumGrab some photos – call to record the story and share with friends by email or on the WebCreate a Yodiocard, Yodiocast or YodiotourYodio = your audio

Text a Novel

Students can individually or collaboratively write a novel using text. http://www.textnovel.com/Textnovel.com allows you to write your own book. The text message gets sent to the web site where your story is logged. The composition can be set to either public or private. It provides an anytime, anywhere writing forum for the students.

Mapping Directions

Take one class outside with a phone and leave one class inside with a phone. Outside class calls or texts inside with their location. Inside class has to use North/South/East/West directions to guide the outside class back to their room. Once inside switch places and try again.

Geocaching

Many cell phones now have GPS units available.http://www.geocaching.com/Geocaching.com provides searches for a high-tech treasure hunting game. Just put in your zip code, push “go” and explore geocaching near you.

CHACHA

Text 242242 or call 1-800-2ChaCha

Leave a voice mail or text a question and you will receive a text answer

Nutrition on the Go

Text 34381 Send a text with the name of the restaurant and the item and you receive a message that includes nutritional information such as calories, carbohydrates, and fat content.

Diet.com offers this service – currently unavailable

K7.net – Unified Messaging http://www.k7.net/ The world's leading web-based unified

messaging system that channels your free voicemail and fax messages directly to your e-mail. K7 Unified Messaging provides you with a free phone number. This number enables you to have your voicemail messages and faxes delivered directly to your computer. You also have the option to view and listen to your messages right here on the K7 Web site.

Classroom Games

Divide into teams – Post question – first to text correct answer wins

Phone a friend – students can text or phone a friend to get help with an answer

Daily Vocabulary Text Text your exit from class

Cool Apps 3D Brain Evernote Napkin Genius Lite BrainPOP Featured Movie ICDL (International Children’s Digital Library) Portable Math Math Snacks Video Pearl Diver Dragon Dictation Geocaching NASA Nike+iPod AppBox Lite Twitter Skype iformula

Cell Phones in the Classroom

21st Century LearnersCell phones are everywhere and kids know how to use them. Let’s leverage the technology and find ways to make our teaching and learning more effective, efficient and exciting!

http://www.cellphonesinlearning.com/