Mobile Learning ’09 is a conference held in Washington, DC this week that focuses on using mobile communications technology in education. Yes, that’s right, this conference revolves around the idea that cell phones not only should be used in schools, but that used properly, cell phones can improve student performance.
Outside of teachers and those of my generation, the use of cell phones in schools was never an issue. Even for me, I never had a cell phone until I had a car, and even then, my parents controlled my plan, and it was paltry – I really could only use the phone for emergencies … and that seemed about right.
I spent some time as an assistant teacher in a public elementary school in NYC, and some of my students had nicer cell phones than I did. I mean, what does a ten year old need with a BlackBerry!? What can he possibly be doing that would add to his educational experience? This is the question that CITA, a cell phone trade group, is trying to answer with research funded by Qualcomm (a cell phone chip maker).
The gist of their argument is this: smartphones can provide a cheap alternative to laptops as mobile learning devices in the classroom. Basically, makers of smartphones want to score a contract with the education system to provide students with handheld computers (smartphones) to help with their studies.
The Qualcomm study gave test 10th grade students smartphones with applications designed to help them with their algebra coupled with a private social networking site that allows them to share tips and solutions with other students in the class. Apparently, students that used the smartphones and social networking scored 25% higher on the end-of-the-year algebra exam than students that didn’t use the smartphones.
That’s all fine and good, but I can hardly think that a smartphone could ever replace computers as learning tools. Laptops can help teachers show students to use the internet for research, to write papers, to teach more than one student at a time, and can even be used for educational games. Sure, they’re more expensive, but wouldn’t it make more sense to have one or a couple roaming laptop (with enough computers for one or two classrooms to use at a time) cart for a school than handing all of the students smartphones? I just can’t see phones not being a distraction for students, especially if the students can use the smartphones as actual phones or for texting.
Potentially my biggest issue with the use of smartphones is the way that text messaging and social network sites are killing writing ability. Internet acronyms, as I call the shortcuts used in texting and instant messenging like lol or omg or ttyl, may well be the downfall of civilization and culture as we know it.
Ok ok, that’s overly dramatic and hyperbolic … maybe. I can’t imagine a smartphone used in a classroom could possibly improve students’ writing skills or help a student research and write a paper. Sure, the students would have incredibly agile thumbs, but is that enough? It seems to me that the cell phone industry is really just promoting the next generation calculator, and that’s something I can get behind: smart calculators that help students solve problems and share solution tips with each other.
But the idea that cell phones could replace computers as learning/teaching devices in classrooms just makes me laugh my ass off, or, if you prefer, LMAO.
No comments:
Post a Comment