Improving Learning with Mobile Technology
A couple of months ago I was asked to contribute to an eBook about mobile learning and changes in attitudes and technology … “what are the most effective uses of technology in online and mobile education?” Along with 34 leading educators and mobile learning ‘celebrities’ our answers have been included in a new eBook that has the sub-title “Move Over Teachers: The Students Are in Control”.
I find myself listed among friends and colleagues who I look to and respect in the community of learning, including (but not limited to):
- Joyce Seitzinger
- Grainne Conole
- Alec Couros
- Lisa Dawley
- Jackie Gerstein
- Sidneyeve Matrix
- Lisa Nielsen
- Pati Shank
- Shelly Sanches Terrell
- Tony Vincent
Each essay/response has come together, independently, to form a common theme around the advances in technology and how we choose to use it; devices, networks, content, teaching, collaboration, etc.
“Education is at a tipping point. From the rising cost of a college education and the financial pressures upon local districts and state agencies to fund K-12 schools and programs, to the questions of how to employ mobile technologies and leverage social platforms to support the growing trend toward mobile, collaborative learning models, educators face an almost overwhelming set of challenges.”
Here’s what I said – “Plugged In and Turned On: Encouraging Students to Use Facebook, Twitter and Texts to Learn”:
“Look around you: Everyone is connected—on the bus, the train, in front of the TV, with friends, at sport matches, in your classroom. If children are spending more and more time connected online, then it stands to reason that some of this time will be in class. In your class?
“What are you doing about it?
“Don’t complain that students are on Facebook when they should be reading your book. Don’t moan that your students would rather spend time tweeting photos of their breakfast than about your assignment. Don’t despair that group work ends up with everyone playing Angry Birds and comparing scores. Engage these students; give them a reason to use their smart phones or tablets. Use the power of the connection; use the “always-on” mentality. Use their network of connected friends to find out about your class subject. Use their need to tweet or send messages to each other to bring resources or people from outside the classroom in. Give them a reason to use the technology, give them a reason to engage with each other—and you—and the results will be amazing.
“Professor Stephen Heppell says that “every turned-off device is a turned-off child.” Don’t be that teacher.”
You can see the full eBook on SlideShare or in the embedded version below:
Mobile Education – Lessons from 35 Education Experts on
Improving Learning with Mobile Technology
PS. I am not, nor have I been, at Kentucky University. I don’t know where that came from, but everything else in my bio is correct.
good stuff
This is so right! Technology play such an important role in
daily life, it’s crucial that we adapt to that and, rather than complain that
young people are not engaging with traditional learning, find a way to teach them
using technology that they are familiar with and keen to use.
Thanks Lucy. We have the same opportunities with technology as the students, all be it from a different perspective. While we may appreciate teh distraction it offers, they do not have the experience that their teacher does. Who’s wrong and who needs to change? Well, neither – the teacher is trying to encourage learning, structure, network, discipline, etc. while the student is trying to pass, be cool, be liked, be heard .. and technology is this medium for both. This is why teachers need to address students where they live for they will soon be working in this world too and the tech they carry round with them in their pockets will be the normal, expected, and required technology to their job. We need to meet them in their world, using our experiences, and together we can work out how we cna live and work together?
All the best, David
This is a great article! School should be encouraging technology play. It’s time for the traditional teaching and modern technology to blend in all levels of education such as online courses.