Exploration of Mobile Learning

This activity challenged me to try many new tools, and even though some of it was frustrating, I enjoyed trying new things. The few things that I really enjoyed were: playing with our iPod/ iPad to find apps that I could use in my class, flip cameras, and the use of Poll Everywhere.

I would really like to incorporate the Poll Everywhere tool into some of my classes. I really think that this is a tool could be a quick check for understanding, but I think that if more teaches used it, it might reduce the problem of inappropriate cell phone use during the school day. If students are given the opportunity to use their cell phones in the classroom it would draw their attention, and maybe, cause them to focus more in class, because they know that they are going to respond to questions using their phones.

One of the challenges that I experienced was, because it was so new to my students, I had a student that thought that it was funny to text the worst possible answer. I think that there will always be one in the group that thinks it is OK to be goofy, but I think that after consistent use this would diminish and they would see that texting could be an educational tool as well.

The other possible challenge could be administrators. I had to ask for permission to do this activity, and had to explain: what I was going to do, what type of information I was going to gather, how it was going to relate to my curriculum, and how I was going to handle students that do not have phones. I think that they were afraid how students might react to something like this, and would I be able to handle some of the students’ reactions. He did come and see how the activity went.

I need try some others in my class as well, and think that others, like flip cameras, could add another level of thinking to my class through reflection, and application of skills. This incorporation would not only challenge my students, but me as well.


This is my Classroom 2.0 Cell Phones in Education post