Last year during homework time in class I saw a girl who had her cell phone out. I had just finished yelling at another student for texting in class. I walked up to the girl preparing my verbal assault on this disobedient young lady. I started with “WHAT ON EARTH DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?” She smiled at me and said my homework. The whole class was silent waiting for the rest of my tirade. They all knew what was coming. She didn’t even have her book out. Before I speak my next sentence she simply handed me her phone. I looked at the screen. . . She had loaded the online textbook and indeed she was doing her homework. What a great use of technology. She had brought her book home on the first day of class and she left it there in case she ever had questions on her homework. Her cell phone served her as a great educational resource. She could do homework anywhere.
Our school has a strict no cell phone in class policy. . . enforced by a few teachers in the school. I have considered using cell phones to conduct surveys in math class. I had trouble using the PowerPoint option for the questions, so I haven’t taken advantage of that yet. As technology makes things easier in regards to teaching and work, it also makes things easier for negative aspects of life as well. Cyber bullying and sexting are two things that are becoming easier and more widespread. YouTube, Facebook, and cell phones make things easier in so many ways.
One of the main reasons that I am pursuing a Masters in Educational Technology is because I believe that is the way to reach today’s students. I feel that if I present my content to them in their format, they will be more engaged in what I am trying to do. I have made attempts to use iMovie, YouTube, iTunes, PowerPoint, blogs and the Internet to make my content connect with the Millennium Generation. Some of my colleagues have taken advantage of Facebook. I look forward to learning more about technology and safe and effective ways to connect with my students.
I had a "Palm" phone years ago. I upgraded to a "Blackberry" which I never grew to like. I just bought a "Droid X" and am in awe. It is unbelievable what this phone will do! And its all done using google and windows programs, I don't need iTunes or a file on a certain computer to do it!
ReplyDeleteThe simplistic approach I have to the capabilities of my phone pale in comparison to what my kids told me it could do when they saw it. My point? Our children are technologically advanced much further than we could ever imagine. They know it, have used it, and are only limited by their access to it. So therefore, why wouldn't we allow them access if its for a legitimate purpose?
I think the answer lies in the fact that "we" the sandwiched generation between "techno" and "vietnamo" are lost in regulating technology use because we havent had time to catch up to it and understand what to do!
So, an innovative young lady took it upon herself to figure out the best way to become an exemplar student. In the process she "violated policy" to accomplish her intelligent goal. You appreciate her ingenuity and become complicit, allowing her to do it because you understand it totally "makes sense". If many other teachers violate the policy because of similar reasons, what does that say about the policy?
Great job on caring enough to see whats best for your students regardless of what "policy" says. If anyone calls you on it, tell them to read the National Educational Technology Plan, you won't hear from them for decades!