The GoodWhen schools allow phones, many positives can happen. Optimally, teachers would use them as a learning device. They could be used as clickers for a quick check during class, students can take photos of their notes, access Google Classroom and Docs, do research, flip through Quizlet flashcards, and more. The possibilities are endless! This is a good opportunity for schools not at 1:1 implementation. From the parent side of this debate, phones can be used in case of an emergency. They can be used if you need to get in touch with your child (though, the office phone works well for this), for a child walking home from school, and can be silenced to keep away the distraction. The BadAlong with the good uses of phones in schools, there are some downsides. Students can use phones to take video/photos of classmates and teachers and use them negatively online. They can be used to text, access social media, and cause distractions throughout the day. Data plans can go over because of using 3G or 4G instead of WiFi. Parents contacting children without calling the office can cut the office out of the loop on knowing where kids go at the end of the day. It is important for the school to know where students are going at the end of the day. Also, cell phones being at school always face the danger of being stolen. The VerdictThere are three outcomes:
It is up to schools how they decide to approach BYOT (bring your own technology) or BYOD (bring your own device). I think it is inevitable that they are going to be used in schools, so having a policy in place is very important. What are your thoughts on having phones in the classroom?
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With all the talk of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) floating around the world right now, I thought this would be a good chance to talk about WHY this has taken off in the world of education. With many students having access to a device of some sort, there has been a lot of chatter about Flipped or Blended Classrooms, as well. I am going to focus on Blended Classrooms because that is more what I'm seeing here at Hallsville. A Day in a Blended Classroom What would a day in a blended classroom look like? There are variations on this, but one way that students would be able to do this learning is that they would come in and there would be rotations. One of the rotations would be a computer station where the students watch their teacher on a computer, give the lecture. They would also be able to use their device in some instances. Now, this does not mean the teacher is not there, teaching. Wait for it, and I will talk about it! The other students are working in other stations. Some of them may be working on past work, getting caught up on lessons they needed more assistance with, working in a cooperative group, or they may be learning through an educational activity tied to the content they are learning. When the students move into their second rotation, those at the computers come to the teacher. They are now able to get the work time in a small group setting that they need. If they want, they can go back to the computer station and watch the lecture again or access another video on the topic. The teacher is also able to help because there is typically a very small amount of students in this learning group (4-6, in an average classroom). Helpful to All Most students don't struggle with listening to the lecture, they struggle with applying the skills afterwards. As a student that struggled with math and had parents that struggled to help me, this would have been a welcome learning experience for me! Anything that gets the teacher teaching in a way that supports the students, is a great way to spend their time. They can differentiate, making work more challenging or less challenging. This actually allows a teacher to be able to connect with all students in the classroom. They are going to see each child as they go through the application of the content. Teachers are able to create their lessons through a video, meaning they can personalize it for the classroom. This is key in the way that blended learning works. It is not a video teaching a child. It is the teacher getting to teach and then work in a small group solidifying the learning with all students. Benefits to Students Who can this benefit? Elementary students, middle school students, high school students...all of them! Yes, even elementary. The video below will showcase this. Parents, you can benefit because you would have access to these lectures. This is an instant help at home. Also, if your child is sick at home, they can still get to the lectures and see the lessons. Then they are prepared to talk to the teacher about struggles/triumphs when they come back to school! Wow, pretty awesome stuff, in my opinion.
Take a look at the video below. It is a great explanation of how this works! Please comment with any questions or comments and I would be happy to connect with you on them. |
AuthorA teacher turned techie with an obsession with Google, teachers that love learning, and students that love life! Archives
May 2016
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