Smartphones in the classroom

Newly this year, it's policy that students may use their mobile devices (smartphones, e-readers, or tablets) in the classroom, for educational purposes of course, at the discretion of the classroom teacher (page 27 of the handbook, STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR - Electronic Devices)

So, for those of you ready to jump in with both feet (or have quietly been anyway) to embrace mobile technology and allow smartphones in your classroom as a viable teaching and learning tool...






Recent Webinars
EdWeb.net has recently run a couple of online webinars on smartphone in the high school classroom.  There is a lot of good information in each of the presentations - classroom management advice, applications, how to incorporate into lesson plans.  You can also view the archived webinar recording, each runs approx 1 hour.

Smartphones in the classroom - Part 1 (6/17/14)

presentation slides         webinar recording

Smartphones in the classroom - Part 2 (8/26/14)

presentation slides         webinar recording

Interestingly, NPR recently featured a piece on their education blog about teachers' favorite apps and most were mobile apps mentioned in these presentations.

In some respects, a smartphone is a very small PC and you can do most of the functions you would do on a PC (despite the obvious size impracticality).  The most effective uses: Search, View content (such a a document or presentation slide), and Limited response.

Search
Apple and Andriod phones have a free Google Search app which makes it easy and fast to search for a fact, image, or a reference

View

Put a SMARTboard on every student's lap with internet access and a standard web browser.  Students can use their phone to access a presentation you've shared on Google Drive and because Google Drive is dynamic - meaning changes show up immediately in all views - the students see what you're doing, like moving an object, adding text, etc.



Limited Response

Extended typing on a phone or tablet can be a bit tedious and slow.  But responding to a few simple multiple choice questions, or one word open response questions is quick and easy.  Google forms, polling apps like those featured in the presentations, or a class-wide shared document can be an easy way to foster dialog and open commentary.

Here are a few more resources with ideas, examples from other teachers, and descriptions of useful applications.

From Edutopia:
          how to use texting as a teaching tool
          mobile apps for high schools
          mobile learning resource roundup

From KQED Mind/Shift:
           How teachers make smartphones work in the classroom