TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION

Mobile devices in the classroom.

MenuI chose 3 articles that explore different uses of technology in the classroom. I have included 3 slides with each article. Two summary slides and a reflection slide per article.

Exploring the uses of mobile phones to support informal learning

The Missing Link in Educational Technology

Twenty Ideas for Using Mobile Phones in the Language Classroom

Exploring the Uses of Mobile Phones to Support Informal

Learning http://www.springerlink.com.proxy2.ulib.iupui.edu/content/j7072

616071n1372/fulltext.html

This article explored the use of mobile phones by a group of female undergraduate students. The focus of the study was to see if these students would use their mobile devices outside of the classroom for informal learning and communication. Participants engaged in a wide range of informal activities such as exchanging data between devices, posting and answering questions to a web forum and posting wiki entries.

Exploring the Uses of Mobile Phones to Support Informal Learning

The students in this study were all part of the same class and used their mobile devices to discuss class issues, but the interactions were mostly phone calls or text messages. The students were not familiar with the more technical aspects of their devices and did not use them for research or to post thought and ideas.

Exploring the Uses of Mobile Phones to Support Informal Learning

I believe that with some instruction and guidance these students could use their mobile devices in a much more useful way. Even though they used their mobile phones for informal learning such as discussion, they could have done much more posting and researching. I think that their instructors could have been more proactive in their learning and held tutorials on how to use the phones more effectively.

The Missing Link in Educational Technology

http://www.techknowlogia.org/TKL_Articles/PDF/435.pdf

The field of e-learning is rapidly developing because of the following four main factors:• Gradual increased availability of higher-speed computernetworks to deliver information and services;• Recognition that teachers need to "work smarter"with constant updating of skills;• Convenient just-in-time education for teachers (often"anytime, anywhere")• Cost-effective alternative to traditional classroom basededucation and training.

The Missing Link in Educational Technology

This article discusses implementing teacher professional development to teach new ways of incorporating technology into the classroom. The article talks about lack of funding for such projects, but more importantly why the training is needed and how it would positively affect technology experiences.

Teachers remain the gatekeepers for students’ access to educational opportunities afforded by technology: they cannot and should not be ignored.

The Missing Link in Educational Technology

I believe that most teachers want to incorporate more technology into their classroom. However, they may need more support and instruction to learn how to use the technology effectively. I think that using technology in the classroom in the form of computers, visual aids, and online research enhances the students educational opportunities and motivates them to be better and more proactive learners. I believe that this article is a great resource for anyone wanting to develop a professional development course for teachers.

Twenty Ideas for Using Mobile Phones in the Language Classroom

Most students are very familiar with mobile phones. This technology can be utilized to benefit learning and to help motivate students. Idea 1: Use the Notes feature to collect

everydaylanguage. Idea 2: Use the Camera feature to take picturesof text. Idea 3: Use free programs to organize languagesamples.

Twenty Ideas for Using Mobile Phones in the Language Classroom

Idea 4: Use the Voice Memo Recorder featureto record language from media outlets. Idea 5: Use the Text Messaging feature forcircular writing.The use of mobile devices in a second language course seems to be used in many different countries. “Research on the use of mobile phones for the delivery of vocabulary materials to English learners in Taiwan shows that students enjoy using their phones because of easy access to materials and the ability to practice anytime and anywhere; in addition, some students like the screen size limitations, which make the amount of content more manageable than that of other teaching materials (Chen, Hsieh, and Kinshuk 2008).”

Twenty Ideas for Using Mobile Phones in the Language Classroom

I really like the idea of using mobile phones in the classroom. I think that using familiar technology would be helpful in all classrooms, but I can definitely see the advantages of utilizing phones in an ELL room. I would think that students would be more likely to communicate using this technology and would be more open to discussion if they could use their phones to record the information first. They could also use their phones for research such as using the dictionary or thesaurus.

Conclusion

I strongly believe that technology should be embraced in education. I saw first hand during my student teaching that technology motivates students to want to learn more and do so more independently. We used a fast math program once a day in the computer lab and the students would be devastated if we ran out of time. We also used the internet to research worms and to write reports. We utilized the smart boards, ELMO, and the overhead on a daily basis. We also participated in distance learning once a week for science. The day would have been so boring without the use of technology.

References

Carlson, S. (2002). The Missing Link in Educational Technology:. Retrieved 2011, from www.TechKnowLogia.org: http://www.techknowlogia.org/TKL_Articles/PDF/435.pdf

Chen, N. S., S. W. Hsieh, and Kinshuk. 2008.Effects of short-term memory and content representation type on mobile language learning.Language Learning and Technology 12 (3):93–113. Ieda M. Santos, N. A. (2011). Exploring the uses of mobile

phones to support informal learning . Education and Information Technologies.

Reinders, H. (2010). Twenty Ideas for Using Mobile Phones in the Language Classroom. English Teaching Forum, 20-25.