Here are my some ways you can get started in using cell phones for learning at school, in environments where they are allowed, or away from school for global collaboration. For example, gather opinions, ideas, and brainstorm with other classrooms, with the community, and with the world with the ease of a free poll allowing participants to text in their reply with Poll Everywhere. Create slide shows to share and collaborate with other schools for virtual field trips using only cell phones with Flickr, give your students a global audience by having them create a pod cast using their phone and iPadio, or gain collective intelligence on a topic of importance by participating in topic chats, sharing twitter feeds, and connecting students to global experts with Twitter. Whether cell phones are allowed or banned, using these tools with students in the classroom or for homework will empower them to take their learning global, with the use of the device in their pockets.
1) Poll Everywhere
Poll Everywhere provides a terrific way to capture the thoughts and ideas of every student. Simply set up a multiple choice or free response poll, give students the code, and have them text in their answers like they do on shows like American Idol.
- Read more about using Poll Everywhere for learning here.
2) Flickr
Flickr is a great way to quickly and easily create slideshows. This is fun to do with a new class. In an instant you can create a class slideshow by asking everyone to take their picture and place their name in the subject and something they want the class to know about them in the body, then email it to Flickr. You could also have students use Flickr to turn their writing into a slideshow picture book.
3) iPadio
Use iPadio to make a quick and simple podcast right from your phone. No fancy equipment required. You could have students turn their reports, projects, or poetry into oral presentations to be shared with a global audience, right from their phone.
- Read more about using iPadio for learning here.
4) Twitter
You can Tweet right from your phone and set up the updates to feed directly into your website, wiki, or blog. Some teachers do this to showcase what is taking place in their classrooms. Some principals do this to celebrate student success and update the school on topics of importance. It instantly shows up on their website. Here's an example http://www.kurthahnschool.org.
- Read more about using Twitter for learning here.
Websites / URLs Associated with Your Session:
https://sites.google.com/site/teachinggenerationtext/home
http://teachinggenerationtext.blogspot.com/
http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/
www.willynwebb.com
http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1118076877,descCd-buy.html
http://www.coloradomesa.edu/online/gentext.html
Replies