Cell Phones in the Classroom

"Jenny! Jenny! Give me that cell phone and you can pick it up from the principals office." Don't be a Fool use Phones with Web Tools in School.



As teachers, we are going to have to deal with smart phones more and more. Why not use this teaching tool within the classroom setting from time to time. Students are so enthralled with their cell phones. So much so, some can't sleep. @EDTECHHULK suggested facetiously to send students homework after midnight, which engages students after hours. Joking aside, with all that is expected from education, we need to extend learning to the home-front.

The following video is an overview of a smartphone project being implemented within the D.C. area.

Phones in School

• Text students assignments
• Text students blog posts
• Text students flashcards or other learning tools
• Use text language as a writing genre
• Poll Everywhere (There is a free version and a pay-monthly version, which range from $15/month to $1400/month.)
• Titan Pad (Maybe you can get students to discuss the quality of a story through text messaging.)
• QikPad
• Webinars with Buzzumi
• Free Screen Sharing
• Provide video opportunities with Google Hangouts, Facetime, or AnyMeeting. Check out this article about group video chat.

Other Web Tools

• 50+ Tools for School by Cool Cat Teacher
• Wordle
• Blogger

Conclusion

First of all, teach your students about the danger of texting while driving. I don't want to see a death caused by texting an assignment. Aside from that, the media and politicians would have a field day with this. We know how much they love us already.

If creative enough, we, teachers, can engage students in learning with an addictive tech-tool. Of course, not everyone can afford these phones, but a grant (written to the phone companies) could offer a solution to this problem.



What else can we do to incorporate phones within school? This is a free tool provided to us by our students' parents. Why not try to use them within school?

Digital Citizenship

Digital Citizenship

Just as there is a need to teach students to use deodorant, appropriate language on the playground, and silent zone procedures in the hallways, teachers have to develop expectations for netiquette. Basically, we, as teachers, need to promote positive digital citizenship. This should be completed at a young age.

Ultimately, teachers and parents can prevent inappropriate issues from occurring all too often, and even save a life. But first, the conversation needs to be started and school policies need to be put into place. Just like in a face-to-face classroom, students need behavioral procedures for working with digital media. Check out the follow links to start thinking about how to teach Digital Citizenship. 

1. Digital Etiquette with Tim and Moby
• Activities
2. Cyberbullying
3. Thinkfinity Digital Citizens Video
4. 9 Elements of Digital Citizenship
5. CF Children
6. LG Phones in School

Overall, the conversation needs to be started with students.  This is a fairly new form of communication, and it should be incorporated within the curriculm.  To foster engaging and age appropriate conversations, teachers need to incorporate preventive lessons on Digital Citizenship.  However, I bet we will be implementing lessons as a result of unwanted behaviors. 

What else is out there? Help add to the conversation.

30 Day Challenge: Day 16 - Little Bird Tales

30 Day Challenge: Day 16 - Little Bird Tales: Your Assignment: Go through the Prezi above to learn about today's tool. Little Bird Tales is just one of many digital storytelling tools...

Learn It In 5 - Classroom Blogging

Learn It In 5 - Classroom Blogging

Personal Learning Networking for Educators

Who has time anymore? I don't. With Web 2.0 technologies, 21^st Century learners need to develop an on-the-go learning network. Information transmission is instantaneous, plentiful, and free. But, locating professionally reliable information that is relevant to your professional interests can become overwhelming. Personal Learning Networks (PLNs) have created a fast and effective way for the acquisition of knowledge and new information. Check out Tim Wilhelmus provides a web binder with more details about PLNs.  In addition, Leslie Fisher also provides decent information on PLNs through a PDF file of hers.  Then, there are Richard Byrne's slideshows on starting a PLN.  There is also a newer post that I wrote after being taken on a journey with my PLN.  I could keep going because there are infinite possibilities with a PLN. 



Don't worry.  PLN's don't have to cost anything. To get started, sign into all of the most popular social networking sites available.  However, be more selective about who you"friend."  Keep it professional. Here is a list of the different sites recommended for starting your own PLN:

1. Facebook
2. Twitter
3. Linkedin
4. Google+
5. Diigo
6. Blogger (good examples below)
• EdVibes
• Cool Cat Teacher
• 100 Best Educator Blogs
7. Paper.il
8. AddThis
9. Skype
10. YouTube
    

As usual, this is not an exhaustive list, but a starting point to at least entertain the idea of connecting to professional information.  If you are looking for certain information, sign up for Google Alerts.  These "alerts" will send you an email help on pertinent information of personal interest.

I really enjoyed what the "iCats" did within their school system.  To promote social learning, Evansville, IN teachers were provided a 30-Day Challenge to learn about Web 2.0 tools.  From this, the winner receives an iPad 2.  Of course, the iPad 2 is only for Evansville teachers, but it is easy to follow along.  It started on October 17, 2011.

Without a well connected PLN, this challenge would have gone unnoticed, and unless I continue to develop my network more professionally relevant websites will slip by unnoticed. So, connect with your own PLN and advance your personal knowledge to the best of your PLN’s ability.  This slideshow will give you a few tips on starting your connections today.

Constructing a PLN

View more presentations from Richard Byrne

Facebook may be a sore subject for some districts.  Facebook for Educators  organization may be able to provide useful information for you.  Here is a helpful guide for using Facebook.


Teacher's Guide to Using Facebook (Read Fullscreen)