Group items tagged

I used to be a massive advocate of using mobile phones in lessons; the ways they could be used are just endless. I had students use them to research topics; find the answers to a question we didn't know, even as voting devices. I used them just rarely enough that students didn't take it as a given and rarely tried to use their phones for uses other than I intended. I even use them to avoid printing off sheet after sheet of homework, instead having students take a picture on their phone (with the added bonus that they can't lose the sheet).

"Layar is a free application on your mobile phone which shows what is around you by displaying real time digital information on top of reality through the camera of your mobile phone. Layar is a global application, available for the Iphone 3GS, T-Mobile G1, HTC Magic and other Android phones in all Android Markets. It also comes pre-installed on the Samsung Galaxy in the Netherlands. How do you use Layar? By holding the phone in front of you like a camera, information is displayed on top of the camera display view. For all points of interest which are displayed on the screen, information is shown at the bottom of the screen. "

Layar may be only operational in a few specific countries? I tried to locate the software from the App Store from Australia but did not succeed.

Thanks, Steve, for the heads up on that.

Teens are really moving a lot of their relationships to cell phones as Danah Boyd said recently on a Wow2 show. This example of teenage habits of sharing photographs on cell phones is an example. Discussions of cell phone use should be a part of what parents and teachers do with kids. This makes me think twice about allowing cell phone cameras on my children's phones, but I'd rather help them be wise in using it.

If you think that cell phones can't improve math scores -- check again - read this report about a pilot where algebra problems were sent to smartphones. (So much for "leaving your homework at school.) "During the 2007-2008 school year, Wireless Reach began funding Project K-Nect, a pilot project in rural North Carolina where high school students received supplemental algebra problem sets on smartphones (the phones were provided by the project). The outcomes are promising -- classes using the smartphones have consistently achieved significantly higher proficiency rates on their end of course exams. So what's so different about delivering problem sets on a cell phone instead of a textbook? The first obvious answer is that the cell phone version is multi-media. The Project K-Nect problem sets begin with a Flash video visually demonstrating the problem -- you could theorize that this context prepares the student to understand the subsequent text-based problem better. You could also theorize that watching a Flash animation is more engaging (or just plain fun) and so more likely to keep students' attention."

Take time to read this PEW research about teachers and how they are using technology in their classrooms. It is shocking that 73% say they or their students use cell phones to complete assignments. I wish they had separated out this number to know exactly how many let their STUDENTS use their cell phones. To me, this number shows the tide has turned.  Some of the highlights of the research: "Mobile technology has become central to the learning process, with 73% of AP and NWP teachers saying that they and/or their students use their cell phones in the classroom or to complete assignments More than four in ten teachers report the use of e-readers (45%) and tablet computers (43%) in their classrooms or to complete assignments 62% say their school does a "good job" supporting teachers' efforts to bring digital tools into the learning process, and 68% say their school provides formal training in this area Teachers of low income students, however, are much less likely than teachers of the highest income students to use tablet computers (37% v. 56%) or e-readers (41% v. 55%) in their classrooms and assignments Similarly, just over half (52%) of teachers of upper and upper-middle income students say their students use cell phones to look up information in class, compared with 35% of teachers of the lowest income students"

The five steps are: * Step One: Teacher Use of Cell Phones for Professional Purposes * Step Two: Teacher Models Appropriate Use for Learning * Step Three: Strengthen the Home-School Connection with Cell Phones * Step Four: Students Use Cell Phones for Homework * Step Five: Students Use Cell Phones for Classwork

By Aaron Smith, Aug 15, 2011 "Overview Mobile phones have become a near-ubiquitous tool for information seeking and communicating--83% of American adults own some kind of cell phone--and these devices have an impact on many aspects of their owners' daily lives. In a nationally representative telephone survey, the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project found that, during the 30 days preceding the interview:..."

I saw this on Fran Drescher's Twitter account from the Cincinnati Business courier and am quite floored by it. Am I the only one who doesn't know this? How about all of the little kids I see where parents are handing them their ipad and smart phones for play purposes. I jusst need to know more but it is based on a study presented at the Pediatric Academic societies meeting in DC. Of course, they recommend hand washing. But pregnant women should be careful - a 10x increase in maternal PBDE's is associated with a 4 point IQ deficit. Of course, we also have the age old question here of causation or correlation.  I do think we need to know more and also if the equipment we're purchasing to use with young children has PBDEs in them.  If you know more, please leave comments. It does say that some manufacturers are voluntarily phasing these out. "Small children should not touch electronic items such as TVs, mobile phones, computers and other products, according to University of Cincinnati researchers. Chemicals found in such items and in many other products, including older carpets and furniture, can cause behavioral and cognition problems, they have found."

Discover ideas for instruction that innovative districts have developed to better leverage the increasing number of laptops, cell phones, MP3 players and smart phones that students carry. This webinar explores the latest findings from Speak Up surveys given to K-12 students, teachers and administrators regarding their views on mobile devices within instruction.

a mobile video platform that lets you record and upload videos with your cell phone.Though the app has been around since 2008 it's now qualifies as an essential download, thanks to a host of new updates, including the addition of auto-focus and a boost to the capture speed to 15 frames per second. Another new feature is the ability to instantly auto-sync with Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and a variety of blogging services.  You can also send video to friends and relatives as a text message, or simply save it to your Qik profile (for safekeeping). In terms of functionality users can now zoom and edit movies on the spot (including altering brightness and adding effects, like the one that allows you to transform subjects into Na'vi from Avatar.) Qik recently teamed up with a global WiFi provider, which means you can keep connected even if you're out of reach of your cell carrier's coverage.And it's available on nearly every major platform (with the exception of Palm WebOS), including Google's Nexus One.

"The topic of Mobile and Ubiquitous is seen today as personal devices that are used for communication purposes and can be taken anywhere. Common examples of these devices are computers and cell phones. "

All you need to play is a sense of adventure, some free time, and any (we mean any) mobile phone on the market! Play via text message, mobile web, or our free iPhone & Android apps! Find an awesome scvngr near you and go!

For people who love to make movies on their cell phones. A lot of educators are participating in this network created by Janet English. They send you a prompt and you upload a video from your cell phone.

How are teens using their cell phones?

Wiki with a variety of websites, articles, slideshares (online powerpoints) and research - all discussing cell phone use in the classroom.

Tools are emerging to move content to student cell phones.

Interested to see this software. Hope to get a copy and see how it works with my students. I have no doubt that moving content to mobile devices is going to be an incredibly useful thing to be able to do in the coming years. Do it now or do it later? How about 1:1 cell phone schools instead of laptops.

LinkBunch lets you put multiple links into one small link which you can share over IM, Twitter, email or even a mobile phone SMS. Learn more about LinkBunch here. Simply put in a list of links in the box below and click 'Bunch' to get your small LinkBunch

LinkBunch lets you put multiple links into one small link which you can share over IM, Twitter, email or even a mobile phone SMS.

keynote speech from ulearn11

How to make custom ringtones for any type of phone.This helpful how-to will get you started. My VIP's have unique ringtones so I know who it is when it rings. I also set up custom vibrations (I use their characteristic knock on a door as I've heard My Mom's special knock all my life.)

Some projects to make games for windows Phones in Visual Basic from Alfred Thompson of Microsoft. (The go to guy for computer science teachers.)