Group items tagged

Cell phones and what the japanese government is doing about it.

Japanese government becoming "involved" in the overuse of cell phones by japanese teenagers. This program emphasizes cell phone addiction. 1/3 of japanese 6th graders and cell phones and 2/3rds of 9th graders have them. Interestingly, one panel wants to take texting off the phones? How about using texting iN school? How about letting them define words on it instead of using a dictionary? How about letting them use it in the classroom? Seems kind of like damming up the Mississippi - it may work for a while, but eventually, the dam is going to break. Yes, this is something to talk about and discuss... internet and cell phone addiction is a real issue with many kids I talk to reporting that they literally sleep with it under their pillow. However, just getting rid of texting, I don't think that is a good idea. As with anything in human history, every tool may be used for good or bad.

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

When I saw Jeremy Davis recently, he told me of an educator who uses cell phones in the classroom. In fact, this teacher requires that the cell phone be out and ON the desk. In plain site. Not hidden in a pocket or backpack. So if the student is using it, the teacher KNOWS. And if the student is using it when they shouldn't… Well, that's when there are consequences.

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"

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."

. We could teach appropriate cell phone etiquette, while showing students how to use cell phones as learning tools. I would like to brainstorm some "rules" for including cell phones inside of the school classroom. Here are my top 5 (although I reserve the right to change them as I hear better ideas).

Summarizing complex texts using cell phones increases understanding.

"Discover and explore the micro world of cells with this well design flash resource. Browse interactive diagrams of various types of living cells and try the quiz to test your knowledge."

advice for cell phone users to reduce health hazards associated with cell phone use

View the relative size of living cells with this great interactive zooming resource. http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/Science

The best we can do is teach every sprog circling adolescence how to use both their cell phones and their bodies responsibly as you would with any other tool, such as a car or a chainsaw.

The case for cell phones in school.  Students texted parents for answers to questions...   see what happens.

Welcome to the Virtual Cell Animation Collection! This collection has been developed to introduce students to new concepts. By walking through the still images and movie included for each topic, viewers are in control of choosing the learning style that best fits their needs.

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.

Hmm. So big brother, or little sister, or anyone else, is watching you, tracking your location via your cell phone signal. This development may convince control freaks to allow cell phones in schools.

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.

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

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:..."

Make sure girls don't put their cell phone in their bra (not kidding) and there are many concerns about wifi for kids. We need to consider and review this information -- although there are no long term studies of wifi and kids and nothing linking wifi - there are concerns particularly with RF/EMF exposure. Sleeping with your cell phone or other wireless device is definitely a bad idea. (Hat Tip Diane Ravitch)