Texting 1, 2, 3: Schools Test 'Bring Your Own Technology' Programs | Techland | TIME.com - 1 views
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As protesters took to the streets yesterday to protest the inequality of wealth, two computer scientists in Portland, Oregon are protesting the inequality of resources in schools.
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t Celly, a text-messaging service that teachers and students can use to make classwork more fun and engaging
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Celly is part of a larger national trend in schools known as “Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT),” in which students are allowed to bring their mobile devices to class. Advocates argue that if young people are already glued to them, then teachers and principals should come up with educational uses for them
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“We wanted to make a platform that could be used by all kids, teens, and college students and that cuts across demographics,” Okamoto says. “You don’t just have to have iPads or live in a very wealthy school district.”
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ach school or class can create a group for themselves called a “cell” that users may access straight from their phone, email, or the Internet. They text to personal screen names, and to prevent cyber-bullying or inappropriate conduct, they cannot see each other’s numbers.
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“The shy kids don’t like to talk during regular group discussions, but they’re really active on Celly,” he says.
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“BYOT is pushing costs that should be paid by federal, state, or city governments to the families, like asking them to pay for the amount of bandwidth students need to do their work
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Educational consultant Gary Stager agrees, arguing that BYOT just makes have-nots feel worse. “The rationale for school uniforms, for putting kids in matching plaid polyester, is so poor kids don’t feel bad and aren’t stigmatized in the classroom. BYOT is another form of stigmatizing kids,” he says.
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