Group items tagged

I really have to smile at this article. I have been begging teachers to take note and "get with the programme", but instead they responded with a call to ban cellphones. Hallooo! It is not going to stop the cheating and as the report state it does not just include cellphones, it includes the internet as well. Shall we also just ban the internet too? I can understand that the students do not view it as cheating, they feel that they are actually being innovative (if not creative) and it is their teachers problem if they are not bringing technology into the equation. I think we should think about the way we assess.... I need to go blog about this.....;-)

I really have to smile at this article. I have been begging teachers to take note and "get with the programme", but instead they responded with a call to ban cellphones. Hallooo! It is not going to stop the cheating and as the report state it does not just include cellphones, it includes the internet as well. Shall we also just ban the internet too? I can understand that the students do not view it as cheating, they feel that they are actually being innovative (if not creative) and it is their teachers problem if they are not bringing technology into the equation. I think we should think about the way we assess.... I need to go blog about this.....or maybe I should just go and plagarise someones post- which will be more fun....????? ;-)

This exploratory study explores girls' use of cellphones in Cape Town, South Africa, with a particular focus on their use of the popular cellphone based instant messaging software, MXit. Through qualitative interviews and focus group discussions with Grade 11 and Grade 12 teenagers, three main themes emerged: 1) the use of MXit in the development of personal relationships via social networking, 2) the use of MXit and the cellphone in the construction of personal identity, and 3) the potential use of MXit for education.

One point to remember is that the risks teens face when using cellphones are not really that different from those faced online or offline. It seems that those children who may be most at risk are those who engage in risky behaviour or are experiencing problems in other areas of their lives. Access to a cellphone simply exacerbates these risks.

Steve uses a great metaphor for why we should not ban cellphones...

Gadget-crazy pupils have a new learning tool - the cellphone. It has become more than a device to communicate with; it has been turned into a learning hub, with maths problems and literature now being made available on the social networking platform MXit.

Slideshare pointing out that we need to rethink cellphones in the classroom

Grade 11 and 12 resources for the maths and science class for cellphones. Cooooooool

The company that operates cellphone chat service MXit has lashed out at journalists for what it calls a "dangerous trend to sensationalise headlines". This follows reports about the disappearance of schoolgirl Nabeela Omar. Does the company have a point?

A local mobile project using cellphones and mxit to get teens to read and write novels.

"A National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) report on norms and standards for school infrastructure has been agreed on, and stipulates, among other things, that all schools have to be fitted with a fixed telephone line, Internet access and must have a cellphone for emergency use, and that all newly built schools must have solar panels."

When you consider the increasingly digital lives of young people -- called "generation text" - you realise how important it is to explore the effect of cellphone texting on learner literacy.

Can we reach our pupils with technology in a way that doesn't wreck our budgets? Is Social Media a teaching tool or a hindrance? Should we ban cellphones in our schools when almost all our pupils use them for communication and learning outside the classroom? Can a research project mean more than a quick Google search? How can we teach digital literacy in ways which are cost-effective, meaningful and budget-friendly? Is a computer lab needed in a 21st century school? What are the pitfalls of using technology in the classroom? Need answers? Join us at EdTechConference 2011!

Maths, Physical Science and Life Sciences revision quizzes directly on your cell phone or PC. Preparation tool for all your tests and exams. Immediate feedback: answers plus reasons for the correct answers. Wide range of exam-level questions. Developed by experienced Maths, Physical Science and Life Sciences educators Complies with National Curriculum Statement. Compliant with current Examination Guidelines

Professor David Crystal is a world renowned linguistic expert and author of 30+ books on the topic. In 31 minutes David dispels five myths surrounding today's wired youth and the impact on language.

Protecting Minors from harmful content via mobile phones

To clear the way for the rest of the discussion, I am aware of the dangers and risks of MXit: addicts - teens and working people - who spend hours a day tap-tapping their phones, paedophiles in chat rooms, the sheer distraction of incoming messages when trying to perform other tasks and so forth. These are real and serious issues that need to be addressed. MXit (the company), child-support organisations, parents and educators have worked hard to minimise the risks, and I think with considerable success.

Dr Math is a maths tutoring service to school learners that uses MXit, the South African mobile instant messenger application. Laurie Butgereit of the CSIR Meraka Institute, Pretoria, presented an update to the project at ICeL titled IM Dr Math: Using Instant Messaging in a Mathematics Tutoring Project.