Unconnected Classroom

In this piece he makes some observations about mobile learning in the so-called developing world. Traxler questions whether the dichotomy between 'developed' and 'developing', usually the basis for such thinking, is helpful, and whether mobile phone technologies reinforce, replicate, reduce or merely confuse 'digital divides' between the 'developing' and 'developed'.

Unions keep saying the best people won't go into teaching unless we pay them what doctors and lawyers and CEOs make. Not only are Teach for America salaries significantly lower than what J.P. Morgan might offer, but these individuals go to some very rough classrooms. What's going on? It seems that Teach for America offers smart young people something even better than money - the chance to avoid the vast education bureaucracy. Participants need only pass academic muster and attend the summer training before entering a classroom. If they took the traditional route into teaching, they would have to endure years of "education" courses to be certified. The American Federation of Teachers commonly derides Teach for America as a "band-aid." One of its arguments is that the program only lasts two years, barely enough time, they say, to get a handle on managing a classroom. However, it turns out that two-thirds of its grads stay in the education field, sometimes as teachers, but also as principals or policy makers.

Junior high school teacher Motoko Okubo has used the handheld DS and textbook software since May in weekly sessions focusing on vocabulary, penmanship and audio comprehension. With years of games such as Super Mario on the prohibited list, she says students weren't expecting the Nintendo welcome. "They've been using it at home playing games, so at first they were surprised they can use it at school," Okubo said. Still early in a one-year free trial period, vice principal Junko Tatsumi says results so far have been encouraging in Japan's long struggle with English language education.

I love the idea of using new and fun technologies in the classroom. However, it needs to be balanced with real teaching, and a human touch. I think the best thing teachers can do with technologies such as Nintendo DS is use them to get students using English outside of the classroom. If all the kids have a Nintendo, and enjoy using the technology, what better way could there be to get them studying at home? One of the great dangers presented by technology in the classroom is for teachers to rely on the software to be the teacher. Japanese education is way too textbook reliant as it is. Now the teacher can stand at the front of class and say, do Level 2 and I'll give you a sticker.

"We are moving toward modeling our schools after today's workplaces," Baker said, "where technology is handled in a digital manner. Computers are one of the main tools. But too often there is too much focus on the tool rather than the purpose. It's about giving teachers the tools they need to become better educators."