Using mobile phones in the classroom

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Using mobile phones in the classroom

• Alasdair Bauld
• PT Modern Languages ICT
• Dornoch Academy

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You must be joking!

• Mobiles to Help Learning? High School in UK says
  OK
• Looks like Notre Dame high school in the UK is
  taking the bull by the horns and moving forward
  with an initiative to allow the use of mobile
  phones for educational purposes during class
  time.
• Assistant headteacher Paul Haigh said mobiles,
  MP3 players and gaming devices were untapped
  resources for teaching and learning.
• We realise as a comprehensive state school we
  could never afford to buy every student all the
  IT and mobile devices we would like them to have.
• He added But most students own many of these
  devices anyway theyre just hidden in their
  schoolbags. Whats more theyre experts in using
  them, knowing all the short cuts and
  characteristics of their own equipment as they
  use it every day.
• Mr Haigh said there was little logic in allowing
  pupils to use a netbook in school while banning
  mobile phones, many of which could access the
  internet, record sound and take digital
  photographs.

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• untapped resources for teaching and learning.
• We realise as a comprehensive state school we
  could never afford to buy every student all the
  IT and mobile devices we would like them to
  have.
• most students own many of these devices anyway
  theyre just hidden in their schoolbags. Whats
  more theyre experts in using them, knowing all
  the short cuts and characteristics of their own
  equipment as they use it every day.

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• What for?
• How?
• Why?
• Problems?
• Hands on!

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What for?

• paired speaking
• solo talks
• trio discussions
• speaking homework
• audio versions of things to be learnt by rote
• science experiment reports for those who have
  difficulty writing?
• audio diary of things learnt?

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How?

• voice recorder
• video camera
• bluetooth
• dictaphones for those without
• time limit
• Rehearse
• Record
• Rename
• Remit

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Why?

• time saved in class
• its free!
• pupils engaged, keen to show their gadgets, often
  keen to show teacher how things work
• ease of marking all on one device
• ease of transfer to school network
• peer and self assessment possibilities (later on
  network or by bluetoothing files to each other
  and comparing on phones)
• files open with Apple Quicktime
• personal record of achievements
• later use for revision
• can be added to pupils blogs, never lost

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Problems/limitations?

• iPhone trouble
• occasional compatibility issues
• sound quality

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Practical example in any language you prefer!!

• discuss in trios
• How did you travel here today?
• Did you have trouble parking?
• How long is it until the Christmas holidays?

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Summary

• What for?
• Any more ideas?
• How?
• Get to know your own mobile!
• Why?
• CfE, collaborative learning, engagement, help
  reduce misuse?

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• Alasdair Bauld
• PT Modern Languages / ICT
• Dornoch Academy
• alasdair.bauld_at_highland.gov.uk
• or through First Class
• Notes on http//mlsupport.edublogs.org