Yarbro Assignment 10
- 1. Future Trends In Education: Mobile Devices By Jeremy Yarbro
- 2. The Mobile Device Trend • Educators using mobile devices in the classroom are still a small percentage, but currently growing. • Mobile devices are being used to access • Educational Apps – Students can learn content through programs and games specifically targeting key concepts. • Micro blogs – Students can check and respond to teacher posts, keeping lines of communication open and fun. • Blogs – Teacher can post key information for the course so students can check on mobile device • Databases – Students can access vast amounts of information in the classroom through their mobile device • Cloud computing – Students have more ability to work together on projects and learning assignments. • Books/Textbooks – Students can read textbooks on a smaller device, so they do not need to carry a large bags of books through school
- 3. Benefits • Mobile devices allow students to learn anytime, anywhere. • Allows more personalized instruction. • Mobile devices are inexpensive for districts compared to other technology like desktop computers • Most students already have a mobile device and know how to use them. • Students enjoy using mobile devices. • They are small and easy to transport. • They allow for easier access to more collaboration and information in the classroom than other forms of technology. • There are already many educational apps available for mobile devices that can help educators teach key concepts in fun ways. • Mobile devices allow access to information and education even in poor areas and developing countries where access to traditional educational tools is limited.
- 4. Challenges • With more access to information and collaboration, increased possibilities for – Student distraction – Cheating – Plagiarism • Many teachers are outright opposed to cell phones in the classroom. • There are a few physical limitations, like small screen size and battery life. • Mobile devices in the classroom are new, so there is no consistent educational philosophy or pedagogy yet. • There are many different makes and models of cell phones and other mobile devices which would make consistency difficult. • Teachers will have to spend more time teaching the technology, which leaves less time for content instruction. • Technology is constantly changing, and the mobile devices we teach today might be outdated tomorrow.
- 5. My Predictions • I believe that mobile devices in the classroom will grow and become the standard technology for education. • They will still need to be used in conjunction with other forms of technology though, like desktop computers in order to address the physical limitations of mobile devices • As they grow in use, specific software and teaching practices will be designed to address cheating and plagiarism. • Although there are already a lot of mobile resources available to teach with, I think that once the education world opening accepts mobile devices, the technology will more rapidly adapt to serve educational needs.
- 6. Supporting Sources • McCaffrey, M. (2011, February 8) Why Mobile is a Must. The Journal. http://thejournal.com/articles/2011/02/08/why-mobile-is-a-must.aspx • Roopanarine, L. (2012, May 30) Mobile phone boom in developing world could boost e-learning. The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/global- development/2012/may/30/mobile-phone-developing-world-elearning • Shuler, C. (2009). Pockets of Potential: Using Mobile Technologies to Promote Children’s Learning, New York: The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop. • Trotter, A. (2009, January 9) Mobile Devices Seen as Key to 21st-Century Learning. EdWeek. http://www.edweek.org/dd/articles/2009/01/09/04mobile.h02.html • West, M. &Vosloo, S. (2012, June 13) Making the Case for Mobile Tech. Expansion. EdWeek. http://www.edweek.org/dd/articles/2012/06/13/03opinion.h05.html