Technology in Learning

“Cell Phones as Classroom Learning Tools”

By Liz Kolb, an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Madonna University in Michigan
Blog: http://toytotool.blogspot.com

Wow!  Where do I begin?  Liz Kolb’s presentation is on how we can turn cell phones into a “knowledge construction tool” and not just a “social toy”.  This presentation is full of good ideas, many we do with other tools but she suggests using the cell phone as the tool.  Here’s a summary of the presentation with my thoughts but I suggest listening to her entire presentation. 

Since cell phones are one of the most engaging tools for this and the next generation of students, we should show them ways it can be helpful in school and their professional lives; and not just send the message that it is distracting or a cheating tool.  Many Web2.0 resources can be used on cell phones to create mobile learning opportunities.

Kolb first looks at using cell phones for podcasting, mobile notes and conferencing.  Below is a slide from her presentation which lists ideas for using cell podcasting in the classroom.

She lists many Web2.0 tools (Gabcast, Gcast, Hipcast, Evoca, FreeConferencePro, TalkShoe, PrivatePhone, Jangl, Jott, BrainCast, Mindjot) which can be used for these projects and steps us through using Gabcast, FreeConferencePro, PrivatePhone and Jott.  She also shared some sites with examples of classroom projects using audio from cell phones.  Many of these ideas work just fine with a land-line phone so teachers can try these projects and not worry about whether their student has access to a cell phone.  I am immediately going to share PrivatePhone with staff for communicating with parents.  Teachers can get a free, private phone number that they can give parents (without giving out their personal home or cell number).  Parents can call and leave messages.  Staff can check these messages from any computer.  I  think a debate with a class from another school using a phone conference would really excite the students.

Next, Kolb looks at using cell phones as cameras and camcorders. Students can use cell phones as data collection tools.   She suggests sending digital images from the cell phone to Web2.0 tools (Blogger, Flickr, Bubbleshare, Eyespot, Jumpcut, YouTube) to create photo blogs, slideshows, and movies.  She gives detail instructions on how to send a picture to Blogger without an account and how to find the email address to send pictures from your cell to your Bubbleshare account.  This has application at every grade level.  I can see first graders, with parent help and support, using this.  Students could take pictures of signs of the seasons and send them to Bubbleshare where the teacher can create a slideshow of all the pictures and share in class.  Student’s participation will probably increase as they see pictures of their neighborhood or other places they know.  Below is a slide from Kolb’s presentation which lists ideas for using pictures and video from cell phones. 

Kolb then moves the presentation away from using cell phones as data collection tools into creating curriculum projects for cell phones.  She suggests creating content jingles using ringtone builders (PhoneZoo) or having students create content logos and wallpaper (Pix2Fone or PixDrop) for their cell phones.  Also, since students love to text message using their cell phones Kolb suggests sending free text messages (TextForFree, TxtDrop, Reactee) to student cell phones for reviewing content or for text messaging information on a cause.  Kolb also shows how cell phones can be used as a survey tool.  Students can create surveys using Mobiode which people can access and take with their cell phones. Some project ideas she gives for ringtone, logo, and text messaging include  poetry slams, unit reviews (flash cards), current events, studenta activism projects, and school events.

Other uses Kolb sees for the cell embrace the mobile web and cell phone tools.  Students can use their cell phones as research tools when they are out of the classroom.  Using the mobile web they can connect to search engines (Plusmo, Goggle), online encyclopedias, text a librarian, etc. to look up information.  Teacher can also create mobile friendly websites (HomeworkNow, Zinadoo, Winksite, Mob5) so parents who don’t have internet service at home can connect using their cell phones.  Students and teachers can use their cell phone tools as an electronic notebook/agenda.  They can record reminders, create appointments on their calendar, set up alarms and alerts.

Kolb also talks about the future uses of cell phones.  More and more applications are written for cell phones and live streaming of video is becoming common place.  Students will be able to run educational applications on their cell phones.

I can’t wait to try a few of these Web2.0 tools with the cell phones.  I’ve already discussed the conference idea with one teacher and will talk to another about using it as a data collection tool for field trips.  I know there are still many questions to answer, such as, cost for sending pictures, text messaging or accessing the web and responsibilities for the phone.  However, with careful planning, I agree that these can be useful classroom tools, energizing students to learn content.