Smart+devices

=Smart devices and the metaphor of the famous European multi-function tool=

If you give a kid a (Swiss army) knife
I think she's [Kolb] right in calling it the Swiss Army knife of learning tools and not just because of all it can do, but also because it's not allowed in schools. I personally thought one of the most interesting parts of all the information was how each piece talked a little bit about how schools do not allow the devices. In all of the other information we've read regarding different tools, I don't remember such resistance from schools being noted. And my honest opinion is that it schools are right to be concerned now. //**Tiffany**//

It's Elementary, my dear Watson. (here 'elementary' = added challenge)
I'd have a tougher sell in the elementary school. Instead of a Swiss Army Knife, I may have some teachers looking at it as a rubber mallet. However, I love the ideas for using it out of the classroom and I think this would be a perfect place to start to win some teachers over. I like the idea of having students text photos of geometric shapes to a photo-sharing site to be displayed by the teacher in class the next day. Projects like this one might be a perfect way to convince teachers that cell phones can facilitate learning. Successes like this could convince some 4th and 5th grade teachers to allow the cell phone into the classroom. Then we could start to explore the Swiss Army Knife capabilities. //**Stephen**//

Perhaps they won't be personal cell phones, but ones that are used owned by the school and used in-school--a better alternative might be iPods to start with. An iPod can do most everything an iPhone can do; it can even make outgoing phone calls with an app. I could see having this become a learning tool at my school (k-5) for several reasons: 1) We already use Promethean boards and many teachers are learning how to use clickers so that students can respond to polls, questions of the day, etc. The interactivity of the board the clickers is very appealing and is a nice introduction to the next step: cell phones or iPods with many more uses. 2) The iPod or iPhone is very intuitive, even for kindergarten students. I watched a video about smart phones and kindergarteners, who were just handed an iPhone and told to play with it. They were able to to just run with it. //**Michelle**// I don't think elementary aged students need cell phones. We conduct a technology survey every year. The statistics are, of course, at school, but when we surveyed 4th and 5th graders approximately 30% of them had smart phones. I know I teach in Concord and many of the families in Concord have plenty of money, but I just found this to be a little crazy. Why does a 10 year old need a cell phone? **//Emily//**

Schools are not the Swiss infantry!
Cell phones are handy to pull out to engage students and keep them learning anywhere and any time, but it’s certainly not the only tool to carry with you on a long educational journey...I think the most important use of cell phones in the classroom is actually in generating student engagement. As pointed out in this week’s readings (Kolb and Project Tomorrow), students are powerfully attached to their phones, and allowing them to use phones as part of their learning adds a degree of personalization that can’t be achieved as powerfully through school-issued tools. //**Jennifer**//

Best use of army knife metaphor
When a child receives a knife for the first time hopefully they are given safety instructions on how to use the knife even though the child might feel they know everything they need to know about knife safety. Kolb pointed out in the article that it will be important for the teachers to talk to the students about how the cell phones will be used in the classroom with regards to legal and appropriate cell phone etiquette. //**Joan**//

**Wanted: more non-cheesy models before liberalizing**
We are in the middle of a rather heated, schoolwide debate on liberalizing our cellphone policy, just as we get a new, tech-friendly headmaster. I would like to provide her with the Kolb and Horizons articles, so we can have informed discussions about both the opportunities and risks of allowing students to use mobile devices (esp. cell phones) in school. I am somewhere in the middle of the spectrum of opinion on this issue: I see wonderful educational uses for cellphones and other devices, and the potential for great distraction (some students welcome having clear limits on cellphone use in school). I'd love to see more models of schools where responsible cellphone use is explicitly taught in successful, engaging, non-cheesy ways. **//Shelley//**

The right tool for the right job
Educational technology plays hand in hand with CC in so many ways, as we explored in previous weeks. However, a big big component of CC implementation is increasingly complex reading of text. I don't believe a cell phone is the best way to study a lengthy text in depth. For this reason, I think we need to hear the rescuers when they call for the right tool for the job at hand over one-device-does-all. //**Carrie**//

School culture needs enlightenment first
In terms of my middle school learning community, I know that we won’t be allowing students to use their phones in class anytime soon. Our new principal has had first hand experience with a photo sexting situation at a prior school and as a result, students’ phones are strictly off limits during the day. As a result we wouldn’t be able to use all the tools on the knife. //**Katherine**//