Here is a link to my Prezi of how different education will be in the future and what the learning environment and teachers are going to be like in the 21st century.
CBS This Morning. (Jun5, 2015). AltSchool Provides Personalization and Technology. [Video] Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyV7zQbnX7E
Kapp, K.M. (Feb. 3, 2016). 5 Learning Tech Trends to Watch in the Next 5 Years. Retrieved from https://www.td.org/Publications/Blogs/Learning-Technologies-Blog/2016/02/5-Learning-Tech-Trends-to-Watch-in-the-Next-5-Years
Kunnen, E. (Aug. 3, 2015). Emerging Technologies to Enhance Teaching and Enable Active Learning. Retrieved from http://er.educause.edu/articles/2015/8/emerging-technologies-to-enhance-teaching-and-enable-active-learning.
Palmer, T. (June 20, 2015). 15 Characteristics of a 21st Century Teacher. Edutopia. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/discussion/15-characteristics-21st-century-teacher
Poh, M. (n.d.). 8 Technologies that will Shape Future Classrooms. Retrieved from http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/future-classroom-technologies/
Can you even imagine a morning without your cell phone? Me neither, otherwise I would not have an alarm to wake me up. Technology, especially mobile devices, became a big part of our lives: ordering food, access the internet, chat to family around the world, get driving directions, learn a new language...all without even leaving your couch.
Mobile Learning is a very popular term used in education in the 21st century. It is a form of education or training conducted by portable personal devices such as tablets, smartphones etc. It is a fact that children are being exposed to mobile devices at a much younger age these days; thus it is inevitable that education is changing and adapting to everyday life.
Why should a teacher be prepared to allow or require students to use mobile devices to achieve learning objectives?
I was one of those teachers in denial once...why should I give my students more screen time in class if they will probably go sit at home in front of a screen anyway? What about nature? Kicking a ball outside? Isn't technology going to distract them from work?
Then I got over it and thought about the positive effects technology and mobile devices in the classroom can have:
Reach learning differences: every student learn in a different way and it is our job as teachers to help all students and differentiate. Technology can help students learn through most senses (audio, visual) and movement.
Gamification: kids love games! So why not incorporate it into your classroom? Having students play while learning at the same time will enhance motivation for learning.
Collaboration & Engagement: using mobile devices will make it easy for students to work together on a project. Kids love technology overall so they will definitely be more engaged when doing an activity using a mobile device. It is a big part of student's interests these days so use it to your advantage.
Inclusion: even if students do not have any technology at their homes, learning about it and how to use it is crucial in today's work environment. Giving everyone a chance to learn it at school will help them move forward and grow with technology.
Concerns?
The biggest [concern about mobile learning] is that they
distract from schoolwork. Then again,
distractions are as old as the ages — we’ve
just progressed from daydreaming and
passing notes. (Robledo:1)
Distractions. One thing a teacher can never escape from; so why make it a part of the classroom? Remember the saying, keep your friends close and your enemies closer? If technology and games are distracting students, it is one of their interests; and what better way to motivate engagement than to incorporate their interests into your lesson!
But don't take my word for it, let's look at some research:
Vocabulary growth: PBS Kids (together with US Department of Education) reported that kids (ages 3-7) who played Martha Speaks mobile app improved their vocabulary up to 31%.
Grade improvement & motivation: Abilene Christian University reported math students who used Statistics 1 (an iOS app) improved their grades. They were also much more motivated to finish lessons on mobile devices than the usual textbooks and workbooks.
Improved learning experiences: 35% of 8th graders said they were more interested in the lessons/ activities using a tablet. The students also exceeded the teacher's academic expectations when using mobile devices.
More student engagement: 54% of students in a 5th and 8th grade study self-reported that they were more involved in the lessons using technology. 55% said they wish more teachers used educational games/ simulations to teach.
As I researched this approach especially in a teacher's point of view I realized the biggest reason for technology integration in classroom resulting in chaos or failure is the lack of knowledge and training for teachers.
Some guidelines that is noteworthy for teachers
Another challenge would be to bridge the digital gap. Having taught in a public school in South Africa, in a school with little technology integration, I realized that a lot of schools and teachers take the socio-economic status of South Africans for granted. I did not realize the students' interest for technology and mobile devices until I actually sat down and had a chat with them in small groups. I learned that every single student (in a class of 35) had some kind of mobile device at their house which they use every day. It is part of their life so why not make it part of their education.
So, get to know your students and get them involved.
First, ask yourself what you want to achieve by incorporating mobile devices in your curriculum.
Survey your students on what devices they have at home and how they use it.
Encourage students to make suggestions about what apps work for them.
Some examples of Mobile activities for my future 2nd grade classroom
Enhanced field trips: This is something that has always bothered me. How can I make a field trip more interesting for learning purposes? With mobile devices kids can take photos of what they see and bring it to the classroom for discussion, projects etc.
Feedback & self-reflection: I would definitely want to use online apps for student feedback and self-reflection. For example if I had a group project, the groups can post their projects online and students can comment on other's work and discuss it.
Global student connections: Students can connect with other students around the world through Skype or other apps. I was thinking a fun geography game would be to Skype with other students and asking only yes or no questions. Based on their answers, students need to guess where in the world their co-student is. You can also use this idea for feedback or collaboration on projects.
References Chaffe, S. (March 5, 2016). Getting Mobile Learning Right: 6 Best Practices. Retrieved on June 26, 2017 from https://elearningindustry.com/getting-mobile-learning-right-6-best-practices Crocket, L.W. (April 3, 2015). The Teacher's Guide to Choosing the Best Digital Content. Retrieved on June 26, 2017 from https://globaldigitalcitizen.org/the-teachers-guide-to-the-best-digital-content Lynch, M. (Jan. 4, 2015). Do Tablets in the Classroom Really Help Children Learn? Retrieved on June 26, 2017 from http://gizmodo.com/do-tablets-in-the-classroom-really-help-children-learn-1694963939 Robledo, S.J. (n.d.). Mobile Devices for Learning: What You Need to Know. Edutopia. Retrieved on June 26, 2017 from http://www.edutopia.org/pdfs/guides/edutopia-mobile-learning-guide.pdf Sir Ken Robinson. (Oct. 14, 2010). RSA Animate: Changing Education Paradigms. [Video] Retrieved on June 25, 2017 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U&feature=share
