The ways in which students are learning is changing. Marc Prensky, an internationally acclaimed speaker, writer, consultant, and innovator in the field of education and learning said, "Our students have changed radically. Today’s students are no longer the people our educational system was designed to teach" (markprensky.com). Technology is becoming an increasingly pervasive component in our lives. As a result, Prensky claims that today's students "think and process information fundamentally differently from their predecessors" (markprensky.com). An increasing number of educators are embracing this technological revolution and are incorporating mobile technology in the classroom to enhance educational experiences.
There are a number of benefits associated with the use of mobile technology in the classroom:
There are a number of benefits associated with the use of mobile technology in the classroom:
- Students are familiar with digital tools and enjoy using them! By incorporating them into the classroom, students may find their learning experience to be more engaging.
- Mobile technology can also make lessons more engaging for students by increasing the variety of teaching and learning styles that the students are exposed to.
- Apps and Web 2.0 tools can make learning more interactive. The following website has some great links to Web 2.0 tools that can be used in the classroom. These include everything from blogs to games!
- With the use of tablets, phones and other similar devices, students can access information at the click of a button, anywhere and anytime! Teachers can also take advantage of this to easily upload and distribute content to their students and the content can be updated at any time.
- Teachers can easily customize their content to meet the needs of their individual students.
- Using mobile devices to access class content reduces the amount of books and materials that students have to carry around everyday.
- Teaching students using technology can better prepare them for the digital age. I believe that the main purpose of education is to prepare students for success in the real world. Since technology is so highly integrated into today's society, educators should be encouraging their students to develop their digital fluency.
- Mobile learning in the classroom can greatly enhance collaborative learning. Students can easily communicate with one another, conduct research to solve problems and share resources.
My only problem was this method of teaching is.... how do you prevent students from inappropriately using the technology (i.e. for Facebook, texting, etc.) during class time?
Additional Resources:
Hey Ellen !! I absolutely believe that technology should be implemented into the classroom. It is a great deal. Mark Prensky claims that today's youth process information different - how is this done differently I wonder.
ReplyDeleteI will definitely be using technology in the classroom next year, because research shows that students are motivated are interested in the technology used (e.g., Ipad). Great article!