While listening to the podcast about using cell phones in teaching, I was interested that the teacher was looking at students and what they could use as an educational tool. The podcast stated that 80% of his students had a phone. There is an "assumption that they will not have these tools" but 20% actually do not. Therefore, I think about the 20% who do not. He asked the students how to address this problem and they came up with "ghetto text messaging." However, I wonder how that makes the students who have to participate in "ghetto text messaging" feel. I wonder about the repercussions of this. For example, do these students feel bad about themselves because they do not have the technology to participate with their classmates because of financial reasons? Do they go home and try to pressure their families into buying them cell phones because they "need" them to participate in their classes? These questions make me question cell phones in classroom. Yes, I can see the advantages for the 80% of the class, but the teacher needs to see the disadvantages it may have on the other 20% first of all not even having a cell phone to participate with, but also not being able to learn from this technology like the rest of the class is able to.
I checked out his website and was intrigued by all the research that has been done about cellular education. One things I found is that motivation = success. This is true in no matter what you are teaching. If students are motivated to learn, there will be success. Increased participation is also another wonderful outcome of using cell phones in the classroom. Because they are using a tool they are familiar with, students will be more likely to participate using this tool. Lastly, the concept of this technology being free is wonderful. First year and veteran teachers alike love free resources because money for tools usually comes from their own pockets.
Teacher's Website
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