Cellphones in the Classroom: Distraction or Tool?

From Distraction to Learning Tool: Mobile Devices in the Classroom -- Campus Technology Mobile | Feature From Distraction to Learning Tool: Mobile Devices in the Classroom A journalism professor at the University of Maryland is using tablets to engage his students. Once banned in the classroom, mobile devices are becoming more accepted as a teaching and learning tool. "Under the current methods of teaching in higher education, a mobile device can be a distraction rather than a helpful tool," said Yaros. His assertion is backed up by a recent University of Central Florida survey on mobile learning practices in higher education: Among students who owned a tablet, 82 percent said they used the device for academic purposes. For the past three years, Yaros has been researching the most effective ways to integrate technology into learning environments, with emphasis on use of the tablet in the classroom. The key, according to Yaros, is to use the right technology for the class format. Yaros often quizzes students to make sure they pay attention to the mobile content.

Mobile phones in the classroom: teachers share their tips | Teacher Network Jo Debens, geography teacher, Priory School, Portsmouth The geography department at my school has been leading the use of mobile device in learning. Throughout last year the mobile@priory charter was created and led by head of department David Rogers and co-constructed by students to enable them to use mobile devices in learning. Some of the examples of where we use mobile devices range from simply taking photos and videos to share in class or recording homework, to creating revision podcasts or animations. On fieldwork, students can record images, video, sound, take notes, use GPS technology and mapping software to record information essential to their coursework. One activity sees students investigating secret places in school - they have to find a space, and find evidence or clues about that space to share with others. The benefit for us as teachers is the personalisation, and the freedom for students to access resources. Carol Rainbow, retired ICT teacher/ICT adviser

Students' addiction to cell phones is inhibiting their social skills According to a study conducted in 2014 on cell phone addiction, college students use their mobile devices for about nine hours a day. At ASU in particular, having a smart phone is extremely beneficial, especially when you need to access your email, Blackboard, MyASU or campus-specific apps, such as LiveSafe. However, they should not be used as a substitute for human interaction. Dependency on mobile devices can transform students’ social skills, making them more reliant on virtual communication while inhibiting their ability to converse in person. While the practicality of cell phones is unparalleled, the reliance students have on them is unhealthy. Nomophobia is a term abbreviated from the phrase "no mobile-phone phobia," meaning “fear of being without a mobile device, or beyond mobile phone contact.” A study conducted by Washington and Lee University in 2013 linked heavy texting and sleep problems in college freshmen.

A Mobile Dilemma About three years ago, while I was teaching education at a local college, I was attempting to do an observation of one of my students at her student teaching assignment. It was my first time visiting that high school, so I found myself running late in traffic. I attempted to call my student on her cellphone to let her know that I might be a little late, but she never answered. I texted her, but she never responded. As I entered the high school lobby I found a structure inside that resembled Dr. I believe that was also the year that a New Jersey middle school principal grabbed national attention as he not only banned all cellphones in his school, but also urged all parents to deny their children access to social media, because he felt it was unnecessary. A Critical 21st Century Skill Now here we are in the year 2014, and things seem to be changing for many schools. It would seem that the smartphone is finally getting its due as a computer with telephonic capabilities.

Internet Addiction, Sleep Deprivation, or ADHD ... With the diagnosis of ADHD on the rise in American teenagers, there is a risk of mislabeling teens with ADHD when the cause of their inattentiveness and falling grades may be related to something else entirely—like anxiety, family issues, or their media-infused lifestyle. This misdiagnosing was especially striking to me with a sixteen-year-old girl named Joy, whose family came to consult me a few months ago. Up until last year, Joy was a straight A student. All of her high school classes were either honors level or Advanced Placement (AP). But in the fall of her junior year, Joy seemed to lose her motivation to do well in school. Her grades began to slip to C’s then to D’s until finally she was close to failing two classes. article continues after advertisement The psychiatrist prescribed first Zoloft then Wellbutrin for Joy, hoping to find a drug that would help her depression. After five months, there was still no improvement in Joy’s symptoms. Copyright Marilyn Wedge, Ph.D. Source:

How Teachers Make Cell Phones Work in the Classroom A.P. Chemistry students use their cell phones to answer their teacher's question. When we talk about using cell phones in class, we’re not just talking about using cell phones in class. The idea of mobile learning touches on just about every subject that any technology addresses: social media, digital citizenship, content-knowledge versus skill-building, Internet filtering and safety laws, teaching techniques, bring-your-own-device policies, school budgets. At its core, the issues associated with mobile learning get to the very fundamentals of what happens in class everyday. At their best, cell phones and mobile devices seamlessly facilitate what students and teachers already do in thriving, inspiring classrooms. In the most ideal class settings, mobile devices disappear into the background, like markers and whiteboards, pencil and paper – not because they’re not being used, but because they’re simply tools, a means to an end. In Ramsey Musallam’s A.P. Related

Facebook and the ‘Fear of Missing Out’ (FoMO) | Psychology ... Within the last decade, social networking sites have become increasingly important tools for social interaction and communication between people. These platforms allow us to create semi-public or public profiles and to observe and examine inventories of online relationships made by ourselves and others. With experience and time, the perception of Facebook and other social networking sites as accepted forms of communication is becoming less foreign to us and we now communicate seamlessly, frequently, and with various levels of awareness of the impact upon us and those we are connected with. The new generation of technology users are entering into an intimate relationship with these, as yet, immature and evolving technologies. As online social networking becomes more prevalent, we provide more and more access to the details of our lives and, without fully understanding the consequences, we allow social media and a virtual network of "friends" influence our experience and behavior.

How to find apps: The Great App Checklist Last summer at the Apple developer conference, WWDC, we learned that there were more than 1.2 million apps in the Apple App Store alone. That's a lot of choices. In a sea that large, understanding how to find apps for the classroom can be challenging. In speaking with numerous educators, we learned that most app downloads result from a colleague's recommendation (i.e., word of mouth) or from choosing the first app in the search results. The Great App Checklist, go.sas.com/MobileLearning. We offer this checklist to help educators zero in on the app they need and to judge how well it performs key functions. Our checklist is the result of a meta-analysis, based on several popular app checklists, as well as our own contributions, completed through research and extensive conversations with educators. Be sure to let us know what you think of the checklist and how it might evolve as mobile learning continues to change.

Understanding Cell Phone Addiction Understanding Cell Phone Addiction I wake in the middle of the night and instinctively reach for my phone. I innocently tell myself that I just need to check the time. It’s still dark out and I will surely go back to sleep, but as soon as the iPhone is in my hand, muscle-memory takes over. Before I know it, I’ve checked my email, browsed through Instagram, scrolled through my Facebook feed, and gone back to Instagram. I check my phone first thing in the morning and right before I go to bed at night. The percentage of smartphone users who would actually be classified as addicted is estimated between 10-12%, according to the director of the Center for Internet and Technology Addiction, Dr. Cell phone addiction may not be an official psychological diagnosis just yet (as of the DSM-5), however it functions very similarly to gambling addiction. Technology addiction expert, Dr. Each of these little rewards, such as texts, likes, social media updates, trigger a dopamine release. Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr.

25 Fun Ways to use QR Codes for Teaching and Learning I've culled a bunch of ideas from different teachers who have shared their approaches to using this simple but powerful construct in the classroom. Once your students are equipped with a device that can read QR codes and they know how to scan them, you're ready to use ideas like these in your classroom! If you're not already familiar with it, scroll down to the bottom of the article to learn how to easily create QR codes, and find QR Code readers. Ideas, Ideas, and More Ideas! The article, Ways to use QR Codes in the Elementary Classroom and Using Google Docs to Create Them, by Jill Thompson, offers these uses: Library Book Add-On: Put QR codes on classroom library books, linking out to information about the author and or book. These ideas come from the web page QR Codes – What are they and how can I use them in my classroom? Assistive Technology: “Provide an alternative access format for students who need additional support in reading and writing.” Creating and Reading QR Codes

Cyber-Bullying and its Effect on our Youth Between texting, social media, and online gaming, many children spend more time engaging online than they do interacting in person. As technology continues to revolutionize the way we communicate, it also presents new areas of concern. Even though it may not take place in person, the emotional and psychological effects of online bullying are just as destructive as physical and verbal bullying, according to Jennifer N. Caudle, DO, an AOA board-certified family physician from Philadelphia. Since digital communications are harder to track and monitor, parents should​ take preventive measures to minimize the effects of online bullying on their children. How Bullying Affects Kids "Kids who are bullied are likely to experience anxiety, depression, loneliness, unhappiness, and poor sleep,” explains Dr. Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, or DOs, look beyond your symptoms to understand how lifestyle and environmental factors affect your wellbeing. Connecting With Kids Online According to Dr. Dr. Dr.

How to Use Cell Phones as Learning Tools Does your staff need Educational Technology training? The K-12 Teachers Alliance can help you plan your in-service professional development at no additional cost. Regardless of your school’s cell phone policy, the reality in most schools is that students have phones in their pockets, purses, or hoodies. Why not get these tools out in plain sight and use them for good and not evil? Here are some easy to use strategies to use cell phones in the classrooms. Proven teaching strategies to boost your students' happiness. A few suggestions.on classroom activities that involve performance for... We point out some knowledgeable educators who quickly can become your trusted... Here are a few suggestions on how to motivate students intrinsically. Reasons why a class may be less likely to pipe up and interact during a lesson... Why Use Cell Phones as Learning Tools Cell phones are different from a computer lab filled with computers or a cart of netbooks because the cell phone is personal technology.