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| Just one is all you need! |
Just starting a little dialogue of a few things that I have been noticing- cell phones are even more useful in the classroom than what I originally suspected, it is just a matter of how I can learn to use this learning tool in my class. I definitely see the benefits of this tool!
Having read a few articles from class, it is now more apparent that cell phones are here to stay and we must learn to implement this 21st C. teaching tool. Apparently the TV show writers have been noticing this latest discussion regarding the use of cell phones in school. I was watching an episode of Gray's Anatomy and there was a surgery being performed by a doctor and all around were a group of student surgeons I believe, they were watching and updating their Tweeter or Twitter pages, in the end, they were able to network and get a medical procedure to succeed by using a social network to communicate instantly.
Also the surgeon was able to answer questions about the surgery Real Time while it was happening. Personally I thought this is fabulous however, I also began to think what if something bad happened while he was not paying as close attention to his procedure as perhaps he would be if he was not answering any questions. Interesting to think about both sides of this Networking issue.
I tend to always embrace the Networking and am excited to bring down the barriers that the older 19th C. school frame of mind has. Myself, I feel that every child in school should have a smart phone, it is their own personal computer in their pocket. We just need to teach and correct socially appropriate and inappropriate use of the cell phone.
As I see it the problem is not the phone but rather the user!
We are at a paradigm shift for technology and education, either we embrace the use of technology or we return to the caveman era of the broadcast style of learning.
I have a friend who could operate his business almost entirely through the use of his cell phone. We were at an event where cell phones were present perhaps not appreciated but nonetheless many were browsing their social networks rather than Face to Face socializing-my friend was able to conduct a business meeting with an associate many hours away in Central Canada. He was able to complete a deal, and notify his office and partners as it was happening. Not later on the following day.
Myself like many other Net Geners I appreciate the 24/7 that Internet and smart phones provide....it is to my discretion how I handle the the call/text/message/email coming into to my inbox and setting off my vibrator...(on my phone!)...keeping this clean (ha,ha). I am able to unplug or disconnect should I choose.
For me it is about the option to choose. I am in power.
Do I see cell phones in the classroom in the future? No I see them in the classrooms NOW! It is how we can harness this technology that is still somewhat in the future for education. Sadly there are more and more schools who are still unable to make the paradigm shift to implementing the cell phone, and these schools are IMO missing the point of having cell phones in class as highly accessible tools for information gathering and networking.
AS I see things going with my own personal experience with smart phones it is becoming quite clear that these super phones are able to do many of the same tasks that a personal computer can do, is it possible that smart phones will make the portable (break your shoulder) Lap Top old school? Perhaps just one or the other is all you need, a cell phone or a laptop?...We will have to wait and see... certainly with CLOUD technology developing giving access to more and more online for storage of documents for example you really can access everything you need online or in the CLOUD.
In conclusion, I feel that the question of cell phone use in school for the use of learning is an easy one, I ask myself what is the dilemma? What else can we do with the cell phone?
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