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2) What can we do?
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ELT Chat Summary - 30th April
How do you use mobile devices in the classroom? Tips, apps & best practices
Introduction
This was the initial question for the evening's discussion, although there was some debate about the definition of mobile devices. Some people suggested digital cameras, laptops, tablets ? there are also dictophones and digital video cameras. This definition question was never really concluded but the focus eventually headed towards mobile phones and smartphones. I think there was some overlap with the recent topic 'How do we cater for the needs of our learners in a digital age?'
Uses of mobile phones for the classroom eventually became the main focus, although I felt that the chat roamed around a number of areas, including the possibilities for use, teachers' feelings, issues and potential problems and useful apps. As a result, I'm going to attack the summary from four different angles and then I'll present a list of useful links that were shared during the chat.
I would like to point out that I was asked, ever so politely, to do this summary because of my summarising tweet...
...and I think it's really important that these things are kept in mind whenever choosing technologies to use. To be honest I was surprised to be asked due to my obvious skepticism and critical stance during the chat. But, hey, I think the technovangelists need to keep at least some toes clinging to terra firma! ; ) Having done this summary and had some chance to reflect, I really can see some great potential for some of the apps and tools mentioned, but I do have some of the issues being a problem when I consider the contexts in which I have experience.
[Critical Ed. btw I think it's worth pointing out that a few pro-technology participants do not actually seem to have any connection to ELT, but have some investment in technology.]
Summary
1) Why bother?
2) What can be done?
3) What could possibly go wrong?
4) What can be done to overcome issues?
1) Why bother?
@Shaunwilden : How do we feel about using them? I'd say why not we use them in life, well I do all the time
@ShellTerrell : Mobile phones allow students to carry the learning in their pocket & study when convenient, 5 min on bus, while in line, etc
@ShellTerrell : I believe it's portable, involves learning anywhere anytime, & involves the learning taking charge of the content
- In some places most people have a smartphone and use it regularly
- In some places more people have smartphones than computers
- In some places it seems that every adult and every child has a smartphone
- There is a lot of potential for extra practice with a one to one student
- Using this technology could be motivating
- Many students try to use them in class anyway, why not allow it?
- Students could be more autonomous if guided to use mobile technology
- Smartphones can do loads of clever multi-media things
2) What can we do?
@ShellTerrell : Best ways to use mobile phones for language learning involves audio/image/video recording, & sms features common to most phones now
- Make short films - in or out of the classroom.
- Use dictionary apps, such as SnaPanda for Android
- Phones can be used to take photos or video for a scavenger hunt activity
- Take photos of the whiteboard
- Text students information (or receive it from them) about class or news about practical stuff like lesson cancellations or room changes
- Get ss to take photos of stuff for hwk, bring to class, show them to a partner and chat about them
- Create QR codes of things you want students to find on scavenging using mobile devices
- Use mobile phone to record/ video the ss speaking and they can listen to themselves
- Use of the audio or video recording devices could overcome a school's lack of resources
- Adult learners could use language podcasts, record themselves, create videos, use search functions & dictionaries
- Students can watch videos, perhaps from youtube
- Use these apps with young learners - StoryRobe, StoryKit, Talking Tom, Mouthoff, Pubppet Pals, Sticki booth, Fotobabble, Animoto, Audioboo, Woices, 43 Things ? see links below
- Use fotobabble to take a picture and record audio talking about it
- Students can share music with the teacher to be played in class
- The technology can be used anywhere, so leave the classroom and go somewhere else!
- Use Newsy app & Video Vocab apps for Business English
@efl101 : problem is not all sts have smart phones so fairness/equal access issues arise
- Some schools have banned them ? in some countries phones in school are a big NO!
- In some countries smartphones are not used by most students
- If some students have them and others don't there could be issues causing negative feelings or behaviour
- Smartphones can sometimes be a distraction as much as a learning aid
- Students could use them to cheat in tests
- There could be problems with ss feeling inadequate for not having the 'right' phone
- Ss could start thinking they can use the phone all the time, not just when you want them to
- Not so good for exam classes ? ss can't use them in exams and shouldn't rely on them
- Kids could start begging their parents for a phone when the parents can't afford one or don't feel that it's appropriate
- It might take time for some students to learn how to use their phone in different ways
- The teacher may have to teach how to use an app
- Sometimes it's a problem getting students off the phone, no need to encourage them!
- Do the phones have roaming internet access or would access to school wifi be needed?
- What about the financial cost to the students of internet access and SMS?
- Teachers don't know what to do with mobile phones
- Many teachers don't even use much technology
- Is it ok for teachers to expect student to be connected to learning all the time?
- Training opportunities for teachers may never arrive
- Can teachers actually afford to own good quality mobile phones?
- Many teachers don't even use computers very much, let alone smartphones
- If parents have issues, invite them into school and do a show and tell to explain the benefits
- If not all students have one, get them to share or work in groups
- Students sharing devices could help YLs develop better collaborative skills
- Using a contract phone should mean there is no cost to the learners and apparently 'mini top-ups [are] now given away with soda cans'
- Teacher training courses ? there's one online soon, see links
- Don't wait for training, just dive on in and try it out
- Huddle round phones in groups if necessary
Some different viewpoints
@ShellTerrell : Also mobile learning allows the learner to apply the language & vocabulary in a contextual setting & with others. Authentic!
@familysimpson : @efl101 how do your students learn? Individually or by discussing in a group? Mobile opens up discussion to all - confidence booster
@japglish : @rliberni I'm afraid I think m-learning is being overhyped
@rliberni : key to efficacy or not of mlearning is whether or not they are learning - having fun is good but learning must also take place
@AnthonyGaughan ...reluctance to use private resource for work.. which schools provide mobile devices for staff?
@rliberni : mine prefer time away from their laptop - 'an oasis of calm' one std called his English lesson
Links
SnaPanda - wonderfully innovative dictionary app
QR Codes - barcode thing
@ianchia: McGraw-Hill's mConnect will offer vocabulary lessons via SMS, plans for Africa and Asia. http://j.mp/ePCSOT
@ianchia: English in Action: Mobile Learning in Bangladesh ? National Geographic News Watch http://j.mp/hjhBPT
Free 'about mlearning' course taking place in april?
@ShellTerrell: This created with free StoryRobe app for @CeciELT 's 6 year old son in Brazil http://youtu.be/Kl5p8owr2M0 for 1 of my upcoming pres.
Great video of using speak & repeat apps with kids learning Chinese here: http://www.technolote.com/?p=946
Good ideas here: Audio Apps for the iPod Touch - Handy for the Languages Classroom. http://www.technolote.com/?p=976/?
StoryRobe
StoryKit
Talking Tom
Mouthoff
Puppet Pals
Sticki booth
Fotobabble
Animoto
Ok, there you go. I hope I've managed to cover everything satisfactorily and give a balanced review of the chat transcript. Thanks to all participants for another really interesting #eltchat!
A little comedy to finish off
- Top Tips For Mlearning: Wisdom Of The Crowd
Last week I ran a session at MobiMOOC2012 with educators and learning technologists from across the world, exploring different pedagogies, and learning theory often associated with mobile learning. Our aim was to explore the gap between the theory, and...
- Use Smartphones In Class, Say School Principals
The National Association of Secondary School Principals have been trying to make sense of the whirlwind that is Social and Mobile Technologies. They have just released a position statement, summarizing their thoughts on the matter ? and it is surprisingly...
- Which M-learning Devices Should I Buy?
Dear m-learning.org, I am new to m-learning and want to know which devices to buy for my class We are getting more and more of these requests, partially connected with the latest round of MoLeNET funding in the UK, so I thought I would post some suggestions,...
- M-learning In 2009: Predictions
The ever-charming Graham and his crew over at handheldlearning convinced a group of us to attempt a prediction about what would happen in the world of m-learning in 2009. Here were my thoughts, in a christmas-pudding-inspired pantomime stylee: Several...
- The Mobile Web Is Alive And Well ... In Africa!
We know the take up of mobile phones in Africa has been way faster than ever expected: 18 months ago, there were already more mobile than fixed-line phonesmany more people have access to a mobile phone than a landline onemobile networks are sidestepping...