unplugging our students!
DESCRIPTION
I prepared this presentation to support a paper I prepared for the Wellington Primary Principals association. It compares the article "Pockets of Potential," against the NZ Curriculum. You can find the paper on my BLOG. http://raumatiedublog.blogspot.com/TRANSCRIPT
Unplugging our Students!
Using Mobile Technologies to enhance Student Learning
Changing Times
PDA devices are changing the way people access and work with information as these devices become smaller, cheaper, better, and easier to connect. PDA’s can give students access to wireless networks, increasing their opportunity to use these tools at home, school, outside of the classroom
Digital Directions
January 9th 2009
Mobile Learning Opportunities
Key opportunities in mobile learning
Encourage “anywhere, anytime” learningMobile devices allow students to gather, access,and process information outside the classroom.They can encourage learning in a real-worldcontext, and help bridge school, afterschool,and home environments.
Actively involvedParticipants in a range of life contextsContributors to the well-being of New Zealand – social, cultural, economic, and environmental
Reach disadvantaged studentsBecause of their relatively low cost and accessibility in low-income communities, handheld devices can help provide digital access.
equity, through fairness and social justice community and participation for the common good
Improve 21st-century social interactions
Mobile technologies have the power to promote and foster collaboration and communication, which are deemed essential for 21st-century success.
ConnectedAble to relate well to othersEffective users of communication toolsConnected to the land and environmentMembers of communitiesInternational citizens
Fit with learning environments
Mobile devices can help overcome many of the challenges associated with larger technologies, as they fit more naturally within various learning environments.
Students who participate and contribute in communities have a sense of belonging and the confidence to participate within new contexts. They understand the importance of balancing rights, roles, and responsibilities and of contributing to the quality and sustainability of social, cultural, physical, and economic environments.
Enable a personalised learning experienceNot all children are alike; instruction should be adaptable to individual and diverse learners. There are significant opportunities for genuinely supporting differentiated, autonomous, and individualised learning through mobile devices.Shuler, C. (2009). Pockets of Potential: Using Mobile Technologies to PromoteChildren’s Learning, New York: The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop.
Students who manage themselves are enterprising, resourceful, reliable, and resilient. They establish personal goals, make plans, manage projects, and set high standards. They have strategies for meeting challenges. They know when to lead, when to follow, and when and how to act independently.
Possibilities
More than half of the world’s population now owns a cell phone and children under 12 constitute one of the fastestgrowing segments of mobile technology users in the U.S.
Technology continues to change at an accelerated pace.
Current Practice VS Future Opportunity
The current practice among many schools in New Zealand is one of students using a computer, sometimes as part of a group or if resources are available, in a networked Lab/ Pod or very expensive C.O.W (Computers on wheels – usually a mobile storage unit containing 8 – 12 laptops).
Opportunity
The Challenge
How can we make the best use of these technologies? So that they support teaching and learning in our schools?
What are the advantages / disadvantages of these devices? How can these devices be used in classroom management? How can these devices be used to enhance the learning of
students with special needs? What are the issues around student safety and security, with
regard to web browsing and file sharing? Do these devices really make a difference? What lessons can we learn from the Learning2Go Project?
Some Key Questions?
The ProcessThe Use of PDA’s in Teaching &
Learning
Define Research QuestionsWork with colleague to Design school wide trial
Locate NZ research
Internet based research
Apply for grants to conduct trials
Technology Companies
Gaming Charities
Educational Grants
Dialogue with educators
LEARNING2GO PROJECT
WOLVERHAMPTON CITY
Research integration of existing / future
technologies and their impact
WRPPA STUDY AWARD
Report Back
Conduct trials Senior Student Focus
Group
Analyse results
Publish findings
Thank you for allowing me to present my proposed project in more detail
The handout will provide you with supporting information, including some current research and references which have influenced me.
Mike Farrelly
March 2009