Reflection 5 Week 6

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Reflection

I've had a look around at some stats about mobile phones and teens and as expected there is an international consensus that teens are increasingly relying upon smart phones and ipads for many aspects of life previously addressed by more primitive means. Education is one of the highest ranked forms of use of a mobile device as discussed by CEngage Learning 2015 which is illustrated in the below poster.

Image source: http://blog.cengage.com/college-students-share-their-classroom-edtech-wish-list/ 

The Australian Bureau of Statistics released a 2012 report showing 59.5% of all 12-14 year olds in Australia access a mobile phone and 94% of all 12 - 14 year olds that access the internet are doing so for educational purposes at one time or another. So, we know that students are using the internet to learn and we know that (by now, 3 years later) at least half of the young teen population have mobile devices. Seeing as we know all of this it does seem like introducing mobile internet device activity into the classrooms is the perfect modern platform to appeal to young adults and integrate learning into something they are already doing. 

An interesting point highlighted by this ABS study is the lack of current research into this field. Technology is advancing at a rapid rate and it seems that the literature is really lagging behind.

As teachers we also have a responsibility to prepare our students for the world beyond school, and like it or lump it mobile internet devices are part of that. Where would we be without google maps to show us the way or netbanking to transfer $$ on the fly? Why, I remember travelling around Australia with a map and a pen! And the flashiest communication method was a phone card to put in a phone booth! 

Furthermore once students enter the world of work they may be expected to have real world applications for their mobile devices such as advance organisers, access to mobile emails, sending documents to others when out of the office, taking and sending photos of construction sites or trade projects at regular intervals and many more uses that are probably out of my technology-sphere :/

A few ways to introduce mobile internet devices into the classroom:

• This is a great looking app which performs similar functions as an Outlook Organiser but with other more advanced options http://www.mylifeorganized.net/

• Stephen Hawkins made an app! This app explains basic physics concepts in visually appealing ways http://www.randomhousedigital.com/apps/2013/12/stephen-hawkings-snapshots-of-the-universe/

• Project Noah is an interesting way for students interested in wildlife and conservation to document and share their experiences http://www.projectnoah.org/mobile

• Science through Photography is a teaching app that utilises students and teachers photos to explain scientific concepts http://www.sciencethroughphotography.com/ 

• This app is for students interested in robots or mechanics, you can view and zoom in on some really odd robots all around the world, this could be a good basis for an assignment topic http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/robotics-software/robots-app-is-free-during-national-robotics-week

• Labster is an app that allows students to perform microbiology experiments that may be to difficult to conduct in a high school class room https://www.labster.com/

• This is a resource that I think is going to be a big help in class, its an online survey platform that you can quickly customise and send the link around to all of your students and get real-time feedback, Its called survey monkey, try this one out, it could be sent out to students mobiles or to email addresses.

Some may say:

Image source: http://gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com.au/2010/02/alice-in-wonderland-by-tim-burton-in.html

References

Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2012. Children's Participation in Cultural and Leisure Activities. 49010DO19_201204. viewed www.abs.gov.au