These days, with all the new advances in technology, it can become pretty difficult to keep up. However, the younger someone is, the more aptitude they seem to have for utilising electronics. Prensky (2001) introduced us to the terms “digital natives” and “digital immigrants”, which refer to the fact that the younger generations in our communities have been brought up with all of these digital devices, which is why they use them so proficiently. Where as, the older people in our communities are “immigrants” to the digital world, and often find it more difficult to utilise these devices.
This can present teachers with quite the predicament at times, with their students being more familiar with technology than they are. However it is imperative to keep our students engaged and interested that instead of shying away from technology, we harness it and all its power and use it to our advantage in the classroom!
I recently came across an article that, I feel, takes classroom technology use to a whole new level. A school in New York has been donated hundreds of mobile phones and other devices to be used by its students for educational purposes. Obviously, these phones have restrictions on what can be accessed and there is a barring on all calls being made during school time.
These devices are to be used by teachers and students to access electronic learning materials such as podcasts. Well, immediately I thought “WHAT AN IDEA!”
Podcasts are an effective learning tool, and can allow students to listen or watch short presentations. Podcasts work well for students to may have missed a lesson at school and need to catch up on work or to be used as an introduction at the beginning of a new or more advanced topic.
Teaming the use of Podcasts with mobile phone devices as this New York school has done, is a wonderful innovation as it means that now students can access their Podcasts wherever they go, at any time!
Prensky, M. (2001). Digital Natives Digital Immigrants. On the Horizon. 9(5), 1-6.
Samsung. (2008). Hope for Education. Retrieved on 14 August, 2009 from http://www.samsungcamerausa.com/us/hopeforeducation/about.html
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Hi Naomi,
ReplyDeleteI aggree that Podcasts can be an effective learning tool. More so using them on mobile phones! We all know too well just how influencial mobile phones are. Great point. Thanks :)
Yes absolutely. Schools have so many policies about mobile phone use in class these days, because at the moment they are a distraction to students. How wonderful if we could use these tools to our advantage.
ReplyDelete