Mobile Learning Lab

There are so many great ways to use mobile technology in the classroom!  I explored several of these tools and have found many ways to incorporate them into my teaching.

First, I explored the use of cell phones in the classroom.  I have always thought this would be a great way to engage students, but I also can see how it could become a problem.  It would be hard to monitor students to make sure they are not texting, going on social networking sites, or other off-task sites.  After creating a poll with Poll Everywhere, I think this would be a great way to use cell phones in the classroom.  It was very easy to set up a poll and the results came right to my computer.

The next tool I explored was the use of iPads and iPods in the classroom.  There are so many great apps available out there to use that can be used on both the iPad and the iPod.  One app I found to use in math is the ArithmeTick-Math Flash Cards.  This is an app that times you as you complete math problems.  For students who are still struggling with their basic math facts this would be a great app to use, as well as other students who need a little practice.  I read the article about using MP3 players in the classroom and found some great ideas.  One idea that stuck out to me was recording listening activities for students to complete in a center.  By including a listening passage, comprehension questions, clarifications, and other things students can be working on their own and I would be free to work with another group of students.

The last thing I explored was using e-book readers in the classroom.  I have a Kindle and love it!  There are so many ways you can use these in the classroom.  You can download text and they are able to store hundreds of e-books, newspapers, and magazines.  You are able to enlarge text very easily and you are able to highlight text that is important.  I would love to use these in my classroom, but like other mobile learning devices they can be costly.

I would love to use all of these mobile learning devices in my future classroom!  Although there are many benefits, there could also be some challenges.  The cost and availability of these tools could be the main issue.  Like I said before it also could be difficult to make sure students are using them in the correct way and not becoming off-task.