The best science classroom tool
that students already have
By Joseph Calmer
Introduction
• What is the best tool for learning that
(most)students already own
• Their phone
• Are teachers ready to give up their instructional
power to this new source of information
delivery?
• Are/ should teachers compete for attention?
• Despite this, we are still responsible for creating
citizens.
• Did the technology debate start with math
Research Quotes
• Technology holds students’ interest (and
teacher’s)
• Thomas Edison had a vision of technology use in
education
• New and innovative instructional strategies and
curricular plans help individualize the educational
experience
• Having engaged/ interested students, is the best
classroom management strategy
• Finding and doing teaching best practices before
Admin has to tell me (my own)
More Research
• Positive climate= "sustained positive school
climate is associated with positive child and
youth development, effective risk-prevention
and health-promotion efforts, student
learning and academic achievement,
increased student graduation rates, and
teacher retention.”
• Student prefer to use devices
His quote
• "Books will soon be obsolete in the public
schools... our school system will be completely
changed inside of ten years.”
• Editorial- very little has actually change in 100
years in education
• Why
Recent Article
• 91 days with which to teach out of 180
because of state testing, district testing, roll,
holidays, etc
• How can technology improve this?
How may of these could be avoided?
The Pros/ The Cons
Pros of phone use in class
• Tools
• Pictures
• Access to all the facts in the
world
• Interesting
• Websites and other
auxiliary applications for
learning that are designed
for phone usage
• BYOD
Cons of phone use in class
• Distractions
• Not learning traditional
study skills
• No interaction with others
• Teacher is not the ultimate
source of information
• BYOD
History
• The basics: Websites, flash animations,
background info, pictures
• Next: advanced searches
• ItunesU, use for basic work
• Gradebook, attendance, teacher assistant
• Students- take pictures, record, etc. class labs
• Formative assessment
Types of Phone
Smart
• Internet
• Apps
• Tools
• Flash Cards
• Interactive learning
websites/ apps/tools
• communication
Dumb
• Tools
– Notes
– Calendar
– calculator
• Can text Google- it will
answer (no internet)
What can be done with this
contraband?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Recorder
Calculator
Agenda
Reminders
Dictionary
Picture
Note taking
• Tweet- share what they
learn
• Study pics/ vocabulary
on bus rid
• Retrieve old lessons
• Post pictures of their
work
• Use apps as resources
• Use as textbooks
My Examples
• Plant Histology, Brain MRI, common core,
textbooks, tweet out new word learned,
concepts learned, calendar/ reminders, google
docs, socrative, agendas
• ItunesU: lectures, books, courses, create
iBooks, study blue
Google picture to answer
Why I immediately liked this
•
•
•
•
•
Did not know what all students were thinking
Not enough time to hear from everyone
Students did not participate in class
Students were not engaged in my classes
Some students do not ask their questions
during class
• Wanted to enhance my classroom technology
use (without spending money)
Poll Everywhere
•
•
•
•
How it works
You ask a question
Audience responds
Can have a setting that allows for moderating
before an answer is displayed
• Can be done via a website (so you do not need
phones)
• Google Forms can be used similarly
Example Student responses
Another Idea
Socrative
• A virtual classroom for students to assess the
class’s learning objectives
Plethora of Articles
Conclusions
• Teach students how to use this properly, not a toy
but a tool
• They have to learn responsibility
• More is added everyday, it requires being
proactive
• Builds positive technology skills for life
• Math divide revisited: Using technology to solve
problems means we understand the nature of the
problem; same with any device
• New Technology and Engineering Literacy
framework
Principles and Goals
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Differentiated learning
Personalization and customization
Depth and complexity
Digital citizenship
Collaboration
Flipped teaching
Research
Organization
Google Apps for Educators
Research themes
• Multitasking problem?
• Gadgets distract- teaching “generation M” because
devices are not simply entertainment
• BYOD?- how to manage
• Students learn at their own pace
• Effect of technology with CCSS
• Setting goals with technology: Needs and Desires
• The use of Google forms to allow for students to
elaborate and explain their thought thoroughly
Email Lists
What is the role of the teacher now?
• Teacher as coach
• Youtube for content
• Share lessons (pop song about gamma rays) on
twitter (followed another teacher)
• Digital formative assessment
• Use of Edmoto
• No more 40 minute lectures and wonder if they
“got it”
• Ability to provide “targeted, individual feedback”
This headline grabbed my attention
“Returning to my original premise: great teachers do not
teach. They stack the deck so that students have a reason
to learn and in the process can't help but learn mainly by
teaching themselves. This knowledge then becomes
permanent and cherished rather than illusory and
irrelevant.”
Resources
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Accomplished Teacher
ASCD
Edutopia
Google Apps for Educators:
http://www.google.com/enterprise/apps/education/
Google contact: 46645 (emailed about reinstating)
ItunesU
Poll Everywhere: polleverywhere.com
Socrative: http://www.socrative.com/
http://www.studyblue.com/#
Tech and Learning
Google forms
Article links
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/persistent-appeal-technology-in-learning-terryheick
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/darrell-west/five-ways-teachers-canus_b_3228851.html
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/beat-classroom-clock-tips-ben-johnson
http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/05/with-tech-tools-how-should-teacherstackle-multitasking-in-class/
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/rethinking-how-we-use-calculators-jose-vilson
http://www.sctimes.com/article/20130523/NEWS01/305230024/Cold-Springstudents-benefit-from-i-Learn-a-new-approach-in-education?nclick_check=1
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/tech-in-schools-defining-terms-matt-levinson
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/05/22/32elchangingrole.h32.html?tkn=URCC%2Bg2TDRVClu23rpm8OnzJX4VAA%2BH4%2BkB
X&cmp=clp-sb-ascd
http://www.nagb.org/assets/documents/publications/frameworks/tech2014framework/ch_toc/index.html
Future Ideas
• QR codes- can make your own so student can
find what you want- now address typing