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| photo credit: Ed Yourdon via photopin cc |
Have you seen The Twitter Experiment
conducted by Dr. Rankin at University of Texas at Dallas? Dr. Rankin transformed traditional classroom
discussion with the use of Twitter to engage students and broaden student
involvement (2009). This application of
virtual schooling is germane to today’s high school students.
Today’s 9th graders were born in or around 1998,
the same year Google was introduced (Branckaute, 2010). These students have grown up in a world of
mobile technology. The connected lives of
today’s students are documented in an Infographic
created by CommonSense (2012); more than 60% of today’s teen’s text, tweet or
post photos online daily. At yet in the
majority of formal learning environments, use those devices are forbidden. Reconciliation between the formal education and the informal learning that can be accomplished with mobile devices and
can serve to increase student motivation, engagement and transfer learning to
real environments (Grant, 2011).
When I consider mobile learning, learning aided by the use
of a hand-held electronic device, I am encouraged by the opportunity for my
students to carry the formal learning accomplished in the classroom out into
the real world. It is important to make
the distinction between mobile learning and mobile instruction. Mobile instruction designs learning to be
conducted with mobile devices which falls into the formal learning
category. Mobile learning occurs when
individuals use their mobile device to access information needed/wanted at any
point in time. This is considered
informal learning. Merging the two types
of learning through the use of mobile devices would require a shift in my
instruction (Ganci, 2010). No longer
limiting my lesson design to desktop applications. Now, mobile apps need to be reviewed for
educational application.
How could the most-used apps such as Google+, Twitter, and
Instagram become learning tools (Fox, 2013)?
This requires imagination, but not raw invention. A quick Google search, “Instagram use for classroom,” offers a
variety of suggestions. A great way to test-drive
the use of informal mobile learning is to adapt a previously successful model
of its use.
While my K12 district is not currently accepting of student
use of mobile devices in the classroom, I recently had a discussion about how
well a Bring-Your-Own-Device pilot study in a nearby school district was
received. It is my aim to further this
discussion to aid in the future acceptance of such innovation in my school
district.
In the time being, I can offer enrichment assignments that
encourage informal learning by my students.
One such assignment would involve the student documenting examples of
our STEM explorations found in our community.
Students would have the choice of selecting which curriculum unit they
wish to focus on as well as the choice of how to communicate their
findings. The only limitation would be
the necessity of uploading a link to the class website to document their
efforts. In consideration of access, I
should allow time in class for students to organize in teams to accommodate
students without access to technology.
Engage your students. Exercise your creativity. Find ways to model informal learning in your classroom, one app at a time.
Engage your students. Exercise your creativity. Find ways to model informal learning in your classroom, one app at a time.
References
- Branckaute, F. (2010, August 26). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.blogherald.com/2010/08/26/googles-history-a-visual-look-at-the-search-engines-timeline/
- CommonSense Media. (Producer). (2012, June 26). Social media, social life: How teens view their digital lives [Web Graphic]. Retrieved from http://www.commonsensemedia.org/teen-social-media-infographic
- Fox, Z. (2013, August 5). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://mashable.com/2013/08/05/most-used-smartphone-apps/
- Ganci, J. (2010, June 7). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.learningsolutionsmag.com/articles/473/
- Grant, M. (2011). An introduction to mobile teaching & learning. Memphis, TN: Retrieved from https://elearn.memphis.edu/content/201150/5400288-20138090074/08virt_school_mobile/mlearning-ebook-word.pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=CGAaqjPBPtixrMTpHIWlBRxKo
- Rankin, M. (2009). The twitter experience - twitter in the classroom [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WPVWDkF7U8
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